Piper Alpha is an oil production platform in the North Sea about 120 miles (190 km) northeast of Aberdeen, Scotland, operated by Occidental Petroleum (Caledonia) Limited. It started production in 1976, initially as the only oil platform but later converted to increase gas production.
The explosions and fires of oil and gas produced destroyed Piper Alpha on July 6, 1988, killing 167 people, including two crew members; 61 workers fled and survived. Thirty corpses were never found. The total insured loss is about £ 1.7 billion ($ 3.4 billion), making it one of the most expensive man-made disasters ever. At the time of the disaster, this platform accounted for about ten percent of North Sea oil and gas production, and the accident was the worst offshore oil disaster in terms of loss of life and industrial impact.
In Aberdeen, Kirk of St. Nicholas on Union Street has dedicated a chapel to the memory of the dead containing the Book of Reminder which lists all those who died. There is a memorial statue in the Rose Garden of Hazlehead Park.
Video Piper Alpha
Piper oil field
Four companies that later turned into joint venture OPCAL obtained an oil exploration license in 1972, found Piper oil field located in 58 Â ° 28? N 0 Â ° 15? E at the beginning of 1973 and started building platforms, pipelines and onshore support structures. Oil production began in 1976 with about 250,000 barrels (40,000 m 3 ) oil per day rising to 300,000 barrels (48,000 m 3 ). The gas recovery module was installed in 1980. Production decreased to 125,000 barrels (19,900 m 3 ) in 1988. OPCAL built the Flotta oil terminal on Orkney Islands to receive and process oil from Piper, Claymore and Tartan oil fields , each with its own platform. A 30-inch (76 × cm) mainstream oil pipe flows 128 miles (206 km km) from Piper Alpha to Flotta, with a short oil pipeline from the Claymore platform that connects it about 20 miles (32 km) to the west. The Tartan Field also feeds the oil to Claymore field and then to the main line to Flotta. Separate 18-inch (46 cm) diameter gas pipe from Tartan to Piper platform, and from Piper to MCP-01 gas compression platform about 30 miles (48 km) to the northwest.
Maps Piper Alpha
Construction
A large fixed platform, Piper Alpha is located in the Piper oil field, about 120 miles (193 km) northeast of Aberdeen at 474 feet (144 m) deep, and consists of four modules separated by a firewall. The platform was built by McDermott Engineering at Ardersier and UIE in Cherbourg, with parts united at Ardersier before being pulled out during 1975, with production beginning in late 1976. For security reasons, the modules were organized so that the most dangerous operations were away from the personnel area. Conversion from oil to gas breaks down this safety concept, with the result that sensitive areas are unified; for example, gas compression next to the control room, which plays a role in the accident. It produces crude oil and natural gas from 24 wells for delivery to the Flotta oil terminal in Orkney and other installations by three separate pipes. In times of disaster, Piper is one of the toughest platforms (along with Magnus and Brae B) operating in the North Sea.
Event chronology
During the late 1970s, major work was done to enable the platform to meet the UK Government's gas export requirements and once this work was completed, Piper Alpha operates in what is known as phase 2 mode (operating with the Gas Conservation Module (GCM)) since the end of the year 1980 to July 1988; phase 2 mode is a normal operating state. By the late 1980s, major construction, maintenance and upgrades had been planned by Occidental and in July 1988, the rig was already a major work activity, with six major projects identified including the replacement of GCM units meaning that the rigs had been put back into phase initial 1 mode (ie operate without GCM units). Despite a complex and demanding work schedule, Occidental made the decision to continue operating the platform in phase 1 mode during this period and not close it, as originally planned. Planning and controls enforced are considered adequate. Therefore, Piper continues to export oil only below 120,000 barrels per day and to export Tartan gas at about 33 MMSCFD (million standard cubic feet per day) during this demanding period.
Because platforms are completely destroyed, and many of those involved die, the analysis of events can only suggest the possibility of a known fact-based sequence of events. Several event witnesses questioned the official schedule.
