Alert
  • Published: 27 Jun 2012
  • Incident ID: 3439

Hydrocarbon release from small bore tubing on NGL pumps

Cause & Consequence

  • Uncontrolled release of a flammable gas or liquid
Incident Consequence
Hydrocarbon release

Incident Location

Fixed Installation

Incident Activity

Production operations

Specific Incident Equipment

Small bore tubing on NGL pumps

Lessons Identified

  • Confined workspace has not been identified by site visits or considered as part of the work planning
  • Small bore pipe work was unsupported, and awareness of potential for failure was lacking
  • P&IDs did not reflect the actual build of the small bore pipe work
  • Although pump was no longer required, cold NGL still passed through the equipment. Combined with a lack of maintenance this can contribute to seal failure.

Incident Recommendations

  • Install suitable support for the tubing
  • Update P&IDs to accurately reflect the pipe work configuration
  • Site briefings, work packs updated to improve awareness of confined area working and potential to damage small bore tubing
  • Fully decommission & remove NGL pumps and pipe work, to replace with new pipe run from Cold separator to NGL heater.

Rate this alert

Average Rating

Latest Alerts & Moments

Our searchable catalogue of hundreds of Safety Alerts and Safety Moments are all designed as learning resources that can help improve workplace safety.