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Content: Pagemasters:
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Gulf of
Mexico Region Fires – 1997 January 03, 1997 - Exxon Corporation
Remarks: An electrical panel shorted out when a plug on the saltwater relief valve rusted. The salt water sprayed into a 480-volt panel causing electrical sparking in the panel. The relief valve for this saltwater system, the electrical panel, and the circuit breakers have all been replaced. Estimated cost: $500.00 January 04, 1997 - CXY Energy, Inc.
Remarks: Compressor lost o-ring seal. Fire started. Damaged compressor building. Fire out at approximately 2045 on January 5, 1997. Started rest of platform. Both compressor areas isolated. January 14, 1997 - Conoco, Inc.
Remarks: Sparks ignited small flame (2-3 in). Used 30-lb dry chemical extinguisher. All hot work is suspended. January 16, 1997 - MOBIL Expl&Prod SE, Inc.
Remarks: The operator observed a fire at the top of the uniflux surge tank and the uniflux exhaust stack. The operator woke the two contractors to help fight the fire. They activated the fire pump and directed a fire monitor towards the top of the uniflux surge tank PSV and uniflux exhaust stack. The fire was extinguished and the uniflux pumps and blowers were manually shut down. January 16, 1997 - MOBIL Expl&Prod SE, Inc.
Remarks: The operator observed a fire at the top of the uniflux surge tank and the uniflux exhaust stack. The operator woke the two contractors to help fight the fire. They activated the fire pump and directed a fire monitor towards the top of the uniflux surge tank PSV and uniflux exhaust stack. The fire was extinguished and the uniflux pumps and blowers were manually shut down. January 21, 1997 - Pennzoil Exploration & Production Company
Remarks: Damaged rental air compressor shut in and will be sent in to beach for a replacement unit. January 28, 1997- Chevron USA, Inc.
Remarks: Rented portable light plant at junction box had electrical fire. Noticed fire within minutes and extinguished it. January 31, 1997- Chevron USA, Inc.
Remarks: The fire was caused by a broken nipple on the compressor suction scrubber, which caused gas to blow from the compressor and deflect off the heliport and then become ignited by the exhaust system of the compressor. February 02, 1997 - Texaco Exploration & Production, Inc.
Remarks: Small fire in the area of the compressor starter. The fire lasted approximately 2-3 minutes before it was extinguished using a 30-lb handheld unit. Normal production operations were being conducted at the time the compressor shut-in on a fire loop. Follow-up on February 3rd, vibration caused wear on sparkplug wire. Gas regulator was leaking, providing fuel source. Texaco replaced 4 plug wires and replaced the gas regulator. After testing and receiving verbal permission platform was put back on line. February 05, 1997 - Shell Offshore, Inc.
Remarks: Short in generator function box. Generator burned up. Used CO2 extinguisher to put out fire. February 06, 1997 - Conoco, Inc.
Remarks: Welding on ac main deck. Welding sparks ignited instrument gas leaking from fisher gas regulator. Used 30-lb dry chemical fire extinguisher. Regulator's diaphragm developed a leak allowing gas to be released from upper bonnet spring case vent hole. Lasted a few seconds. Fusible plug melted on instrument gas line and produced second fire. February 12, 1997 - Unocal Exploration Corporation
Remarks: Small fire was discovered on the glycol reboiler. Smoke came from insulation and shut off the fuel gas to the burner. The fire was quickly put out with water and no pollution or injury occurred. Fill at glycol developed cracks and leaked out on insulation causing the fire. Nipple has been replaced and the unit was placed back on production. February 14, 1997 - Shell Offshore Inc.
Remarks: Smoke and flames were noticed behind the chemical skid. A 30-lb fire extinguisher was used to put out the flames. There was no pollution released or injury to personnel. The cause of the circuit overload, which they suspect caused the flame, is being investigated. February 16, 1997 - Shell Offshore Incorporated
Remarks: Transformer shorted out, which caused the coating to melt and drop on some blue prints that ignited. The fire was put out with no further damage. February 18, 1997 - Enron Oil & Gas Company
Remarks: The fire was started by a short in an old shielded electrical cable that ignited hydraulic oil drippings from one of the crane hoses. The fire was immediately extinguished using a hand-held dry chemical unit. No injuries or damages were reported. New stainless steel braided shield-type was installed as cable of choice for use in high movement areas. February 18, 1997 - OXY USA, Inc.
