Step change in safety has commissioned a short film about the piper alpha disaster featuring artwork by sue jane taylor. Pipe lift raft on its aunching platform efore h, init. Also, the probability of such an accident could be made arbitrarily small by controlling the level of detail in which the accident is described. Piper alpha wis an ile production platform in the north sea approximately 120 miles 190 km northeast o aiberdeen, scotland. The sixtyone survivors of the piper alpha accident survived because they disobeyed the standing instructions. You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your. The single worst rig disaster in history, and it all could have been prevented so easily. It outlines the findings of the investigation in vol. Copyright jim thomson 20 safety in engineering ltd piper alpha. Footage of the explosion of the piper alpha platform in the north sea. Sweeping changes needed in the way that safety in the offshore industry is assessed. Pdf the british offshore oil industry after piper alpha. The piper alpha incident is still regarded as the worst offshore oil disaster in the history of the uk. For instance, an action as simple as misplacing a permittowork certificate was just one of the root causes of the piper alpha incident in the north sea.
About piper alpha 15 it was discovered in 1973 by occidental petroleum caledonia in 1975 piper alpha oil rig was constructed on july 6th 1988, an explosion of the piper alpha platform 3 4. Learning from the piper alpha accident the offshore platform piper alpha, which was lo cated in the british sector of the north sea oil field and operated by occidental petroleum, was engulfed in a catastrophic fire on july 6, 1988. In 1978 piper alpha was modified to process and export the natural gas to comply with uk gas conservation requirements 5 6. About piper alpha placed at north sea, the platform began production in 1976, first as an oil platform and then later converted to gas oil production started in 1976 with about 250,000 barrels 40,000 m3 of oil per day increasing to 300,000 barrels 48,000 m3 a gas recovery m. It was a disaster that never should have happenedbut bosses disregard for safety. An explosion an resultin ile an gas fires destroyed piper alpha on 6 julie 1988, killin 167 fowk, includin twa crewmen o a rescue veshel.
About piper alpha 35 in 1976 platform started production of oil. It accounted for around ten per cent of the oil and gas production from north sea at the time. Piper alpha was a large north sea oil platform that started production in 1976. Piper introduced the piper cub in 1937, he had a dream the freedom of flight for everyone. Learning from the piper alpha accident semantic scholar. Posted by ian d hi ciaran the video that you refer to is a bbc production called spiral to disaster from the bbc disaster series 1. British sector north sea oil field 120 miles aberdeen scotland 4 5. Piper alpha case history the following information has been taken from the uk government publication the public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster the lord cullen report. As shifts changed and the night crew aboard piper alpha assumed duties for the evening, one of the platforms two condensate pumps failed. Home year one case studies piper alpha accident tuesday, october, 2015 piper alpha accident the piper alpha was a north sea oil production platform operated by occidental petroleum caledonia ltd. This is piper alpha spiral to disaster bbc by green world group on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Despite hearing maydays and seeing smoke, claymore and tartan continued pumping oil to maintain revenue. Both oil and gas was pumped from the two other platforms to piper alpha and subsequently pumped to. This is one of the 10 dvds in the acclaimed bbc series now available in a totally new format with expert training support material.
About piper alpha placed at north sea, the platform began production in 1976, first as an oil platform and then later converted to gas oil production started in 1976 with about 250,000 barrels 40,000 m3 of oil per day increasing to 300,000 barrels 48,000 m3 a gas recovery module. A pipeline network connected the piper alpha to the tartan and claymore. The accident killed 165 out of 226 crew members and two crew members from the standby vessel sandhaven. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
The cullen report said this role should be transferred to the. It produced oil from 24 wells and in its early life it had also produced gas from two wells. This is the conclusion of the cullen report into the explosion on the oil rig piper alpha that killed 167 men. Frank doran, labour mp for aberdeen north, made the comment at. Learn how piper alphas connection to a network of rigs fueled the fire. A northeast mp suggested yesterday that prosecutions could still be launched over the piper alpha disaster. Frontline scotland, which will be shown on tuesday night, questions the longheld view that the inferno in july 1988 which claimed the lives of 167 men was sparked by a single. Jul 02, 20 its 25 years since the piper alpha oil platform was engulfed in flames, claiming the lives of 167 people. Sue jane, who was offshore in the months before to. The piper alpha disaster in 1988 shocked the world, and changed offshore safety management and legislation in the north sea beyond recognition. As a result of the piper alpha accident, doe will be stripped of its responsibility for offshore safety. This program utilizes a case study of the explosion and fire at the piper alpha oil platform in the north sea which resulted in the loss of 167 lives. The incident that changed the whole industry piper alphawas anorth sea oil platform operated by occidental petroleumwhich began production in 1976 as an oil platform which later was converted to gas production an explosion and the resulting fires destroyed the entire platform on 6 th of july 1988, killing 167 workers the total insured loss of the platform was approximately 1.
