
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Noble, R. 
T1  - INTEGRITY OF BOLTED JOINTS: HYDROCARBON LEAK REDUCTION BY JOINT-INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT
JF  - The APPEA Journal
JO  - The APPEA Journal
Y1  - 2006
VL  - 46
IS  - 1
SP  - 603
EP  - 610
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ05041 
N2  - Bolted joints are very common in petroleum production facilities. Whereas extensive controls are applied to the production of a welded joint&#x2014;in terms of material control and specification, control and competence of the welder, and verification of the integrity of the weld&#x2014;this is not the case for bolted joints. The consequences of failure of a welded joint and a bolted joint, however, are similar and potentially catastrophic if the contents of the pipeline or vessel are hydrocarbons under pressure. This paper discusses the main issues in producing and maintaining a leak-free bolted joint and makes the case for establishing industry-wide standards for the management of bolted joints that are equally as stringent as those applied to welded joints.Implementing such a system, whilst improving and assuring the safety and environmental performance of an asset, will also reduce costs due to rework, product loss, schedule slippage and production downtime. 
ER  -