Remarks: A "dresser coupling" on the oil connecting line to the externally mounted "Oberg" oil filter parted, allowing engine oil to spray onto the exhaust manifold and ignite. The operators were able to extinguish the fire utilizing two 30-lb hand-held fire extinguishers and one 350-lb ansul unit. Total damage is estimated at $500 with no injuries or loss of production. To insure that incidents of this nature be eliminated, all external oil filters are being inspected on OXY operated platforms, and any "dresser couplings" will be replaced with either hard piping or armored flex pipe. February 18, 1997 - Phillips Petroleum Company
Remarks: Glycol reboiler was shut down after a drip was noticed. The reboiler was monitored, and 6 hrs later a small amount of smoke was observed in the PSV connection. The flame was extinguished with a freshwater hose. There was no pollution or injury that occurred. The operator will clean and repair as necessary. February 19, 1997 - Shell Offshore Incorporated
Remarks: Platform shut-in on a process upset. Operator was in the process of bringing the platform on production when the fire occurred. Process problem was corrected, compressor was restarted and in the process of being loaded with gas when a noise (backfire) was heard and fire was seen at the stack above the turbine compressor/engine. Engine stopped or was shut down by the safety system, and the fire was extinguished. February 28, 1997 - Marathon Oil Company
Remarks: The generator oil heat exchanger system was shut down for repairs but the generator was left running. After isolating the oil system from the heat source, the butterfly valves were locked out of service, and the block valves were closed. The oil was subsequently drained from the segment to be repaired. Leaking valves and flanges were unbolted but not taken out of line. The generator was shut down by the smoke detector when the fire alarm announced a fire in the generator room. The fire was extinguished with water and chemical. March 03, 1997 - Callow Petroleum Operating Company
Remarks: The operator noticed a small flame 2 ft-3 ft high on the side of the glycol reboiler surge tank on the second deck of the platform. He got a 30-lb dry chemical extinguisher and told his assistant to shut in the reboiler. The fire was extinguished but reignited due to the heat from the surge tank. Water was applied to the tank to soak the insulation and cool the tank. The heat from the reboiler surge tank was the only possible ignition source determined. March 04, 1997 - Elf Exploration, Inc.
Remarks: Small fire on glycol dehydration system. Safety system (fusible plug in the loop) shut platform in. Little slug of condensate was dumped out of glycol line into still column of reboiler, which vented out of top and ignited on the exhaust stack on the reboiler. Slight damage to glycol control panel. March 07, 1997 - Union Oil Company of California
Remarks: The operator noticed a small fire on the engine exhaust muffler of oil shipping pump No. 2. It was extinguished with a 30-lb handheld fire extinguisher. The fire was a result of the threads on the pump's PSV test kit cracking due to excessive vibration of the pump. March 13, 1997 - Union Oil Company of California
Remarks: A fire occurred when the threads on a PSV on an oil pump cracked. Oil sprayed on the engine exhaust. The fire was quickly extinguished with chemicals, water, and foam. Minor damage was caused by the fire. Paint and control tubing was the extent of the damage. March 13, 1997 - Phillips Petroleum Company
Remarks: Construction activity was being conducted approximately 10 ft above and 10 ft horizontally from the area that the fire occurred. Slag from hot cutting work fell onto a pipeline expansion tank flange resulting in ignition of leaking natural gas. A 3-in flame was noticed by the fire watch and extinguished with one hand-held extinguisher. All hot work ceased and further work was done by cold-cut method. The area and flanges were sniffed prior to commencement of hot work/construction activities. March 15, 1997 - Pennzoil Exploration & Production Company
Remarks: During testing of newly completed well, rapid blowdown of test separator into a 100-bbl stock tank caused gas to vent through a 4-in vent line. The vent line was pointing down to within 8 in of the skid pan. The venting gas was possibly ignited by static electricity or trash in the vent line or skid pan. The fire was put out within 5 minutes by rig personnel, and no injuries occurred. March 22, 1997 - Chevron USA, Inc.
Remarks: A rental air compressor was being used to power air pumps that fill volume tanks with sea water as a working fluid for coiled tubing operations. The air compressor had been in operation for approximately 1 hr. While closing off air pressure to the air pumps it was noticed that the electrical wiring to the air compressor high temperature shut down switch had ignited and was burning the wire insulation. The air compressor was shut down, and the fire was extinguished by holding a rag over the temperature switch. The flame flared up from the wire insulation, approximately ½ in above the temperature switch and burned only momentarily. March 24, 1997 - Marathon Oil Company
Remarks: A fire occurred as a result of overheated coastal Thermalane 600, which is used as a heat transfer medium in the waste heat recovery unit. Thermalane, which had leaked into the waste heat recovery unit drip pan, became stagnant due to a clogged drain line and apparently autoignited. A post fire pressure test of the unit identified leaks on a seal located on the hot oil pump and a valve bonnet flange. Both leaks were contained in the drip pan. The fire self- extinguished, and the damage was very minor. March 31, 1997 - Mobil Oil Exploration & Production SE, Inc.
