Safety Alert
Safety Alert 231 - Human Engineering Factors Result in Increasing Number of Riser Disconnects
Safety Alert 231 - Human Engineering Factors Result in Increasing Number of Riser Disconnects
- BSEE
- Safety Alert
- BSEE Safety Alert 231
- Human FactorsProcess Safety
- Human factorsLoss of station keepingWell control
- DrillingDynamic positioningPressure testing
- Blowout preventerHoseOperator displays and control interfaces
- Functional testingHuman-centred designLockout and tagoutOperating and work procedures
- Upstream oil and gas
- Offshore installation
Summary
This alert reviews accidental and emergency riser disconnects in deepwater operations, highlighting human error, hydraulic connection mistakes and station-keeping failures. It recommends reviewing existing requirements for deliberate sequential disconnection, protected controls and documented subsea function testing. An accompanying table summarises eleven events involving drilling and production risers.
Classifications: Human factors; human performance; ergonomics.
Classifications: Loss of station keeping; drive-off; drift-off.
Classifications: Well control; kick control; loss of well control.
Classifications: Drilling; well drilling.
Classifications: Dynamic positioning; DP; DP operations.
Classifications: Pressure testing; hydrostatic testing; pneumatic testing.
Classifications: Blowout preventer; BOP; blow-out preventer.
Classifications: Hose; flexible hose.
Classifications: Operator displays and control interfaces.
Classifications: Functional testing; function test.
Classifications: Human-centred design.
Classifications: Lockout and tagout; LOTO; lockout/tagout.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Upstream oil and gas; oil and gas extraction; upstream petroleum.
Classifications: Offshore installation; offshore platform; offshore rig.
BSEE Safety Alert 231. Themes: human factors, process safety.