Erosion monitoring

Sand production from loosely consolidated formations may lead to erosion of tubulars and valves and sand-fill in of both the sump of the A/ell and surface separators. In addition, sand may bridge off in the tubing, severely restricting flow. The presence of sand production may be monitored by in-line detectors. If the quantities of sand produced become unacceptable then downhole sand exclusion should be considered (Section 9.7). 

Penicillamine (29) can be effective in patients with refractory RA and may delay progression of erosions, but adverse effects limit its useflilness. The most common adverse side effects for penicillamine are similar to those of parenteral gold therapy, ie, pmritic rash, protein uria, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Decreased or altered taste sensation is a relatively common adverse effect for penicillamine. A monthly blood count, platelet count, and urinalysis are recommended, and also hepatic and renal function should be periodically monitored. Penicillamine is teratogenic and should not be used during pregnancy. 

The information to be compiled about the chemicals, including process intermediates, needs to be comprehensive enough for an accurate assessment of the fire and explosion characteristics, reactivity hazards, the safety and health hazards to workers, and the corrosion and erosion effects on the process equipment and monitoring tools. Current material safety data sheet (MSDS) information can be used to help meet this requirement but must be supplemented with process chemistry information, including runaway reaction and over-pressure hazards, if applicable. 

Sentinel holes are used as a simple form of thickness testing. A small hole of about I - 6 mm diameter is drilled from the outer wall of the piece of equipment to within a distance from the inner wall (in contact with the corrodent) equal to the corrosion allowance on the equipment (Fig. 9.11). The technique has been used even in cases where the corrodent spontaneously ignites on contact with the atmosphere. The philosophy is that it is better to have a little fire than a big one which would follow a major leak from corrosion through the wall. When the sentinel hole begins to weep fluid a tapered plug is hammered into the hole and remedial maintenance planned. Siting the sentinel holes is somewhat speculative although erosion at the outside of a pipe bend is often monitored in this way. 

Thin layer activation (TLA) has a long experience in monitoring or measuring wear and erosion. A small quantity of radioisotope tracer is introduced into the metal surface which can be either a coupon or component. Metal loss due to corrosion (provided the corrosion product is non-adherent) can be detected remotely with high sensitivity . 

Hour ambulatory pH monitoring may be the only way to objectively prove that symptoms are reflux-related in patients with atypical symptoms or non-erosive reflux disease. Ambulatory pH monitoring may also be useful in patients whose symptoms are not improving on adequate doses of acid-suppressing therapy. 

A patient with acute pancreatitis may develop many severe local and systemic complications. Local complications involve fluid collection, necrosis, or abscess in the pancreas. A pancreatic fluid collection (or pancreatic pseudocyst) is a collection of tissue, pancreatic enzymes, and blood that forms weeks after acute pancreatitis. Many pancreatic pseudocysts resolve spontaneously, but some require surgical drainage.5 Rupture of a pancreatic pseudocyst with associated erosion and hemorrhage of major abdominal blood vessels can have a mortality approaching 60% thus, continued monitoring of a pseudocyst is prudent.6... 

Static SIMS is appropriate for obtaining information on the lateral distribution of surface chemical species. A broad, defocussed ion beam is often used in order to minimise surface damage. In dynamic SIMS sample erosion takes place quite rapidly, and depth profiles are obtained by monitoring peak intensities in the mass spectrum of sputtered ions as bombardment proceeds. 

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