24/2/2014
Element 4
Fire Protection and
Emergency Response
NEBOSH
International
Technical
Certificate in
Oil and Gas
Operational Safety
RRC Training
Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Leak and Fire Detection Systems: general considerations
Adequate number of detectors and location (vapour
density, air flow, etc.)
Maintenance and testing
Uninterruptible power supply
Manual backup
Minimisation of spurious alarms (voting systems)
Zoning (just like with alarms)
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Fire and Explosion in the Oil and Gas
Industries
Emergency Response
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Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Leak Detection, e.g. gas/vapour from pump seal or from
storage tank into bund
Select/Calibrate for specific substance (s) in use
Mostly for gas/vapour leaks - some instruments can detect
liquid HC leaks
CCTV with auto-sensing software - for visually spotting
liquid leaks
Optical beam oil mist detectors (pinhole leaks of
pressurised HCs)
RRC Training
24/2/2014
Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Fire Detection
Smoke Detectors
3 basic types, for:
Ionisation detectors use a
radioactive compound to ionise
the air in a chamber.
Smoke
Heat
Flame
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Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Optical detectors types
Light scattering or
obscuration
Smoke detector
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Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Heat Detectors
Flame Detectors
Operating principles: fusible links or expansion
Sensitive to UV, visible or IR radiation
Can activate at pre-set temperature or sensitive to rate
of rise of temperature (or both)
Must maintain line of sight
Configurations:
Spot (or point) vs. Line
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RRC Training
24/2/2014
Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Passive fire protection
coating or cladding arrangement or free-standing system
which, in the event of fire, will provide thermal protection
to resist the rate at which heat is transmitted to the object
or area being protected.
Active fire protection
equipment, systems and methods which, following
initiation, may be used to control, mitigate and extinguish
fires.
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Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
PFP temporarily provides and maintains 3 things:
Integrity should not allow flames or smoke through
Stability maintain structural strength of what it is
protecting
Insulation prevent significant heat transmission
Protection is short-term typically 30 mins 2hours
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Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Passive Fire Protection (PFP) comes in many forms,
including:
Preformed, e.g. boards, cladding, linings, pipe shells
Prefabricated, e.g. fire barriers, walls and partitions
Spray coatings, e.g. epoxy resin-based intumescents,
cement based plasters and endothermic coatings.
Enclosures, e.g. around ESD valves
Seals/sealants, e.g. intumescent door seals, fire-stopping
Flexible jackets, etc.
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24/2/2014
Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Fixed Water and Foam-Based Fire Protection Systems
comprise:
Active Fire Protection (AFP), e.g.
A fire-water source
Fixed sprinkler or deluge systems, using water,
foam
A fire-water pump
Portable fire extinguishers
Fire-water mains (dry or wet)
Discharge point sprinkler heads, open heads (deluge)
monitors, hoses
Fixed foam-based installations basically same as water
except a foam concentrate is injected into the water system
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Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Water systems
Work by cooling a fire
Foam systems
work by smothering a fire
Can be dangerous used on
HC fires
Can be effective with HC
pool fires but not jet fires
Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Deluge systems are used for:
General protection of an area
Specific protection (cooling) of, e.g. critical vessels
Water curtains, e.g. protecting an escape route
Common types of water and foam based AFPs are:
NB Use large amounts of water !
Sprinkler systems
Deluge systems
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RRC Training
24/2/2014
Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Water-Mist Systems used as alternative to gaseous
inerting systems. Very fine mists effective on most types
of fire, including flammable liquids
Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Dry Chemical-Based Fire Protection Systems
Fixed or portable
Monitors (fixed or portable)
like a water/foam cannon
Hoses (fixed or portable)
connect to fire water mains
Can be used on most fires, including HCs
Work by smothering the fire
Danger of re-ignition
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Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Gaseous Inerting Extinguishing Systems
CO2 and Argonite used for, e.g. electrical, comms, machine
rooms.
