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Improvement of valve safety and reliability through the use of valve locking devices

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Abstract

A valve lock, also known as a valve lock out device, is a device used to close off pressured valves, ensuring that machinery that uses valves remains switched off during maintenance. The paper discusses a variety of valve locking devices, ranging in security levels, including visual seals, car seals or wire locks, pad or chain locks, single locks, and interlocks. As part of the process and safety evaluations, locking devices should be selected, and the results should be reflected in piping and instrument diagrams (P&IDs) for the valves. The primary objective of this study is to incorporate locking devices into industrial valves in the oil and gas industry so that they will be safer and more reliable. Using valve locking prevents an unauthorized person from accidentally operating the valve, thus enhancing its safety and reliability during operation. For this purpose, Johan Castberg, a recent project on the Norwegian continental shelf, was chosen. From offshore project experience, it has been established that valve interlocks have been selected and applied primarily to valves. Valve locking devices have been selected for analysis because they can greatly enhance the safety and reliability of valves during operation. There were eight types of interlocks identified for isolation valves near PSVs, pumps, control valves, heat exchangers, and rupture disks. Most of the valves that are locked are located near pressure safety valves. There are fewer interlocks in isolation valves for control valves and rupture devices compared to other arrangements. A number of recommendations are made for future studies, including the investigation of electrical key cabinets and the study of material selection and corrosion for locking mechanisms. The electrical key cabinets are very important valve locking systems since they are intelligent options which enable operators to trace the keys in the plant and to avoid forgetting to exchange them when necessary. In order to avoid damage to the keys due to corrosion, material selection and corrosion control are important aspects.

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The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

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  1. Baker Hughes, Oslo, Norway

    Karan Sotoodeh

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  1. Karan Sotoodeh
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Sotoodeh, K. Improvement of valve safety and reliability through the use of valve locking devices. Saf. Extreme Environ. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42797-023-00094-4

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