What caused the giant piper alpha oil rig explosion. Piper alpha presentation free download as powerpoint presentation. The first cullen report was prompted by occidental petroleums piper alpha disaster on 6 july, in which gas condensate. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster cm 10. Accident piper pa31t cheyenne i n480ca, 02 jan 2004. Its 25 years since the piper alpha oil platform was engulfed in flames, claiming the lives of 167 people. Landmark piper alpha cullen report now free to download.
The offshore platform piper alpha, which was lo cated in the british sector of the north sea oil field and operated by occidental petroleum, was engulfed in a. It was connected by an oil pipeline to flotta and by. Just a sample of presentation format for piper alpha disaster cause which may help u in preparation for something like this in the future. There are other parallels that can be drawn from piper alpha, too, in management, cultural and technical failures that contributed to the loss of the oil rig and 167 lives. At about 10 pm, a simple miscommunication and safety lapse involving one of the platforms two condensate pumps caused a chain reaction, culminating in a chain reaction of explosions that completely destroyed the entire piper alpha oil rig.
The aircraft was operating a flight from tel aviv, israel via kerkira, greece. Piper alpha atform from the,xlpha forll the all pi. An explosion on the piper alpha platform occurred in july 1988. Piper alpha disaster on an oil and gas platform in the. Feb 12, 2018 about piper alpha 15 it was discovered in 1973 by occidental petroleum caledonia in 1975 piper alpha oil rig was constructed on july 6th 1988, an explosion of the piper alpha platform 3 4. Piper aircraft general aviation aircraft manufacturer.
I think there is a copy on youtube but i cant work out how to a. The human price of oil dvd training package the safety video is a gripping dramadocumentary that recreates the three hours of the piper alpha tragedy. This report in two volumes is the final report on the public inquiry into the piper alpha platform disaster in the north sea by a parliamentary commission under lord cullen. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading fire in the night. Landmark piper alpha cullen report now free to download news. Jul 06, 2012 to read the entire preface, or the entire book, get the free download. Piper alpha timeline piper alpha was a large offshore rig based 100km off the coast of aberdeen.
The vast inferno created by simultaneous eruptions from ruptured gas and. The cullen inquiry was set up in november 1988 to establish the cause of the disaster. Piper alpha is an offshore oil and gas platform that suffered an explosion. Piper alpha the tragic event of piper alpha occurred when this massive oil platform in the north sea succumbed to explosion and fire, resulting in the loss of 167 lives.
Piper alpha re ceived and sent to the shore the oil and gas production of a group of platforms. Learn how piper alpha s connection to a network of rigs fueled the fire. A good challenge with huge levels and plenty of opposition, a good slogfest though it never becomes slaughterish. Piper alpha was an oil production platform in the north sea approximately 120 miles 190 km northeast of aberdeen, scotland, that was operated by occidental petroleum caledonia limited. On july 6, 1988, in the piper oilfield, north sea, the worlds deadliest offshore oil industry disaster took place. The rig produced oil, gas and condensate primarily propane and was linked to two other drilling platforms via large undersea pipelines.
