Page 33 - Serious Incident Prevention How to Achieve and Sustain Accident-Free Operations in Your Plant or Company
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14 Serious Incident Prevention
Potential Preventative Actions More effective permit system for maintenance activities Process to positively identify lines/equipment prior to start of work Remote-operated emergency shut- off valves on wellheads. More effective prestartup inspec- tion and test practices for tanks Adequate diking Accurate process for monitorin
Probable Cause Cutting into line that contained pressure Failure of tank Failure to use the most stringent standard hydrostatic test practices prior to filling with diesel (tested by filling only 5´ of tank with water instead of entire tank) Failure of system designed to au- tomatically close valves on cav- ern wellhead in event of
Known Consequences Property damage: $43 M Specific loss estimate not avail- able. Fees for cleanup and legal claims were substantial. Fatalities: 3 (off-site) Property damage: $9 M Facility operating permit re- voked Civil jury judgment: $143 M
Incident Description A contractor accidentally cut into a 10˝ propane line at a storage terminal. Flammables from 5 un- derground storage caverns were released, and a large vapor cloud formed and exploded. An estimated 3.9M gallons of diesel fuel spilled when a 40- year-old 120´ diameter tank that had recently been reassembled sud
Location and Year (References) Hydrocarbon Storage Terminals Texas USA 1985 (38) Pennsylvania USA 1988 (39) Texas USA 1992 (40, 41)
