Safety Alert
Safety Alert 168 - Twisted Valve Stem and Ineffective Level Safety High Result in Oil Spill
Safety Alert 168 - Twisted Valve Stem and Ineffective Level Safety High Result in Oil Spill
- BSEE
- Safety Alert
- BSEE Safety Alert 168
- EnvironmentMachinery and EquipmentProcess Safety
- Barrier managementHydrocarbon releaseMechanical failure
- Inspection and maintenance
- Storage tanksValve
- Functional testing
- Upstream oil and gas
Summary
An oil spill followed separator cleaning when a twisted ball-valve stem left the drain partially open despite its handle position. Density differences prevented the sump tank’s level safety high from actuating. The alert recommends periodic valve holding checks where operationally feasible and reviewing atmospheric-tank level protection against this upset condition.
Classifications: Barrier management; safety barrier management.
Classifications: Hydrocarbon release; hydrocarbon leak; oil and gas release.
Classifications: Mechanical failure; equipment failure.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Storage tanks; atmospheric tanks.
Classifications: Valve; valves.
Classifications: Functional testing; function test.
Classifications: Upstream oil and gas; oil and gas extraction; upstream petroleum.
Summary
The alert addresses an oil spill linked to valve and level-safety failures.
BSEE Safety Alert 168. Themes: environment, machinery and equipment, process safety.