12:00 pm Two condensate pumps, designated A and B, move condensate platforms to be transported to shore. On the morning of July 6, Pump A pressure pump valve (PSV # 504) is released for routine maintenance. Repair of two-year pump is planned but not yet started. The exposed condensate pipe is temporarily sealed with a disk cover (flat metal disks are also called flanged blind flanges or flanges). Since the job can not be completed by 06:00, the disk cover remains in place. It just tightened hands. Engineer in charge of filling out a permit stating that Pump A is not ready and should not be turned on under any circumstances.
6:00 pm. The day's turn over, and the night shift starts with 62 people running Piper Alpha . When he found the busy custodian guard, the engineer neglected to tell him about the condition of Pump A. Instead he placed permission at the control center and left. This permission is missing and not found. Incidentally there is another permit issued for Pump A public repair that has not started yet.
7: 00, pm Like many other offshore platforms, Piper Alpha has an automatic fire-extinguishing system, powered by a diesel and electric pump (the latter was shut off by the initial explosion)). Diesel pumps are designed to suck large quantities of seawater for firefighters; pumps have automatic control to start in case of fire (although they can not start from the control room in an emergency). However, the fire system is under manual control on the night of July 6: the Piper Alpha procedure adopted by the Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) requires manual control of the pump every time the diver is in the water (as they for about 12 hours a day during the summer) although in reality, the risk does not look as significant for the diver unless a diver is closer than 10-15 feet (3-5 m) from one of four 120 feet (40 m) intake levels which is locked up. Recommendations from previous audits have suggested that a procedure be developed to keep the pump in automatic mode if the diver does not work around the intake as is the practice on the Claymore platform, but this was never developed or implemented.
9:45 pm. Due to problems with the methanol system the previous day, clathrate methane (flammable ice) has already begun to accumulate in the gas compression system pipeline, causing a blockage. Due to this blockage, the condensate (NGL natural gas liquor) Pump B stops and can not be restarted. Since all the power supplies from offshore construction work are dependent on these pumps, the manager has only a few minutes to return the pumps online, otherwise the power supply will fail completely. The search is done through a document to determine whether a Condensate Pump can be started.
9: 52 p.m. Permissions for checks are found, but no other permission states that the pump should not start under any circumstances because of the missing safety valve. The valve is in a different location from the pump and therefore the permit is stored in a different box, as it is sorted by location. None of those present were aware that an important part of the machine had been removed. The manager assumes from the existing document that it will be safe to start Pump A. The missing valve is not noticed by anyone, especially since the metal disk replaces the safety valve a few feet above the ground and is obscured by the machine.
9:55 PM First Explosion The Condensate A pump is turned on. Gas flows into the pump, and because of the missing safety valve, it produces an overpressure that can not be retained by a loose metal plate.
The gas leaked out at high pressure, attracted the attention of several people and triggered six gas alarms including high-level gas alarms. Before anyone can act, the gas is ignited and explodes, blowing through a firewall consisting of 2.5 panels with 1.5 m (8 by 5 feet) unified, which are not designed to withstand explosions. The guard presses the emergency stop button, closes the large valve at the sea line and stops all oil and gas extraction.
Theoretically, the platform will then be isolated from the flow of oil and gas and fire contained. However, since the platform was originally built for oil, firewalls were designed to withstand fires rather than withstand explosions. The first blast broke the firewall and unplugged the panel around Module (B). One of the flying panels burst a small condensate pipe, creating another fire.
10: 04:00. The Piper Alpha control room is left behind. "Mayday" was marked by radio by radio operator David Kinrade. Piper Alpha design does not create allowances for the destruction of control rooms, and platform organizations are destroyed. No attempt was made to use the loudspeakers or to order evacuations.
Emergency procedures instruct personnel to go to the dredging station, but fire prevents them from doing so. Instead many people moved to the fireproof accommodation blocks under the helicopter deck to await further instructions. Wind, fire and smoke prevented the helicopter landing and no further instructions were given, with smoke beginning to seep into the personnel block.
As the crisis escalates, two people wear protective equipment and attempt to reach the diesel pump under the deck and activate the fire system. They are never seen again.