Remarks: While servicing the glycol system, a workman noticed there was no glycol returning from the contact tower. The contactor gave a high-level indication, and it was noted that the glycol reboiler was overfilled. An overflow was experienced, and the glycol system was shut-in. During the investigation of the glycol problem, a weak point was found around the base of the glycol refill nipple. The glycol refill nipple was repaired, the glycol return problem was solved, and the system was put back into service. Later that night, the insulation around the glycol reboiler ignited and began to burn. April 01, 1997 - American Exploration Company
Remarks: Prior to the loss of well control, the rig crew had set and cemented casing and the BOP stack was being nippled down with four bolts remaining when annular flow was observed. All personnel were safely evacuated onto the standby workboat. The rig and platform were on fire and the derrick collapsed. Clean up marine vessels were notified when there appeared to be an apparent oil spill. April 01, 1997 - Enron Oil & Gas Company
Remarks: Flash fire in generator room when welder was installing rebuilt generator. Fire was immediately extinguished. No injuries or damages. April 07, 1997 - Conoco, Inc.
Remarks: A roof, supported by scaffolding, was formed with 2 in x 6 in boards spaced about 12 in apart and covered with a canvas tarpaulin. The inside edge of the tarp was secured to the scaffolding at a height of about 3 ft from the deck and pulled over the roof supports. The excess was rolled up and tied along the outer edge of the roof with a portion resting on the well-insulated turbine exhaust. The wind loosened the ties causing the tarp to extend over the end of the turbine exhaust. The tarp ignited and flames traveled down the length of the structure. Burning material was ingested into the turbine causing it to shut down. April 09, 1997 - Vastar Resources, Inc.
Remarks: The 3-stage turbine gas compressor was taking an unusual amount of time to load up and start working at its normal capacity. While the operator was trying to bring the compressor into full service, the auxiliary seal oil pump was in recycle, which put unusual stress on the bearings in the pump. The bearings in the pump failed causing a metal-to-metal seal, which resulted in friction in the pump. There was also an o-ring seal failure, which allowed oil to escape from the pump while the metal-to-metal friction resulted in a small fire. The mechanic immediately shut down the compressor and extinguished the fire with a 30-lb dry chemical extinguisher. April 11, 1997 - Stone Energy Corporation
Remarks: None April 14, 1997 - Unocal Exploration Corporation
Remarks: The fill valve on the fill line to the lubricating oil day tank for Generator #1 was left open. The tank for this generator was part of an oil fill manifold in which the lube oil pump was located on the top deck of the platform, and the generator tank was located on the lower deck. The oil fill pump on the top deck began pumping oil into the oil fill manifold to fill the day tank for the compressor on the same deck, while oil migrated down to the lower deck and began filling the day tank for Generator #1. The tank on the lower deck overfilled and spilled oil onto the exhaust pipe of Generator #1. A fire started setting off fire alarms and shutting in the platform. The fire was extinguished using a 30-lb dry chemical fire extinguisher and water for cooling. April 16, 1997 - Allwaste Oilfield Services, Inc
Remarks: Trianthelene glycol ignited. Insulation damaged. Used water hose to put out fire. Lasted approximately 5 minutes. April 16, 1997 - Unocal Exploration Corporation
Remarks: While cutting out a pan to remove a tripping hazard, a piece of hot slag flew through the grating. The area was sniffed for gas, and there was a fire watch upstairs and downstairs. The phi fueling system, located just below the pan, was covered with wet tarps and being sprayed with fire hoses. The pump supply was still hooked up with polly flow. A small leak in the polly flow allowed an accumulation of natural gas to build up under the protective tarp, which ignited when a piece of cutting slag fell on the tarp. The fire hose was used to put the flash fire out within seconds. May 01, 1997 - Marathon Oil Company
Remarks: Gaslift compressor turbo charger had developed a leak, and oil leaked from the turbo onto insulation. Insulation caught fire due to excessive heat. No damage to equipment. Turbo charger on order. Employee nearby saw smoke and immediately shut down compressor and extinguished fire using 30-lb dry chemical and water to cool. May 14, 1997 - Vastar Resources, Inc.
Remarks: None May 15, 1997 - Vastar Resources, Inc.
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