On July 6, 1988, an explosion destroyed the Piper Alpha oil platform in the North Sea, killing 167 workers. Piper Alpha was a large fixed platform that produced oil and gas from 24 wells. A series of explosions were caused by failures in the condensate pumps and gas lines. As a result of the disaster, the Cullen Inquiry was established and new safety regulations were implemented for operating in the North Sea, focusing on equipment procedures, personnel training, platform design, and emergency response.

1. Piper Alpha Disaster
1988
Shahbaz Sardar
1633648

2. Piper Alpha Disaster 1988
 On July 6, 1988 one of the worst disasters in Off-shore
history occurred when an explosion, and the resulting oil
and gas fires, destroyed it on 6 July 1988, killing 167.
 The platform began production in 1976, first as an oil-
only platform and later converted to add gas production.

3.  A large fixed platform, Piper Alpha was situated on the
Piper oilfield, approximately 120 miles northeast
of Aberdeen in 474 feet of water.
 It produced crude oil and natural gas from 24 wells for
delivery to the Flotta oil terminal on Orkney

4.  During the late 1970s, major works were carried out to
enable the platform to meet UK Government gas export
requirements.
 However, Occidental made the decision to continue
operating the platform without upgrading throughout this
period and not to shut it down, as planned.
 Because the platform was completely destroyed, and
many of those involved died, analysis of events can only
suggest a possible chain of events based on known
facts.

5. Timeline of the disaster
 12:00 noon, Usual maintenances was issued.
 6:00 pm, Day shift ends. Workers leave without finishing.
 7:00 pm, Auto fire-fighting system was switched to manual.
 9:45 pm, Pump B Malfunction.
 9:55 pm, First Explosion Condensate Pump A was switched
on.
 10:04 pm, The control room was abandoned. "Mayday" was
signalled.
 10:20 pm, Tartan Gas Line Rupture.
 10:50 pm, MCP-01 Gas Line Rupture.
 11:18 pm, Claymore Gas Line Rupture.

6. Reasons for failure
 Formation of Hydrates.
 Lack of Communication.
 Design error of the safety valve.
 Human error.
 Inadequate blast walls.
 Lack of alternative ways to shut off oil & gas lines.
 Insufficient fire fighting systems.
 Insufficient exits for workers.
 Economic pressure of the companies.

7.  There is controversy about
whether there was sufficient
time for more
effective emergency
evacuation.
 The main problem was that most of the personnel who
had the authority to order evacuation had been killed
when the first explosion destroyed the control room.
 Another contributing factor was that the nearby
connected platforms Tartan and Claymore continued
to pump gas and oil to Piper Alpha until its pipeline
ruptured in the heat in the second explosion.

8.  The Cullen Inquiry was set up in November 1988 to
establish the cause of the disaster. It was chaired by the
Scottish judge William Cullen.
 After 180 days of proceedings, it released its report,
Cullen Report in November 1990.
 A memorial sculpture, showing three oil workers, was
erected in the Rose Garden within Hazlehead Park in
Aberdeen.

9.  As a result of the Piper Alpha Disaster new regulations
for the Operating in North Sea was implemented.
 37 recommendations covered procedures for
operating equipment, 32 the information of platform
personnel, 25 the design of platforms and 12 the
information of emergency services.
 The responsibility to implement was for 57 with the
regulator, 40 for the operators, 8 for the industry as a
whole and 1 for stand-by ship owners.
 They led to the adoption of the Offshore Installations
(Safety Case) Regulations 1992.

10.  As a result of the Piper Alpha Disaster new regulations
for the Operating in North Sea was implemented.
 37 recommendations covered procedures for
operating equipment, 32 the information of platform
personnel, 25 the design of platforms and 12 the
information of emergency services.
 The responsibility to implement was for 57 with the
regulator, 40 for the operators, 8 for the industry as a
whole and 1 for stand-by ship owners.
 They led to the adoption of the Offshore Installations
(Safety Case) Regulations 1992.