Donut Personal Control Descent Device vs Scramble Nets

Despite Piper Alpha tragedy in 1988 which claimed  the lives of 160+ persons, Scramble Nets are still largely being used in Offshore Oil and Gas facilities throughout the world.

Whilst, Scramble Nets has been considered as tertiary means of escape to sea, DONUT Personal Control Descent Device is a better alternative and certainly would improve Evacuation, Escape and Rescue during unwanted incidents in Oil and Gas facilities.

Below are some discussions on DONUT system compared to conventional methods of Evacuation.

Conventional methods of Secondary/Tertiary Evacuation:

• Scramble nets are awkward and difficult to use and require periodic inspection.
• Knotted ropes are both physically and mentally very demanding to use, especially if the evacuee is wearing a Survival Suit or Life Jacket
• Chutes are fixed entity, which may be rendered inoperative if the cause of the emergency is in the area where the chute is situated.

Advantages of DONUT over conventional methods of Evacuation:

• DONUT is both lightweight and portable. It can be deployed from any safe area on the Platform or Installation
• It can be used with any other combination of Survival equipment found onboard the Platform
• Users do not have to wait their turn to use the equipment
• It can be used during an escape to Liferaft, where a strop is attached to the Liferafts Painter Line allowing a guided descent to the Liferaft, thus preventing the risk of being washed once in the water.
• The user can lock off the DONUT device above the water, awaiting Rescue remaining visible and more importantly dry.
• The DONUT is fitted with a non-spark chemical Lightstick allowing the user to illuminate their descent or attract attention.

Process Safety - Asset Integrity

"Nearly four years after the disaster in Texas City, there continues to be a disturbing number of fires, explosions and releases at the nation's refineries. These events endanger workers and public and can distrupt the supply of needed transportation fuels". A quote extracted from Chairman John Bresland.

"A sudden release of flammable liquid from a flare or blow down stack poses a potential risk to people, equipment and the environment and warrants a close look"

The above extracts are related to Fire at the Tesoro refinery in Salt Lake City, Utah, following a power outage earlier in the day.

Liquid hydrocarbons were released froma flare stack during an effort to restart the refinery's crude unit. The hydrocarbons were ignited in a pool fire that extended from the base of the stack and damaged a trailer and other equipment that were positioned nearby.

Inquiry to seek to determine if there are any similiarities to the 2005 accident at the BP Texas City refinery are being conducted/investigated by CSB.

All the investigation is currently on its way, nonetheless the following issues needs a particular attention;

1) Management of Change - Was a proper Risk Assessment done for the restart. If yes was it done with proper attendees? Competency? Did they highlight all possible scenarios?

2) API 752 application. Temp and Permanent Occupied Buildings. What we have learned from Texas City? Are repeating the same mistakes?

3) Process Safety and Assest Integrity Issue. Safety Critical Elements and Performance Standards? Was this properly identified and managed?

4) The list goes on.......

Regards
Siva

Thought of the day

The end of education is character - Baba

Ignition sources of explosion - Electromagnectic Waves emiited from Telecommunication Tower/Antenna

Besides explosive atmosphere made of air (oxygen) and flammable matter in the form of dust, gas or mist, also ignition source is necessary for the explosion. It is the third apex of the explosion triangle (combustible matter, oxygen, ignition source). Ignition source is, generally said, such effect, which produces energy to its surroundings and this energy is sufficient to ignite the explosive atmosphere in which this source occurs. Energy necessary for the ignition is depending on the type of the explosive atmosphere and characteristics of the dust or gas. Generally can be said, that for ignition of gaseous atmosphere only 10-1000 times lower energy is sufficient, comparing to dust atmosphere.