The fire will burn if it is not given oil from both Tartan and Claymore platforms, the resulting back pressure forces the new fuel out of the pipe broken at Piper, directly into the heart of the fire. The Claymore platform continues pumping oil until the second explosion because managers do not have permission from the Occidental control center to close. Also, the connecting gas pipeline to Tartan keeps pumping, because the manager has been directed by his boss. The reason for this procedure is the huge cost to shut down that kind of thing. It takes several days to restart production after stopping, with huge financial consequences.
Gas pipeline of both 16 in (41 cm) and 18 in (46 cm) diameter ran into Piper Alpha . Two years earlier, Occidental management ordered the study, which results warn of the dangers of the gas line. Because of their length and diameter, it will take several hours to reduce their pressure, which means fighting fires triggered by them is definitely not possible. Although management acknowledged how devastating the gas explosion, Claymore and Tartan were not turned off by the first emergency call.
10: 05: 00 The Search and Rescue Station at RAF Lossiemouth receives the first call to inform them of a possible emergency, and no helicopter No. 202 Sqn Sea King, "Rescue 138", took off at the request of the Coastguard station in Aberdeen. The station at RAF Boulmer was also notified, and a Hawker Siddeley Nimrod from RAF Kinloss was sent to the area to act as "Landscape Commander" and "Save Zero-One".
10:20 pm Release of Tartan Gas Channel The Tartan gas channel (pressurized to 120 atmospheres) melts and bursts, releasing 15-30 tons of high pressure gas every second, which is immediately turned on. Since then, platform destruction has been assured.
10: 30 pm The Tharos , a large fireboat, rescue and semi-submersible accommodation, pulled together with Piper Alpha . The Tharos uses his water cannon where it can, but it is limited, because the cannon is so strong it will hurt or kill anyone who is exposed to water.
10:50 pm MCP-01 Gas Line Rupture The second gas line breaks (riser for the MCP-01 platform), releasing millions of cubic feet of gas into the fire and increasing its intensity. The big fire fired over 300Ã, ft (90 m) in the air. The Tharos is driven by a frightening heat, which begins to melt the surrounding engine and steel. It was not until the explosion that Claymore's platform stopped pumping oil. The surviving personnel still furiously sought refuge in a charred and smoke-filled accommodation block or jumped from various deck levels, including helideck, 175Ã, ft (50 m) to the North Sea. The blast also killed two crew members with a fast rescue boat launched from the Sandhaven flagship and six Piper Alpha crews they rescued from the water.
11: 18 pm Claymore Gas Line Rupture The gas pipeline connecting the Piper Alpha to the Claymore Platform broke, adding more fuel to a very large flame that swept Piper Alpha.
11: 35 pm The "Rescue 138" helicopter from Lossiemouth arrived at the scene.
11: 37 thm. Tharos contacted Nimrod "Save Zero-One" to inform him of his situation. A standby vessel has taken 25 victims, including three with serious burns, and one with injuries. Tharos requested the evacuation of non-essential personnel to make room for incoming victims. "Rescue 138" was asked to evacuate 12 non-essential personnel from Tharos to be transferred to Ocean Victory , before returning with paramedics.
11:50 pm. With important support structures burning out, and with no support for the heavier structures above, the platform began to crumble. One of the cranes collapsed, followed by a drilling crane. The Generation and Utility Module (D), which includes a fireproof accommodation block, slips into the sea, bringing the crew of the ship curled inside with it. The greatest part of the platform follows. "Rescue 138" landed on Tharos and took 12 unimportant personnel before leaving for Ocean Victory.
11: 55a, pm "Rescue 138" arrives at Ocean Victory and landed 12 passengers before returning to Tharos <4 with Ocean Victory ' s paramedics.
00: 07:00, July 7 "Rescue 138" landed paramedics at Ocean Victory.
00: 17: a.m. "Rescue 138" extinguishes the serious burns invaded by Standby Safety Vessel, MV Silver Pit .
00: 25 a.m. First of all serious survivors of Piper Alpha were fired on board the "Rescue 138".
