𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 : 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐩𝐡𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐩𝐡𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫

Catastrophic events rarely spring from one simple mistake. Serious, even deadly situations triggered by a single factor are accurately classed as accidents. True disasters usually require multiple failures of the safeguards designed to catch missteps and unsafe conditions.

In the late1980’s, a large fraction of the UK’s North Sea gas and oil production was processed through the Piper Alpha platform. This massive facility was anchored amidst deep-water oil fields, consolidating the output of surrounding wells and pumping the product ashore. Although originally built for crude oil, the facility was upgraded to also accommodate natural gas.

On July 6, 1988, one of platform’s two gas condensate pumps was undergoing a routine overhaul. Shortly into the night shift, the primary pump failed and could not restart. Not wanting to vent and flare the gas, the operators hastily re-activated the off-line unit, on the mistaken assumption that work was complete. The equipment appeared ready although the pressure safety valve had been removed for recertification and replaced with an improperly sealed temporary cover. The resulting gas leak caused an explosion, which killed two workers and started a localized fire.

The accident could have been contained by automated fire suppression equipment pumping sea water onto the fire. However, that system was in manual mode because divers had been working beneath the platform. In that situation, control room personnel would have activated the pumps. But their workspace was inadequately isolated from the initial explosion by a firewall designed to deal only with crude oil fires. It could not protect the occupants and equipment from a natural gas explosion, which is much more destructive.

In a cascade of events, the fire spread and breached pressurized pipes supplying gas from other platforms. This fueled an intense blaze that enveloped the facility, including the crew quarters directly above the production module. Dense smoke prevented helicopter rescue, and the production area blaze blocked access to the lifeboats. Only 61 of 229 people on the Piper Alpha survived. Britain’s national oil production was significantly reduced for over a year and damages ran into the billions of US dollars.

source : Tim Oberle