Safety Flash
Case study: Saturation diver fatality due to hydrogen sulphide
Case study: Saturation diver fatality due to hydrogen sulphide
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 27/23
- DivingHydrogen Sulphide
- DrowningHydrocarbon releaseHydrogen sulphide
- Inspection and maintenanceSaturation diving
- Diving bellGas detectorProcess pipework and pipelines
- Evacuation, escape and rescueAtmospheric gas testing
- Upstream oil and gas
- SubseaVessel
Summary
This safety flash summarises a historical saturation-diving fatality during inspection of a leaking sour-crude pipeline in the Bombay High oilfield. Hydrogen sulphide in the bell caused collapse; the diver subsequently drowned. It discusses possible gas-entry routes, absent gas detection, bell-to-bell rescue and the potential use of ROVs for surveys.
Classifications: Drowning; man overboard; person overboard.
Classifications: Hydrocarbon release; hydrocarbon leak; oil and gas release.
Classifications: Hydrogen sulphide; H2S; H₂S; hydrogen sulfide.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Saturation diving; sat diving.
Classifications: Diving bell; closed bell; wet bell.
Classifications: Gas detector; gas monitor; gas detection instrument.
Classifications: Process pipework and pipelines; process piping.
Classifications: Evacuation, escape and rescue; EER; escape and rescue.
Classifications: Atmospheric gas testing; gas testing; atmosphere testing.
Classifications: Upstream oil and gas; oil and gas extraction; upstream petroleum.
Classifications: Subsea; underwater worksite.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
This summarises a 2021 case report on the earlier death of a saturation diver in the Bombay High oilfield, which occurred as a result of Hydrogen Sulphide poisoning. It is included as a reminder of the danger of Hydrogen Sulphide and as a means to facilitate discussion.
IMCA SF 27/23. Themes: diving, hydrogen sulphide.