CSP09 - Shop Run Test Failure of an API 610 Vertical Sump Pump: what it exposed, and why it was critical to solve.

Abstract

This case shall discuss incidents of a deficient inspection affected an API610 vertical sump pumps, supplied to operate in a Sulfur Removal Unit (SRU) for a major gas project. One challenge in such failures is the iterative nature of the problems, with various possible causes that may affect the pump behavior during the test were considered in a consequent manner and examined. The incident led to the discovery of incorrect pump execution during manufacturing by the supplier that required immediate intervention to resolve prior to shipping the pump to site. Due to such outcome, the case study spots out the criticality of performing pump testing by a technically-aware inspector that is able to uncover, examine and resolve issues, where it is sometimes questionable whether it is important to conduct testing in the first place, not to mention witnessing them by customers which may be considered as exaggeration especially for small pumps that should not suffer any testing or design issues. It demonstrates also that uncovering issues during testing provides a huge saving compared to the substantial cost and schedule impacts the project may suffer if problems are left to be discovered after commissioning the equipment at site.