Production Platform Gas Discharge Points
Effective Date: 2/2/1993
 | Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region |
Notice No. 161
February 2, 1993
Production Platform Gas Discharge Points
In the past six months there have been two separate instances where fires of vented gas occurred, resulting in serious burn injuries to sport fishermen after they tied their boats to platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.
Letter to Lessees and Operators (LTL) dated April 4, 1991, in paragraph No. 6 referenced API RP 14C, Fourth Edition, Section C2.2, regarding flare and vent final discharge point requirements. The RP in paragraph a. states the following:
a. Purpose. Systems for discharging gas to the atmosphere provide a means for conducting discharge gas from process components under normal conditions (flare, vent) and abnormal conditions (relief) to safe locations for final release to the atmosphere. These should be locationswhere the gas will be diluted with air to below the lower explosive limit so it will not be a threat to the facility or where it can safely be burned.
Operators should identify all final release points for discharged gas on their platforms and ensure that they are in compliance with the RP and LTL referenced above. Any final release point that is not in compliance should be relocated. Consideration can also be given to the installation of an appropriate sign to alert all boats to the danger of the situation.
Compliance will ensure that no discharged gas is a threat to the production facility including the lowermost deck, boat landings, and the surrounding water surface.