Alarm Management Work Process

In 2002, the CPC joint venture in Qatar, Qatar Chemical Company (Q-Chem), commissioned a new chemical facility in the city of Mesaieed in southern Qatar. After startup of the plant, the high rate of process alarms generated by the control system created the need to implement an Alarm Management program.

Alarm loading is the result of a number of issues including control system configuration, process design, process equipment and of course, the process itself. Reducing alarm loading and improving alarm effectiveness requires a combination of: tools to develop and track alarm metrics, commitment from multiple plant groups, and an effective alarm improvement process.

This paper details the process and very successful results of implementing an alarm management program at Q-Chem.