The Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) project of your facilities are complete! Now what?
The subsequent phases in an EPC project are Pre-Commissioning, Commissioning, and Startup. To ensure these phases go smoothly, it is essential to understand the documentation process. Having a Commissioning, Startup, and Operations (CSO) Technical Writer by your side during these processes is extremely beneficial, if not vital.
Discover what the documentation process entails during Commissioning and Startup of your facilities and why a CSO technical writer can be your Brute Squad.
What Do the Commissioning and Start-Up Phases of an EPC Project Entail?
Just before Commissioning can begin, the Pre-Commissioning phase is conducted to verify the test systems and its components. Pre-Commissioning could include rotating equipment, loop testing, leak testing, line flushing, and more.
Once Pre-Commissioning is completed, the project moves into the Commissioning and Startup phases. These phases refer to transitions between plant construction completion and commercial operations.
What is Commissioning?
Commissioning refers to the first time a given component is energized and truly tested – usually with safe chemicals, such as water or air. Also known as cold testing, every component of the system has to be tested in all possible operation modes. These tests can be used for fluid circulation, instrumentation calibration, controller functions, and more.
Specific documents to support Commissioning generally include:
- Checklists for all tests required
- Response procedures in the event something goes wrong
- Statements that detail how the equipment should run in a successful test
- Documents for data logging and instrumentation measurements
- Normal operating procedures and manuals
- Vendor and support information
- Test reports
- Documentation of any commissioning difficulties, problems, or failures
- Organizational charts
- Commissioning schedules
- Maintenance manuals
- Documents that detail any necessary materials needed for commissioning procedures
What is Startup?
Startup is when the components and systems are tested with the chemicals they were intended to process, just prior to performance testing. During this phase, corrections, manual operation, engineering intervention, and personnel resources may be necessary to ensure everything is working as it should. Depending on the set up and required testing, startup can take several days to complete and will require a full staff on hand in case something goes wrong.
Documentation required during the Startup phase generally includes:
- Detailed valve positions
- Process flows
- Manuals for introducing chemicals
- Manuals for ramping up operating procedures
- Sampling instructions
- Data collection information and details, including instructions on how to collect data
- Training materials for data collection
- Up-to-date inventory of lab supplies
- O&M manuals
- Testing plans
- Normal operating procedures
- Documents that detail any necessary materials needed for startup procedures
- Other documents that were required during commissioning
How Can a CSO Technical Writer Help?
The Commissioning and Startup phases of an oil and gas facility are considered crunch-time. Everything needs to be working properly or fixed in time to be ready for the upcoming deadline and handover. A technical writer can make a difference when everything is on the line, especially a CSO technical writer.
What is a CSO Technical Writer?
A Commissioning, Startup, and Operations (CSO) technical writer focuses on the creation and revision of the required CSO and maintenance manuals and procedures. They are trained to:
- Design documents for project schedule requirements for construction, engineering, pre-commissioning, commissioning, and training.
- Collect data from industry sources.
- Update document completion schedules.
- Identify required documents needed for the given facility.
- Prepare status reports.
- Maintain training schedules and documents.
- Know local, state, and federal regulatory requirements, including training, OSHA, and Homeland Security requirements and regulations.
How Can a CSO Technical Writer Help During Crunch Time?
There are several documents that need to be created and updated to meet the demands of the Commissioning and Startup phases of an EPC project. Many oil and gas companies do not have the technical writing expertise on their team to help them complete these requirements.
CSO technical writers understand how important these documents are to support the initial startup of an oil and gas facility, as well as instances when something goes wrong. They can assist with the creation of operating procedures, emergency procedures, training materials, and more. These technical writers also know the importance of impending deadlines and can have many of these necessary documents completed during previous planning phases so you’re not rushing to get everything recorded last minute.
Our technical writing team at Shea Writing and Training Solutions knows what’s required of your team when it comes to the Commissioning and Startup of an oil and gas facility. We can assist with O&M manuals, training materials, and more to ensure it goes smoothly while also meeting any government or industry regulations. Discover what we have to offer here.
