Cause & Effect Diagram

1. Cause and Effect Diagram

Some project categorizes Cause and effect is part of process document and some other
projects consider Cause and effect is part of instrument deliverables. Literally, “cause” means
something that makes something else happen and “effect” is what happens as a result of the
cause.

The interaction between cause and effect could simple to complex. For a simple example in
process control: cause could be a tank high liquid level alarm and effect could be open the
tank outlet valve. The complex example could be like this: If minimum two flame detectors
detect fire in area 1 and coincide with one flame detector detect fire in area 2, then it should
close valve A, close valve B, open valve C, de-energize the power outlet, etc.

Cause and effect is presented as a form of matrix. The causes are listed in left section while
the effects are listed on top section, both are described in form of tag number with their
descriptions (other additional information such as P&ID may supplement). The marked
intersection between both means that they are related as cause-effect. Marks could be in form
of letter “X” which mean effect will be activated, “T” which mean effect will be activated
with time delay, “P” which mean cause will give permissive to an effect.

There are two category of Cause and Effect Diagram:

 ESD C&E Diagram

 Fire and Gas C&E Diagram

Reference document: SAFE Chart, ESD Logic Diagram, Philosophy

SAFE Chart presents the required safety devices for each process equipment. SAFE Chart
shall ensure all safety requirements have been fulfilled and what executive actions the safety
devices take.

Philosophy provide the narration and engineer shall translate it to cause and effect interaction
so that the plant operates as the intended philosophy.

ESD Logic Diagram shows the plant shutdown hierarchy and describes input that initiate the
shutdown and output as the results upon shutdown.

The purpose of Cause and Effect document

Cause and effect document will be translated to program language by control system engineer
and implemented in control system as logic. These logic will always monitor plant during
operation and works if pre-determined condition attained.
 2. ESD Logic Diagram

Shutdown logic diagram (also known as ESD logic diagram) shows a hierarchy of shutdown
level within a plant or platform. Shutdown logic diagram start from telling a big picture of
shutdown level, typically the level starts from 0 continues with the higher number (1, 2, …).
The lower number represents the more critical shutdown. The subsequent sheets continues with
detail hierarchy for each process unit.

Shutdown logic diagram describes the ‘cause’ that may trigger the shutdown and the effect that
may results once signal is activated. This diagram also shows the action such as time delay,
start-up inhibit, reset that will be performed for each action.

The location of each instrument that act as a trigger/cause shall be specified clearly.

Reference document: SAFE Chart, philosophy

SAFE chart presents the required safety devices for each process equipment. SAFE chart shall
ensure all safety requirements have been fulfilled and what executive actions the safety devices
have to take.

Philosophy provide the narration and engineer shall translate it to cause and effect interaction
so that the plant operates as the intended philosophy.

The purpose of Shutdown logic diagram

Shutdown logic diagram may be used as a reference in preparing cause and effect diagram.
 3. Plant Shutdown Hierarcy

Shutdown level hierarchy is a classification of shutdown into a group which is categorized by

intention priority. These shutdown levels will be implemented in Safety Instrumented System
and will function to protect the personnel, equipment and environment as per their specific
purpose. The higher number of shutdown level shall initiate the lower level groups.

Shutdown level hierarchy may differ among each plant and platform. The number of level
may vary and shall be determined by considering all safety factors to suit the needs and
condition of each plant or platform. The following is an example only of general shutdown
level that may exist within a plant or platform in an ascending order of risks severity:

Level 1 Unit Shutdown (USD)

Unit Shutdown (USD) is the shutdown of individual process or utility system or subsystem
and intended to prevent equipment from operating outside process limits that may cause
damage to the equipment or adversely affect the process. USD can be initiated automatically
by various process sensors or manually through means of push button on the panel or Human
Machine Interface (HMI). A unit shutdown shall not impair the operation of other system in
the plant or platform. Shutdown of one vendor package is also classified into this level of
shutdown.

Level 2 Process Shutdown (PSD)

Process Shutdown (PSD) is shutdown of all process system. PSD is activated automatically
by various process sensors. PSD will shutdown and isolate all related process equipment or
systems, to limit the probability of an abnormal operating condition leading to an emergency
situation.

Level 3 Emergency Shutdown (ESD)

Emergency Shutdown (ESD) is shutdown to minimize the consequences during emergency.
ESD can be automatically initiated by load shedding functions or manually by the operator
through push button on the panel. ESD will shutdown and isolate all designated process
related equipment, including inlet and outlet ESD valves. Depends on each project some
plant will allow the power generation, utilities, and fuel gas system keep running during this
condition.

Level 4 Emergency Depressurize Shutdown (EDP)

Emergency Depressurize Shutdown (EDP) will shutdown, isolate and depressurize all
equipments by opening the de-pressuring valves to flare. In this condition, main power
generation system will be shutdown and the emergency power generator will start. EDP is
manually activated by the operator through push button.

As mentioned before, the number of level shutdown in the hierarchy may differ among each
project. In some platform, there are other levels of shutdown i.e.total process shutdown and
abandon facility shutdown. On platform abandonment, all source of electrical power will be
totally isolated except DC battery system for the navigation aids.