1. MKKK 1653 SAFETY AND HEALTH IN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES
FACULTY OF CHEMICAL AND ENERGY ENGINEERING
MKKK SAFETY AND HEALTH IN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES
PIPER ALPHA (1988)
DEADLY OFFSHORE DISASTER (OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY)
VICKNESHWARAN A/L KANNUCHAMI
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2. Outlines BACKGROUND OF COMPANY AND PROCESS WHAT WENT WRONG?
SCALE OF ACCIDENT
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3. Background of company and process
Piper Alpha was a offshore North Sea oil production platform that began
production in1976.
Fully managed and operated by Occidental Petroleum Ltd.
Located approximately 120 miles from Aberdeen, Scotland.
The platform produce oil, natural gas and LPG.
By year 1988, the platform became world’s single largest oil producer which
produce 317,000 barrels of oil every day.
Figure 1: Piper Alpha platform.
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4. Background of company and process
Figure 2: Oil and gas flow Piper Alpha to other platform.
The platform act as a hub for importing and exporting oil and gas.
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5. Background of company and process
Figure 3: Side view of Piper Alpha platform.
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6. Background of company and process
Figure 4: Compartment of Piper Alpha production site.
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What Really Happens???
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Scale of Accident
From 226 total crewmembers, 165 platform
personnel and two rescuers dead, 61
injured/survived.
Total insured loss was about US$ 3.4 billion.
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Flow of Accident
Faulty paperwork.
Caused the pump without the safety valve to
Cause an explosion to
Cause the loose fitting metal disk to
Caused a larger explosion to
Cause the firewalls to burst and fly around like bullets to
Cause rupture to an oil pipe that dripped onto the improperly placed diving rubber mats to
Cause a pool of crude oil to
Cause a hot enough pressure gas line to burst to
Cause hotter and more on going fire.
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Root cause of Accident
Failure of management.
Design and construction.
Operation (Maintenance and Inspection).
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 References
Fire in the night. The Piper Alpha Disaster by Stephen McGinty.
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