Investigation Report
Hydrocarbon Release and Fire Following Compressor Level Test
01-23-2020 12:00 G31418 ST 331 Required Evacuation, Other Injury, Fire, Incident > $25k, Required Muster, Shutdown From Gas Release
- BSEE
- Investigation Report
- Unknown
- FireHydrocarbon releaseLine of firePressure systems
- Inspection and maintenance
- Process pipework and pipelinesValve
- Emergency responseFire protectionFunctional testingPreventive maintenance
- Upstream oil and gas
- Offshore installation
Summary
An offshore compressor level test preceded inadvertent opening of a ball valve, releasing pressurised hydrocarbons through unsecured drain tubing. The tubing struck an operator and the hydrocarbons ignited. The investigation identifies drain-line securing, an uncapped tubing end and valve locking failure, alongside deficient inspection of a wheeled firefighting unit.
Classifications: Fire; fire safety.
Classifications: Hydrocarbon release; hydrocarbon leak; oil and gas release.
Classifications: Line of fire; struck-by hazards.
Classifications: Pressure systems; stored pressure; pressurised systems; pressurized systems.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Process pipework and pipelines; process piping.
Classifications: Valve; valves.
Classifications: Emergency response; emergency preparedness.
Classifications: Fire protection; fire suppression; fire detection.
Classifications: Functional testing; function test.
Classifications: Preventive maintenance; preventative maintenance; planned maintenance.
Classifications: Upstream oil and gas; oil and gas extraction; upstream petroleum.
Classifications: Offshore installation; offshore platform; offshore rig.