Contributions of a Risk Study Using the Hazop Technique to Improve the Process Safety of a Plant for LPG Transfer, Storage and Distribution

This article is about the analysis of risks related to transfer, storage and distribution operations of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in a publicly traded international company specializing in the oil, natural gas and energy industry and operating in Brazil. The focus of the analysis is the application of the HazOp (Hazard and Operability Study) technique for the systematic identification of hazards and operational deviations. Using case study methodology, the research contextualizes the LPG sector in Brazil, highlighting procedures and associated risks. Among the risks identified are concerns about safety, health and environmental preservation, such as leaks, explosions (BLEVE and others) and fires. The study highlights the importance of the multidisciplinary team in implementing HazOp and reinforces the need for standardized criteria for treating identified risks. Some recommendations are proposed to overcome these limitations, aiming to contribute to the development of guidelines that prevent or mitigate risks in LPG operations in this installation, in addition to promoting the effective dissemination of the HazOp technique in identifying hazards and operational deviations. The study considers the analysis of previous industrial accidents, which are internationally known in this area, and uses its lessons learned to generate contributions that reinforce mechanical integrity and operational practices to improve process safety throughout the entire life cycle of the this type of plant. Although Hazop is the main technique, in addition, a Consequence Analysis Modeling is also used to better estimate the degrees of vulnerability.