Fire -- Choke Cap Blows Off
Effective Date: 2/2/1976
 | Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region |
Notice No. 035
February 2, 1976
A fire occurred recently on an offshore production platform when the cap of a flowline choke on a high pressure manifold blew off.
The platform had been shut-in and was being placed back on production when the incident occurred. An automatic shut-in valve on a flowline coming onto the platform from an outlying well was being opened manually when a choke cap blew off of a choke body on the flowline manifold. The escaping gas was ignited by the electrical generator. The shut-in system was actuated by a safety fire loop and all shut-in valves closed except the flowline valve which was locked open for manual control. Loss of flowline pressure actuated a wellhead safety valve on the outlying well and the fire subsided. Small residual fires were quickly extinguished.
There were no injuries to personnel and only minor damage to the platform.
To prevent a recurrence of this accident the operator is rebuilding the high pressure manifold using new or repaired choke bodies.
[signed] D.W. Solanas
Oil and Gas Supervisor
Field Operations
Gulf of Mexico Area