Less mess/damage than water, foam and dry powder
Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Mobile/Portable Equipment
Portable extinguishers:
Foam
Water
Carbon dioxide
Dry powder
Work by smothering fire
Danger of suffocation of personnel if not evacuated
Portable hoses and monitors (attach to fire water mains)
Used where water based systems unsuitable (risk of
electrocution)
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24/2/2014
Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Specific examples of fire protection measures that might be applied:
Look at some examples of protection systems
Example
Fire Protection Measures
NB, use in addition to good design features such as:
Fixed roof tanks
foam injection (overhead or
sub-surface); water deluge
sprays for cooling.
Fixed foam installations
(around rim seal). Monitors
and water cooling sprays also
used
Gas leak detection; overhead
foam deluge; foam monitors
and water hoses/hydrants
bunding around tanks
pressure relief systems
Floating roof tanks
over-filling alarms
siting (separation and spacing)
Process modules
emergency shut-off devices
control of ignition sources
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Fire and Explosion in The Oil and Gas
Industries
Emergency Response
A 3-part strategy to prevent major accidents:
Example
Spheres
Fire Protection Measures
Gas leak detection; spray-on
passive protection on
structures and supports; water
deluge and monitors for
cooling
Gas turbines and compressors Gas leak detection; enclosure
in fire-resisting shell; fixed
water mist or CO2 sprinkler
installations
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Identification of an installation as a major
hazard installation
Prevention and control
Mitigation emergency planning
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24/2/2014
Emergency Response
Emergency Response
The ERP will consider:
Role and Importance of Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
Specific foreseeable emergency situations
Communicates to all parties what action to take,
responsibilities, resources, etc.
The organisational roles, authority, responsibilities and expertise
Demonstrates forward thinking
The emergency response actions / procedures may need to
coordinate with other connected installations)
Documentary evidence or preparedness for regulator (may
be a legal requirement too!)
Sufficient resource provision (including external services)
Evacuation procedures
Prompt action separates incidents from catastrophes
Communications (may have to consult with regulators, etc.)
Needs to be specific to the installation
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Training for personnel and drills to test the emergency plan
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Emergency Response
Emergency Response
Fire and Explosion Strategy (FES)
(the record of a specific fire and explosion risk assessment, which
feeds into ERP)
Alarms
FES would consider, e.g. :
Automatic vs. manually operated (call points)
Foreseeable fires/explosions
Can be incorporated into fixed fire-water installations
Likelihood of occurrence and likely severity (depends on e.g.
location, nature of fuel, handling, complexity)
Fire and gas detection systems can also initiate alarms
and control actions
Human factors (behaviour in a fire)
Audible and/or visual warning
Installation remoteness, etc.
Most appropriate fire prevention/control/mitigation measures
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24/2/2014
Emergency Response
Emergency Response
ALARMS
Alarm type
Primary
Supplementary
Muster
Intermittent signal of
constant frequency
Flashing yellow
Prepare to
abandon
Continuous signal of
variable frequency
Flashing yellow
Toxic
Continuous signal of
variable frequency
Flashing red in
affected area
Offshore installations also commonly have
status lights:
Green - normal operation
Yellow - indicates low level alert gas
Red - indicates high level alert gas
Blue - indicates abandon platform
Primary alarm is audible, supplementary (in very noisy areas) is visual
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Emergency Response
Emergency Response
Medical Emergency Planning should consider:
Levels 1 & 2 First-aid
The range of likely medical emergencies
An adequate number of trained first-aiders.
The personnel level of training, numbers needed
First aid equipment
First-aid kits, specialist treatments; recovery room; (AEDs)
The need to transport/evacuate to off-site medical facilities
Proportionate, tiered response for on-site provision:
Level
1
2
3
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Description
Basic first-aid provision
Advanced first-aid provision
Medics/paramedics with remote support from other
medical professionals
Level 3 typically
Medics/paramedics capable of administering drugs,
advanced wound treatments, etc.