00: 45a.m. The entire platform has been lost. Module (A) is all that remains of Piper Alpha .
00: 48 a.m. "Rescue 138" landed at Tharos with three victims taken from the MV Silver Pit .
00: 58: a.m. Sikorsky's S-61 Civilian Helicopter from Bristow Helicopters arrived at Tharos from Aberdeen with the Medical Emergency Team.
01: 47a.m. Coastguard helicopters landed on Tharos with more casualties.
02: 25 a.m. The first helicopter left Tharos with the victim for the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
03: 27 a.m. "Rescue 138" landed at Tharos with the bodies of two casualties. "Rescue 138" then goes on refueling at drilling rig Santa Fe 140 .
05: 15 a. "Rescue 137" arrived at Tharos and after landing, then went to bring the victim to Aberdeen.
06: 21 a.m. The unharmed survivors of Piper Alpha leave Tharos by the Aberdeen civilian S-61 helicopter.
07: 25 a.m. "Rescue 138" took the remaining victims from Tharos to transfer to Aberdeen.
At the time of the disaster, 226 people were on the platform; 165 died and 61 survived. Two people from Standby Vessel Sandhaven were also killed.
Aftermath
There is controversy over whether there is enough time for more effective emergency evacuation. The main problem is that most of the personnel who have the authority to evacuate have been killed when the first explosion destroys the control room. This is a consequence of the platform design, which does not include a blast wall. Another contributing factor is that nearby connected platforms, Tartan and Claymore continue pumping gas and oil into Piper Alpha until the channel breaks out in heat in the second explosion. Their operations crews do not believe they have the authority to shut down production, although they can see that Piper Alpha is on fire.
The nearest submarine ship Lowland Cavalier reported an early explosion before 10:00 pm, and a second explosion occurred twenty-two minutes later. As civilian and military rescue helicopters reach the scene, a fire over 100 meters and visible as far as 100 km (120 km from Maersk Highlander) far prevents a safe approach. The largest number of survivors (37 out of 59) were found by the Quick Rescue Ship of the Standby Safety Vessel, MV Silver Pit ; coxswain James Clark later received the George Medal. Others who were awarded the George Medal were Charles Haffey of Methil [1], Andrew Kiloh of Aberdeen, and James McNeill of Oban [2] [3].
The remnants of the lit platform were extinguished three weeks later by a team led by Red Adair firefighters, despite reporting wind conditions of 80 mph (130 km/h) and 70 foot (20 m) waves. Part of the platform containing a kitchen where about 100 shelter victims had been discovered in late 1988 from the seabed, and the bodies of 87 people were found inside.
Inheritance accident
The Cullen Inquiry was established in November 1988 to establish the cause of the disaster. It is chaired by Scottish judge William Cullen. After 180 days of the process, he released his report Public Inquiry into Piper Alpha Disaster (short: Cullen Report ) in November 1990. It was concluded that the initial condensate leak was the result of maintenance work carried out simultaneously on the pump and associated safety valves. The investigation was critical of the Piper Alpha operator Occidental, who was found guilty of not having adequate maintenance and safety procedures, but no criminal charges were filed against the company.
The second part of the report makes 106 recommendations for changes to the North Sea safety procedures:
- 37 recommendations include procedures for operating the equipment, 32 information from platform personnel, 25 platform designs and 12 emergency services information
- The responsibility for implementing is for 57 with regulators, 40 for operators, 8 for industry as a whole and 1 for boat owners stand-by.
They lead to the application of the 1992 Offshore Installation Regulations (Safety Case).
The most significant of these recommendations is that operators are required to present safety cases and that the responsibility for enforcing safety in the North Sea should be moved from the Department of Energy to the Health and Safety Executive, as having both production and safety overseen by the same agency is a conflict of interest.
The disaster caused insurance claims of about $ 1.4 billion USD, so at the time it was the biggest man-made disaster that was insured. The process of insurance claims and reinsurance claims reveals serious flaws in the way insurance companies in Lloyd's of London and elsewhere keep track of their potential exposure, and cause their procedures to be reformed.
