Safety Alert
Failure of Back Flow Valve During Nitrogen Foam Frac Results in a Fatality
Failure of Back Flow Valve During Nitrogen Foam Frac Results in a Fatality
- IADC
- Safety Alert
- IADC Alert 08-40
- Pressure SystemsProcess Safety
- Mechanical failurePressure systems
- Hydraulic fracturing
- Pressure vesselPumpsValve
- Pressure relief
- Upstream oil and gas
Summary
This alert describes a fatal incident during a two-stage nitrogen foam fracturing treatment using four manifolded nitrogen pumps. During attempts to restore pump prime at the start of the second stage, gas backflow entered a storage vessel. Insufficient relief capacity led to catastrophic overpressurisation.
Classifications: Mechanical failure; equipment failure.
Classifications: Pressure systems; stored pressure; pressurised systems; pressurized systems.
Classifications: Hydraulic fracturing; fracking.
Classifications: Pressure vessel; pressure vessels.
Classifications: Pumps.
Classifications: Valve; valves.
Classifications: Pressure relief; overpressure protection.
Classifications: Upstream oil and gas; oil and gas extraction; upstream petroleum.
IADC Alert 08-40. Themes: pressure systems, process safety.