Fire -- Leaking Glass Sight Gage
Effective Date: 1/14/1976
 | Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region |
Notice No. 034
January 14, 1976
OCS Operations Safety Alert
Fire -- Leaking Glass Sight Gage
A fire recently occurred on an offshore production platform as a result of leakage from the rubber packing gasket on a glass sight gage.
The sight glass was installed on a glycol reboiler which is heated to 370 F utilizing exhaust gases from a compressor. The rubber gasket was deteriorated by the heat allowing leakage of the glycol and residual hydrocarbons which ignited.
The fire was quickly extinguished with no injuries to personnel and only minor damage to the platform.
To prevent a recurrence of this accident the operator is replacing this sight glass with a flat glass reflective type which can withstand the elevated temperature.
[signed] D.W.Solanas
Oil and Gas Supervisor
Field Operations
Gulf of Mexico Area