PIPER ALPHA - THE US REGULATORY RESPONSE

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is responsible for ensuring that oil and gas operations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) of the United States (US) are conducted in a manner that minimises the risk to human safety and the environment. The MMS established a task group to review information on the Piper Alpha tragedy and a similar platform fire in the Gulf of Mexico. The group determined that US regulations do not include sufficient safeguards to effectively prevent or minimise the consequences of such fires. Both incidents were triggered by insufficient planning for repair activities and the absence of necessary internal communication. The task group has recommended improved marking procedures for upstream equipment and control panels and briefing of platform and contractor personnel. The tragic consequences of these incidents were largely the result of subsequent explosions that occurred when large volumes of pipeline hydrocarbons were released and ignited. New requirements for the protection of pipeline risers have been proposed; information has been collected to assist in determinations regarding the location of pipeline shutdown valves.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • WEMT '91, Intl Conf Offshore Operations Post Piper Alpha; 6-8 Feb 1991; London U.K. Sponsored by Inst Marine Engrs & RINA Joint Offshore Group. Pprs. Publ by Marine Management (Holdings) Ltd., ISBN 0-907206-39-5. Paper 5, p 37 [10 p, 11 ref, 8 fig]
• Authors:
  • Danenberger, E P
  • Schneifer, E P
• Publication Date: 1991

Language

• English

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Offshore construction; Regulations
• Old TRIS Terms: Platform accidents; Platform safety
• Subject Areas: Law; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00702114
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Maritime Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 14 1995 12:00AM