Piper alpha presentation safety emergency incident free. The piper alpha disaster kindle edition by mcginty, stephen. In november 1990, it concluded that the initial condensate leak was the result of maintenance work being carried out simultaneously on a pump and related safety valve. Piper alpha report made free to public after charges deemed unacceptable. Alpha disaster in 1988 in which 167 offshore workers died.
Piper alpha film a reminder that same hazards exist. Paul, where he lives with his wife, melissa, and their seven children. Jul 04, 20 on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the piper alpha disaster, a north sea oil and gas insider claims safety measures are made a mockery by management bullying. Download limit exceeded you have exceeded your daily download allowance. It began production in 1976, 2 initially as an oilonly platform but later converted to add gas production. Piper alpha platform, north sea offshore technology oil and gas. Professionalismpiper alpha oil rig disaster wikibooks. The accident was preceded by poorlymade decisions and preventable chain of faults. It began production in 1976, initially as an oilonly platform but later converted to.
In this paper, i describe the accident, its chronology, and the dependencies involved. Sue jane, who was offshore in the months before to the disaster, sketched. Julian turner charts the safety improvements that have taken place in the 25 years since the worst accident in the history of the oil and gas industry. Piper alpha prosecutions worth considering, says mp. Two men implicated in the chain of events which ended with the piper alpha oil rig disaster could have been wrongly blamed, according to a bbc television documentary.
Nov 05, 2008 im after a copy of piper alpha spiraling to disaster tragic oil accident in the north sea. Piper alpha accident the piper alpha was a north sea oil production platform operated by occidental petroleum caledonia ltd. Piper alpha platform, north sea offshore technology oil. Regulationlegislation researchrisk modelling general safety trends. May 25, 2014 importance learning from major incident piper alpha disaster 1 comment i t is vital that lessons are learned from all major incidents, as management, cultural and technical failure i. Nov 11, 2006 footage of the explosion of the piper alpha platform in the north sea. A disaster which could have been, if not totally adverted, dramatically changed in course without the horrible loss of human life. Importance learning from major incident piper alpha disaster. Jun 09, 2009 the explosion that doomed piper alpha. Over,000 aircraft later, generations have lived that dream. E ven 25 years on, charles haffeys most powerful memory of the piper alpha disaster was the overwhelming, deafening noise. For similar platforms and for a welldefined class of accidents, however, this study is the. The crew worked to resolve the issue before platform production was affected. To read the entire preface, or the entire book, get the free download.
Occidental engineers knew the danger of a gas fire but hadnt designed safety features. Piper alpha presentation safety emergency incident. Piper alpha film a reminder that same hazards exist today. During the descent and approach, the aircraft passed through conditions conducive to a rapid build up of ice resulting in it stalling. Pdf in 1998, the explosion of the piper alpha platform claimed 167 lives, making it the worlds worst offshore oil disaster. The change in safety management for offshore oil and gas. An independent report on working conditions prior to the explosion. Piper alpha was an oil production platform in the north sea approximately 120 miles 190 km. It was a disaster that never should have happenedbut bosses disregard for. Copyright jim thomson 20 safety in engineering ltd piper. Piper alpha rewrites the rules on offshore safety new scientist. Piper alpha survivors recall disaster 25 years on business. It was connected by an oil pipeline to flotta and by gas pipelines to two other installations.
The offshore oil platform piper alpha was destroyed in july 1988 by a catastrophic fire. While this 5 summary has been condensed and paraphrased, it is believed to been consistent with the. The causes of the accident included a combination of technical and organizational factors. Automatic shutdown valves were made mandatory on rigs to starve any potential fires of fuel. Pdf since the death of 167 offshore workers on the piper alpha installation in july. Jul 04, 20 e ven 25 years on, charles haffeys most powerful memory of the piper alpha disaster was the overwhelming, deafening noise. Nov 03, 2011 this report in two volumes is the final report on the public inquiry into the piper alpha platform disaster in the north sea by a parliamentary commission under lord cullen. Free download of john pipers oldest and newest book. At the time of the disaster, piper was one of the heaviest platforms along with. So other platforms continued production and pumping of gas for sometime which supplied additional fuel to the fire at piper. It can be obtained from the bbc education and training department and it cost approx.
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