Safety Alert
Well annulus leaks gas-lift inventory from failed instrument line
Well annulus leaks gas-lift inventory from failed instrument line
- NOPSEMA
- Safety Alert
- A559662
- Hydrocarbon ReleaseProcess SafetyStructural and Asset Integrity
- Barrier managementHydrocarbon releaseWell integrity
- Process pipework and pipelinesValveWellhead
- Energy and process isolation
- Upstream oil and gas
Summary
An instrument tubing failure released production-annulus hydrocarbon gas for 3.5 hours. Its position between the wellhead and gas-lift shutdown valve prevented shutdown from isolating the annulus inventory. The alert discusses small-bore integrity, secondary barrier vulnerability, two-barrier practice and recommended shutdown-valve placement and activation.
Classifications: Barrier management; safety barrier management.
Classifications: Hydrocarbon release; hydrocarbon leak; oil and gas release.
Classifications: Well integrity; well life cycle integrity.
Classifications: Process pipework and pipelines; process piping.
Classifications: Valve; valves.
Classifications: Wellhead; well head.
Classifications: Energy and process isolation; isolation; energy isolation.
Classifications: Upstream oil and gas; oil and gas extraction; upstream petroleum.
Summary
The alert examines a failed instrument line that released gas-lift hydrocarbons from a production annulus and weakened well barriers.
A559662. Themes: hydrocarbon release, process safety, structural and asset integrity.