Safety Alert
Fire Tube Hazards Increase Risk of Flame Migration
Fire Tube Hazards Increase Risk of Flame Migration
- BSEE
- Safety Alert
- BSEE Safety Alert 397
- Hot Work and FireProcess Safety
- FireMechanical failure
- Inspection and maintenance
- Ignition source control
- Upstream oil and gas
Summary
BSEE inspectors found warped flame-arrestor flanges and gaps after heater-treater and glycol-reboiler fire tubes were reinstalled using incompatible non-OEM fasteners. These defects created potential paths for flame migration. The alert recommends considering pre-startup reviews, OEM-recommended parts, more frequent visual inspections and checks of connections disturbed during maintenance.
Classifications: Fire; fire safety.
Classifications: Mechanical failure; equipment failure.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Ignition source control; ignition prevention.
Classifications: Upstream oil and gas; oil and gas extraction; upstream petroleum.
Summary
The alert explains how fire tube hazards can allow flames to migrate.
BSEE Safety Alert 397. Themes: hot work and fire, process safety.