Survivors and relatives of those who died later formed the Piper Alpha Family and Survivors Association, which campaigned on North Sea safety issues. The accident float that marks the remains of Piper is about 1.1 nautical miles from the replacement Piper Bravo platform. The enduring effect of the Piper Alpha disaster is the creation of the first "post-Margaret Thatcher" trade union, the Offshore Industry Liaison Committee.
The memorial statue, showing three oil workers, was established at Rose Garden at Hazlehead Park in Aberdeen. These figures represent the western physical properties of offshore trade, eastern youth and perpetual movement and the north holding a spiral unwinding that represents the oil in the left hand. The sculptor is Sue Jane Taylor, a Scottish artist who had visited the Piper platform the previous year, and much based on his work around what he sees in and around the oil industry. One of the survivors was used as a model for one of the characters. In 1991, Scottish composer James MacMillan wrote "Tuireadh", a work for clarinet and string orchestra, as a complement to music for a memorial statue. In 2008, to mark the 20th anniversary of the disaster, a stage play, Lest We Forget was commissioned by Aberdeen Performing Arts and written by playwright Mike Gibb. It was done in Aberdeen, Scotland on the eve of the anniversary with its last appearance on July 6, 2008, twenty years on.
Started in 1998, one month after the tenth anniversary, Professor David Alexander, director of the Aberdeen Center for Trauma Research at Robert Gordon University undertook a study into the long-term psychological and social effects of Piper Alpha. He managed to find thirty-six survivors who agreed to give interviews or complete questionnaires. Almost all of these groups reported psychological problems. More than 70% of those interviewed reported psychological symptoms and post traumatic stress disorder behaviors. Twenty-eight said they had trouble finding work after the disaster; it appears that some offshore businessmen consider Piper Alpha survivor Jonah - the bearer of bad luck, which will not be accepted on rigs and other platforms. Family members of dead and living survivors also reported various psychological and social problems. Alexander also wrote that "some of these youths were stronger than before Piper, they learned many things about themselves, changed their values, some relationships became stronger.people realized they had powers they did not know. heroism happens. "
In 2013, on the 25th anniversary of the disaster, the Remembering Piper video - The Night That Changed Our Lives was released by Step Change in Safety. A three-day conference was held in Aberdeen to reflect on Piper Alpha's lessons and general industry safety issues.
Media
The incident was featured in the 1990 documentary series STV Rescue, about RAF Search and Rescue Force at RAF Lossiemouth, in the episode "Piper Alpha". Incidentally, the film crew has documented the rescue team at Lossiemouth at the time of the Piper Alpha crash.
On July 6, 2008, BBC Radio 3 aired the 90-minute Drama titled Three Piper Alpha . Based on the concrete evidence given to Cullen Inquiry, the event was re-told twenty years after the incident.
National Geographic displays this incident in a Documentary episode of Seconds from Disaster. The 2013 documentary Fire in the Night is about disaster.
In 2018, the disaster was shown on "The James Nesbitt Disaster that Changed England". Testimonials were heard from victims and their families.
See also
- Fire and Explosion Information Group
References
External links
- Caplan. "Appendix to Opinions (Lord Caplan) pgs 560-739 0/1261/5/1990" . Retrieved December 18 2005 .
- Caplan. Appendix to Opinions (Lord Caplan) volume 2 chapter 5 Cause 1 ". Retrieved December 18 2005 .
- Department of Trade and Industry (dti). "UK Oil and Gas Resources Volume 2 1998". Archived from original on August 30, 2005 . Retrieved December 18 2005 . Ã,
- BBC News (July 6, 1988). "On Today" . Retrieved July 6 2006 .
- Loss Prevention Bulletin (LPB). "Piper Alpha - event, Richardson, S., LPB Issue 122, April 1995, IChemE, UK".
- educationscotland.gov.uk. "Piper Alpha Memorial Window, Oil Industry Chapel, St. Nicholas' Kirk, Aberdeen. (Images published as Creative Commons by Nick in exsilio on Flickr.)". Archived from the original on July 3, 2013.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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