BP deploys Emerson SIS for tank overspill protection

Dec. 19, 2008

Austin, Texas, December 17 -- Emerson Process Management has won a contract to install its DeltaV SIS safety instrumented system at fuel storage and distribution sites operated by BP Oil across the UK. BP Oil selected DeltaV SIS following an evaluation of the available technologies by Trident Engineering Consultants based in Glasgow. The first system will be delivered to BP's oil terminal at Hemel Hempstead, followed by further sites around the UK.

The Tank Overspill Protection Systems are designed to enhance existing safety measures, guarding against the potential hazards that would result from a storage tank being overfilled. Based on Emerson's DeltaV SIS, the Tank Overspill Protection Systems will monitor the tank level and automatically shut off the feed to the tanks if the level reaches the high cut off limit.

Working closely with Trident Engineering Consultants Ltd. for the Hemel Hempstead project, and TAS Engineering Consultants Ltd for the follow-on projects, Emerson's safety systems engineers will design, configure, install and test the safety-instrumented systems. This work will be completed in accordance with Emerson's own safety management systems, which are certified for compliance with the requirements of IEC61511 - the international standard for safety related systems in the process industries.

"We are delighted that BP Oil has chosen our class leading DeltaV SIS for the tank overspill protection systems at installations across the UK,” said David Dunbar, European president, Emerson Process Management. “DeltaV SIS delivers both improved safety and increased availability and makes it easier to meet the requirements of IEC 61511.”

Emerson’s DeltaV SIS predictive diagnostics to monitor the whole safety loop, not just the logic solver to make installations safer and more productive. Its design reflects the fact that more than 85% of safety faults occur in field instruments or final control elements. The logic solver communicates with intelligent devices via the HART protocol to diagnose faults before they cause spurious trips.

The new technology takes into account SIS standards that insist upon separation of control and safety functions to eliminate failures that might affect both layers of protection, while answering end-users' desire for integrated configuration, maintenance, and operation. 

DeltaV SIS is part of Emerson's smart SIS solution, which is an extension of the PlantWeb digital plant architecture, providing an integrated approach to complete safety loops -- from sensor to logic solver to final control element. The smart SIS system components include Rosemount and Micro Motion certified and proven-in-use devices, the DeltaV SIS system, SIL-PAC final control solution with Fisher FIELDVUE DVC6000 SIS controller and the AMS Suite: Intelligent Device Manager.