Profile: Peakpoint Ltd is a process engineering design and project management consultancy that provides services to clients in the oil & gas and petrochemical industries. The services we provide are in the areas of process engineering design and optimization, project management, HAZOP studies & training. We offer a complete HAZOP (hazard and operability) service. We are experienced in carrying out HAZOP reviews in various industries including subsea installations, oil & gas installations, refineries, chemical and petrochemicals. We can offer training courses for HAZOP participants. This would typically be a 2 day course, but can be tailored to client requirements. We can also offer the same services in HAZID (hazard identification ), and ENVID (environmental impact identification) studies. A HAZOP is a structured technique in which a multi-discipline team performs a systematic study of a process design. HAZOP studies are carried out in a series of meetings where, typically, process & instrument diagrams (P&IDs) are examined, using a list of guidewords to stimulate the HAZOP study team's consideration of all conceivable deviations from design intent. The detailed examination of cause and effect of deviations in both normal & automated abnormal plant operation is designed to minimize problems at commissioning & start-up, and to ensure continued safe & reliable operation of the plant. This systematic study of design detail should identify areas of concern which can, if necessary, be resolved outside the hazard study meeting. Continuous processes also entail discontinuous operations.