Piper Alpha was an oil production platform located in the North Sea that produced natural gas, LPG, and crude oil. On July 6, 1988, an explosion occurred on the platform due to a leak from a safety valve that was under maintenance but mistakenly connected to a pump that was put into use. This caused a chain reaction of explosions and fire that ultimately destroyed the platform, killing 167 workers. The disaster was caused by poor documentation and separation of paperwork regarding maintenance and safety procedures for pumps and valves. In response, the oil industry implemented new safety measures, permit systems, and formal assessments.

1. Piper Alpha

2. Piper Alpha
Located about 120 miles north east
of
Aberdeen, Scotland.
The platform started production in
1976
Produce natural gas, LPG and
crude oil
Piper Alpha contributed about 10%
of the oil production from the
U.K. sector of the North Sea.
.

3. In the night before the big
explosion
A condensate injection pump B
broke down.
To avoid loss of production of
LPG in charge engineer use
another pump that is pump A to
continue the production.

4. An eye witness saw explosion of blue
flame at module C
The blue flame was cause by the
leaking of LPG (liquefied petroleum
gas)
The LPG was suspected leak from the
safety valve.
There were two safety valves in
module C and one of them in
maintenance.
Later, it was found that that safety
valve that was under maintenance was
connected to a pump A.
The problem is how the LPG was
leaked?

5. The leaking gas was from the
loosely seal of safety valve that
was suppose under maintenance.
This safety valve connected to
pump A
The seal disc was tighten by
hand.
This valve and pump A was not
suppose to be used because of
under maintenance

6. Not long after the blue flame explosion at
module C.
Another explosion was occur beside the
module C that was module B.
Burst of fire ball engulfing the module B.
The operator quickly shut down power
supply. Causing no alarm system alarming
others worker.

7. Investigator, said that the blue
explosion is small and it is not
suppose effected module C since
it were covered with fire proof
wall or panel.
But, the panel cannot withstand
the explosion, that cause the
panel flying in high speed and
hit one of the pipe in module B
that cause the explosion.

8. A few minutes after module B
explosion
The flame was drip downward
An explosion followed, it was
below the deck.
Above that area there was a main
pipe line, Tartan’s gas line
pressurize to 120atm (70 times
pressure of tire car).
With intense heat, weak metal the
pipe line explode.
Fire bellow deck

9. Another two remaining main
pipe line explode.
Piper Alpha was burned down
by flames crumble into the
deep sea.
Killing 167 men and only 67
survivor.
Total insured loss was about
£1.7 billion (US$3.4 billion)
approximately RM10.56
billion.

10. The Main Causes:
Paper Work.
There two separated paper work that issued safety valve and pump
under maintenance
The paper work are stored in different boxes at different platform area.
The paper work that issued on pump maintenance was located at the
platform near the control panel. But the paper work on safety valve at another
place.
So, since the one of the pump broke down, the engineers quickly search
for the another pump paper work but not realize that that pump connected to
safety valve under maintenance. Since safety valve paper work at different
location.

11. Actions after the Disaster:
After Piper Alpha Disaster
there was an initial response from the industry. Every offshore operator
carried out immediate wide ranging assessments of their installation and
management system, which included
• Improvement to the permit to work management system
•Relocation of some pipeline emergency shut-down systems
•Installation of Subsea pipeline Isolation systems (SSIV)
•Mitigation of Smoke Hazards
•Improvement Evacuation and escape systems
• Initiation of Formal Safety Assessment.