This technical session is designed to give engineers and maintenance professionals a practical understanding of how API-579 Level 3 Fitness-for-Service (FFS) assessments—powered by Finite Element Analysis (FEA)—can solve complex reliability challenges in the oil and gas industry.

We will introduce advanced methods for evaluating equipment with damage mechanisms like corrosion, cracking, and dents. You’ll learn when Level 3 assessments are needed, how FEA is applied, and why these techniques offer better accuracy, safer outcomes, and longer equipment life.

Highlights include:

• API-579 FFS framework and when to escalate to Level 3


• Benefits of FEA: realistic modeling of stress, temperature, and pressure


• Real-world case studies: pressure vessel corrosion, weld cracking, and pipe dents


• Key takeaways for maintenance planning and repair decisions

Tailored for a broad operator-based audience, this session uses real examples—not just theory—to demonstrate how advanced analysis can enhance reliability, reduce costs, and support critical decisions.

Moderator:
Dean Roberts, Ergon, Inc.

Speaker:
Colin Davis, Becht