What is a P&ID and How to Read it? | EveryEng

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Self-paced Beginner

What is a P&ID and How to Read it?

4(408)

2615 views

₹ 799

184 min

Anytime

English

2615 views

Anup Kumar DeyOwner of https://whatispiping.com/

Oil & Gas Upstream

Energy & Utilities

7-day money-back guarantee
Lifetime access
Certificate of completion

Volume pricing for groups of 5+

Why enroll

Enrolling in a course on "What is a P&ID and How to Read It" can be a highly beneficial decision for several reasons. Whether you are a student, an industry professional, or someone looking to pivot into a new field, understanding P&IDs is crucial. Here’s why taking such a course is worth your time and investment:

P&IDs are foundational to many engineering and technical disciplines, including process engineering, mechanical engineering, and industrial automation. For anyone planning a career in these areas, mastering P&IDs is essential. This course will provide you with a thorough understanding of how to read and interpret these diagrams, which is a core skill in many technical roles.
For professionals already working in industries where P&IDs are used, such as chemical processing, oil and gas, or manufacturing, understanding how to read these diagrams can greatly improve job performance.
Knowledge of P&IDs can open doors to new career opportunities and advancements. For those looking to specialize in process design, control systems, or maintenance, a solid grasp of P&IDs can make you a more attractive candidate for advanced roles. Additionally, some certifications or roles might specifically require or prefer experience with P&IDs.

Your instructor

Anup Kumar Dey

Senior Piping Engineer

Owner of https://whatispiping.com/

20+ yrs experience·Oman

Is this course for you?

You should take this if

You work in Oil & Gas Upstream or Energy & Utilities
You're a Chemical & Process / Piping & Layout Engineering professional
You prefer self-paced learning you can revisit

You should skip if

You need a different specialisation outside Chemical & Process
You need live interaction with an instructor

Course details

The objective of the course "What is a P&ID and How to Read It" is to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), their significance in industrial processes, and how to effectively interpret and utilize them. Through this course, learners will gain practical skills in recognizing and understanding the various symbols, notations, and components used in P&IDs, and how these elements interact within complex systems. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to read P&IDs and apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios, enhancing their ability to work efficiently in process engineering, maintenance, and system design.

This course offers an in-depth exploration of Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), focusing on their role in illustrating the design, operation, and control of industrial systems. Participants will learn to decipher the standard symbols and notations used to represent piping, equipment, instrumentation, and control systems. The course covers key topics such as

Definition of a P&ID
Applications of a P&ID in Industries
Importance of a P&ID, major roles
Understand what is there in a P&ID
Understand what is not there in a P&ID
Learn about P&ID symbols for Valves, Piping Items, Equipments, Instrumentation Items, etc
Practical Example of How to Read a P&ID
Bonus Learning Modules for better clarification

Through a combination of theoretical instruction and practical exercises, learners will develop the ability to read and interpret P&IDs accurately, making it a valuable skill for those involved in engineering, maintenance, design, and process management.

Course suitable for

Key topics covered

The key topics that the participants will learn are:

Definition of a P&ID
Applications of a P&ID in Industries
Importance of a P&ID, major roles
Understand what is there in a P&ID
Understand what is not there in a P&ID
Learn about P&ID symbols for Valves, Piping Items, Equipments, Instrumentation Items, etc
Practical Example of How to Read a P&ID
Bonus Learning Modules for better clarification

Course content

The course is readily available, allowing learners to start and complete it at their own pace.

23 lectures3 hr 4 min

Definition of a P&ID, Its applications and benefits
25 min
What is included in a P&ID
12 min
P&IDs-What Not
10 min
P&ID symbols for various types of Valves and Related Items
17 min
P&ID Symbols for Piping, Mechanical, and Instrumentation Items
9 min
Reading a P&ID with Example
20 min
Bonus Lecture: Introduction to P&ID
5 min
Bonus Lecture: Data as per PFD vs P&ID
5 min
Bonus Lecture: Role of P&IDs with Project Work-flow
5 min
Bonus Lecture: Anatomy of a P&ID
4 min
Bonus Lecture: Main Equipment Data
8 min
Bonus Lecture: Main Piping Data
4 min
Bonus Lecture: Showing Fittings on P&ID
8 min
Bonus Lecture: Scope & Battery Limits
3 min
Bonus Lecture: Introduction to Control and Shutdowns
3 min
Bonus Lecture: Performance Indication with Instruments
4 min
Bonus Lecture: Control and Shut Down Systems
6 min
Bonus Lecture: Final Elements Control valves shutdown
5 min
Bonus Lecture: Pressure Safety Valve and relief system
6 min
Bonus Lecture: Plant Maintenance and Isolation
6 min
Bonus Lecture: Process Safety and Expected Hazards
3 min
Bonus Lecture: Purpose of HAZOP and SIL studies on a P&ID
4 min
Bonus Lecture: Tips for P&ID preparation for a pump
12 min

Opportunities that await you!

Career opportunities

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Questions and Answers

Q: You're trying to understand a contractor P&ID and you type into Google: "how to read P&ID valve symbols with fail position". On the P&ID, a control valve shows a dashed signal line from a PLC, with the actuator drawn as a diaphragm and a small filled triangle on the stem pointing down. What does that triangle indicate?

A: That's the most common mistake — mixing up signal type with failure action. The filled triangle on the stem is ISA shorthand for the spring direction, and on a diaphragm actuator that directly maps to the loss-of-air position. Ignoring it leads to shutdown logic that fights the mechanical default during a trip.

Q: While reviewing a P&ID and searching "P&ID material spec sour service carbon steel" you notice the line class calls out CS with no corrosion allowance, service is wet gas upstream of amine contactor, H2S at 2 mol%. What degradation mechanism should dominate your material concern?

A: That's the trap — assuming partial pressure is too low to matter. Wet H2S shifts the risk to SSC, and the absence of corrosion allowance on the P&ID makes the material call-out itself the weak point, not wall loss over time.

Q: Two weeks from mechanical completion, you're on site googling "P&ID pre commissioning line walk checklist". A pump minimum flow recycle is shown on the P&ID with an orifice plate and restriction valve. What's the correct verification sequence before declaring the loop ready for start-up?

A: That's where people get burned — function checks before physical verification. If the orifice is reversed or missing, a perfect loop check still leaves you with a dead pump on first start.

Q: You're reviewing a P&ID and search "why P&ID relief valve set pressure below MAWP". The PSV is set at 95% of vessel MAWP. What's the technical driver behind this practice?

A: That's the confusion — set pressure isn't the peak pressure. Codes assume accumulation above setpoint, and without that margin the vessel can legally be over its MAWP during a credible scenario.