MEC&F Expert Engineers : CAUSES AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS OF OIL RIG EXPLOSIONS OR FIRES

Sunday, December 7, 2014

CAUSES AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS OF OIL RIG EXPLOSIONS OR FIRES



 CAUSES AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS OF OIL RIG EXPLOSIONS OR FIRES 

As evidenced by the recent (November 2014) deadly explosion on the Black Elk Energy oil platform in West Delta 32 that took 3 lives, the 2012 Chevron oil rig K.S. Endeavor, which caught fire while operating off the coast of Nigeria, and the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon mammoth disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, oil rig explosions have the potential to have serious consequences.  Multiple workers may be at risk of serious harm or may lose their lives. 

Causes and Contributing Factors of Oil Rig Explosions or Fires
The various causes of an explosion or fire on an oil rig are virtually innumerable.  An offshore oil platform is a hazardous place.  Workers are required to operate or work in close proximity to heavy machinery and combustible substances.  Rough seas and heavy weather can make the environment unpredictable at best.  All it takes is a single mistake, defect in a piece of equipment or freak accident to cause a fire or explosion that leads to the injury or death of numerous workers and even the sinking of an entire platform.

Some examples of potential hazards that may cause oil rig explosions include:
·         Improperly grounded electrical equipment or wiring.
·         BOP failing to properly function due to design or equipment error or failure to maintain the BOP.
·         Fires from defective batteries.
·         Defective ventilation systems that cause a back-up of hazardous fumes.
·         Improperly stored fuel or other combustible substances.
·         Poorly maintained hoses, pipes, or pipelines that leak or spray fuel.
·         Improper use of welding devices or torches near combustible substances.
·         ·Corrosion of electrical equipment.
·         Failed equipment.
·         Failure to follow proper procedures for maintaining or cleaning the equipment.
·         Human error.
·         Failure to adhere to the JSA and other safety procedures.

Injuries Caused by Fires and Explosions on Oil Platforms
A worker on an offshore oil platform may be at risk of sustaining debilitating or life-threatening injuries and even death in an explosion or fire.  Some of the injuries that may be caused by these incidents include:
·         Death from the fire or explosion;
·         Burns;
·         Broken bones, lacerations and crush injuries caused by the force of the explosion;
·         Crush injuries caused by falling objects or debris;
·         Exposure to toxic chemicals or other hazardous substances;
·         Electrocution and electric shock;
·         Loss of hearing;
·         Brain damage;
·         Spinal cord injuries; and
·         Dismemberment / loss of limb.