of 22
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
1/22
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
2/22
INTRODUCTION
The Piper Alpha was a NorthThe Piper Alpha was a North
Sea Oil Production platformSea Oil Production platform
operated by Occidentaloperated by Occidental
Petroleum(Caledonia)Ltd.Petroleum(Caledonia)Ltd.
The platform began productionThe platform began production
in 1976,first as an oil platformin 1976,first as an oil platform
and then later converted to gasand then later converted to gasproduction.production.
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
3/22
INTRODUCTIONAn explosion and resulting fireAn explosion and resulting fire
destroyed it on July 6,1988, killingdestroyed it on July 6,1988, killing167 men.167 men.
Total insured loss was about 1.7Total insured loss was about 1.7billion(US$ 3.4 billion).billion(US$ 3.4 billion).
To date it is the worlds worstTo date it is the worlds worstoffshore oil disaster in terms of livesoffshore oil disaster in terms of lives
lost and impact to industry.lost and impact to industry.
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
4/22
Explosion!!Exp
losion!!On 6 July 1988,a leakage of natural gascondensate, which had build up beneaththe platform, ignited, causing a massiveexplosion ignited secondary oil fires,
melting the riser of an upstream gaspipeline.
Released gas caused a 2nd,larger
explosion, engulfed the entire platform.Only 62 crewmembers survived out of229 on board that day;167 perished.
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
5/22
AN ENTERTAINMENT
FOR
YOU.
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
6/22
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
7/22
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
8/22
Early Stage of The Explosion
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
9/22Evening of The Explosion
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
10/22
Night of The Explosion
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
11/22
After The Explosion
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
12/22
RESPONSE
The main problem -The personnel who hadThe main problem -The personnel who had
authority to orderauthority to order evacuationevacuation hadhad been killedbeen killedwhen thewhen the 1st explosion1st explosion destroyed the controldestroyed the controlroom.room.
This was a consequence of design of theThis was a consequence of design of theplatform, including theplatform, including the absence of blast wallsabsence of blast walls..
Another contributing factor was that aAnother contributing factor was that a nearbynearby
platform (the Tartan) continue to pump gas intoplatform (the Tartan) continue to pump gas intothe heart of the fire until its pipeline ruptured inthe heart of the fire until its pipeline ruptured inthe heat. Thethe heat. The operations crew on the Tartan didoperations crew on the Tartan didnot have authority to shut off production evennot have authority to shut off production eventhough they could see that Piper Alpha wasthough they could see that Piper Alpha was
burning.burning.
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
13/22
RESPONSE
Nearby support vessel Lowland
Cavalier reported the initialexplosion
20 minutes later, civil & military
rescue helicopters reached Tharos could not pump sufficient
water to approach it until after 2
hours.
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
14/22
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
15/22
RECOMMENDATIONS
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
16/22
RECOMMENDATION
Enforcement on regulatory ofoffshore installation
Demonstrate an effective SafetyManagement System
HSE 1991
Enforcement of PERMIT-TO-WORK System
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
17/22
RECOMMENDATION
Temporary Safe Refuge (TSR)
Prevent smoke ingress
Evacuation & escapeMore than 1 route to
helicopters & lifeboats
Provide secondary escapeequipments e.g. : ropes,
ladders & nets
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
18/22
RECOMMENDATION
Emergency Shutdown
Valves/System
Place proper location for easy
cut-off fuel supply in case of fire
Backup valves
Maintenance
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
19/22
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
20/22
RECOMMENDATION
Fire protection
Provide fire brigade teamControl fire in early stage
Continual improvement of
safety management
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
21/22
Do you as a safety officer in
the future would like thisaccident happen again?
8/14/2019 Alpha Piper English
22/22