Heater-Treater Fire
Effective Date: 10/17/1974
 | Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region |
Notice No. 011
October 17, 1974
OCS Operations Safety Alert
Heater-Treater Fire
An operator recently experienced a fire involving a heater-treater system onan offshore production platform.
Oil and gas entered the surge tank of the waste heat recovery system througha leak in the heat exchanger tubes, resulting in excessive pressure on the tank.The surge tank relief valves actuated, venting oil and gas to the atmosphere inthe vicinity of the turbine-driven generator and ignition was caused by theturbine exhaust.
The fire was extinguished without injury to personnel and no pollutionoccurred. Only moderate damage to the facility was sustained.
To prevent a recurrence of this incident the operator has:
1. Replaced the heat exchanger tubes.
2. Piped the surge tank relief valves to a flare scrubber.
3. Installed high-pressure shutdown controls on the surge tank to actuate aninlet shut- in valve.
4. Initiated a monthly pressure test of the heat exchanger tubes.
[signature] D.W. Solanas
Oil and Gas Supervisor
Field Operations
Gulf of Mexico Area