Despite of the fact, that there can be unlimited reasons for forming the ignition source (and telling them after the massive explosion is the most complicated part of the investigation), there is only limited number of ignition sources and many of them is even not sufficient for the ignition of majority of the matters. The complete list of the ignition sources with the information if the source is or is not relevant in normal conditions for gases or dust is in the following table.

ignition source	common reason	relevant for dusts	relevant for gases and vapours
hot surface	friction of the rotating parts, failures of the devices working with high temperature, damages of heat insulations, processing of the materials, failures of brakes, barings, rotating mechanisms	YES	YES
flames, glowing particles, sparks	furnaces, burning chambers, devices for drying, devices working with open fire,...	YES	YES
mechanical sparks	friction, impacts, abrassive processes (grinding, polishing), foreign objects in the technology, cutting, breakes, bearing, rotating mechanisms,...	YES	YES
electric devices (discharge sparks, hot surfaces)	switching on and off the electric circuits, releasing of the contacts and connections, electric arc and short connections, heating, damaged lightings, bulbs,...	YES	YES
stray electric current	reverse current, damaged insulations of high voltage cables and devices, failures in electric installations, magnetic induction, back current circuit failures,...	rarely (depending on the type of the dust and energy of the ignition source)	probably yes
static energy	failures of grounding, fast separation processes, friction	rarely (only the most sensitive dusts)	almost always
lightning	lightning itself, heating of the lightning conductor, static energy induction in the close surrounding of the lightning	YES	YES
high-frequency electromagnetic waves	TV and radio broadcasting transmitter failurs, measuring, army and medical devices failure, high frequency generators (drying, hardening, welding, cutting),...	rarely	sometimes (depending on the energy of the source)
electromagnetic waves	concentrated rays and waves (lenses, reflectors), lasers (including measuring devices), strong sources of radiation,...	yes, but depending on the energy	YES
ionizing radiation	X-rays, radioactive materials, chemical reaction caused by radiation (disruptive exotermic reactions), microwaves,...	yes, but depending on the energy	yes, but depending on the energy
ultrasound	absorption of ultrasound waves	depending on energy, but in normal conditions unrealistic	rarely
adiabatic compression and shock waves	heat produced during fast and strong adiabatic compressions, heat caused by pressure shock wave going through the pipeline	no, unrealistic in normal conditions	rarely
exotermic reactions (including autogenous ignition)	chemical reactions, flammable matters, biochemical processes, polymeration reactions,...	YES	YES

This table should never be understood as definitive and for all kinds of explosive atmospheres and conditions, because minimum ignition energy may vary in great range. Also these ignition sources can reach various energies depending on their origin (for example electromagnetic waves). If there is "rarely" or "depending on the conditions" in the table, it means during normal circumstances and in commonly used devices. Always keep in mind that theoretically any of these ignition sources may ignite any type of explosive atmosphere, during certain circumstances, so no ignition source can be fully ignored if there is at least theoretical chance of its appearance.

It should not be necessary for each new projects to rediscover principles of process safety which the generation before discovered either by experience or lesson learnt. We must learn from the experience of others rather than learn the hard way. We must pass on to the next generation a record of what we have learned.

Bharathiya

What is the true meaning of the term "Bharathiya"?

Codes of behaviour, spiritual practices and manifestations of Love - all have enormous virtues which promote the progress of man. The basic truth of Creation is unity in multiplicity. The ‘Bharatiya’ (Indian) mode of worship is based on the awareness that the One manifests through many discrete forms and attributes when confronted by various situations and conditions. So Bharatiyas have the intellectual tolerance among all peoples of the world to proclaim to all the quarters that God exists and can be found in every religion. This is their unique good fortune

Pipeline Explosion - Asset Integrity Issue

Despite various efforts yet O&G industry are still faced by many accidents. Another vital lesson learned - The importance of Pipeline Asset Integrity and Risk Based Inspection.

Read the following link;

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100914/ap_on_re_us/us_pipeline_explosion

Ganesh Chaturthi - Meaning and Explanation

Who is Ganapathi? And how should we celebrate festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi?

Ganapathi is the embodiment of Buddhi (intellect) and Jnana (wisdom). Truth emerges out of wisdom and ultimately leads to Ananda (bliss). This is the teaching of Ganapathi.

You are under the false impression that today is the birthday of Vinayaka, but He has neither birth nor death; neither beginning nor end. He is the Eternal Witness. All the festivals of Bhaarath (India) are suffused with deep inner meaning. They are highly sacred.

Festivals are not meant just for preparing and consuming delicious items. Their purpose is to remind us of Divinity. On festival days, you decorate your houses with buntings of green leaves and also wear new clothes, discarding the old ones. Likewise, you should give up your past bad habits and cultivate new and sacred ideas.