Some equipped with extensive facilities such as X-ray, and
staffed by nurses and medics
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24/2/2014
Emergency Response
Emergency Response
Principles of Escape, Evacuation and Rescue (EER)
Medical Evacuation and Back-up
Escape routes should be:
Procedures need to consider:
Wide enough (at least 1 metre wide)
Health risk to the patient urgency of transfer and
risks associated with this. Needs medical assessment.
Sufficient in number (including alternative routes)
Scale of the emergency single vs. multiple
casualties
Resources needed and available vehicles and
accompanying personnel (first aiders)
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Emergency Response
Emergency Response
Protected against the effects of
fire/explosion
Evacuation Off Site (in case of off-shore installation)
Clearly designated and illuminated
Primary method normal non-emergency method, e.g. ship
Maintained clear of obstructions.
All doors should open in the direction
of travel
Secondary method backup if primary not available, e.g.
lifeboat, situated close to temporary refuge. Allow at least
50% spare lifeboat capacity
Lead to muster points or temporary
refuges
Tertiary methods final options; personal equipment
lifejackets, life rafts and survival suits
Evacuation off-site if incident
escalates
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24/2/2014
Emergency Response
Emergency Response
Recovery and Rescue
Roles and Operation of Fire Teams
Recovery from the sea will be required when, for example:
Have specific responsibilities to fight fire and respond in
emergencies (search & rescue, first aid, etc.)
A tertiary evacuation method has been used
Also called Emergency Response Team (ERT)
A helicopter has had to ditch into the sea
Someone has fallen into the sea (overboard) from the
installation
On-shore Major hazard installations tend to adopt
command structure similar to the fire brigade with IC
and MC
Certain secondary evacuation methods have been used,
such as assistance for survival craft
Off-shore OIM is in charge
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Emergency Response
Typical onshore installation roles in emergencies:
Incident controller (IC) will:
Determine if an incident (of which they have been notified)
is serious (or likely to be)
If serious, will initiate emergency plan
Assume some main controller (MC) responsibilities, if MC
absent, e.g. ensure alert external emergency services
Emergency Response
Main controller (MC) has overall responsibility.
Reviews incident continually as it develops (keeps records
of events and decisions made, and preserves evidence)
Ensures injured people treated quickly and welfare needs
addressed
Liaises with external agencies
Traffic control
Co-ordinate incident response activities, e.g. search &
rescue, fire fighting
Deal with the media
Establish and maintain comms (with MC in ECC, etc.)
Post incident recovery and clean-up
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24/2/2014
Emergency Response
Offshore command structure
OIM is in overall charge, assisted by:
2 on-scene commanders (one from drilling; one from
process)
A permit controller
A radio operator
An offshore installation supervisor (OIS)
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Emergency Response
This team will have direct contact with onshore and the
coastguard, especially important offshore are:
Monitoring the weather conditions
Monitoring the position of the standby boat
Maintaining communications with the fire teams in
action
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Emergency Response
Emergency Response
Training and Drills
Examples of specialist training, depending on role:
Basic instruction (all personnel):
Role
Fire team
Raising the alarm
Evacuation routes
MCs, ICs, OIMs, OISs
Where to muster
Control room operators
Use of life-saving equipment and basic first-aid
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Helideck crews
Training to cover e.g.
fire behaviour, fire fighting
techniques, BA, search &
rescue, comms
accident analysis, decision
making, evidence recording etc
Radio operation in emergencies
(mayday calls, etc.)
Specialist helideck emergency
training
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24/2/2014
Emergency Response
Emergency Response
Refresher training needed to maintain competence
Liaison with External Support Agencies, e.g.
Drills needed to check people WILL respond as trained
Table-top drills help with problem solving
Practical exercises involve personnel in mock incident
Drills carried out every 7 days
Fire brigade
Ambulance and air ambulance
Coast guard
Police
Local authorities
Health authorities
EHS regulatory authorities
Utility services (gas, water, electricity, telephone)
Major exercise every 2 3 months
Some resources may be pooled (shared) among sites.
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