Supply Gas Fire
Effective Date: 2/13/1985
 | Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region |
Notice No. 132
February 13, 1985
OCS Operations Safety Alert
Supply Gas Fire
A small platform fire on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico was caused by a leaking "O" ring in the surface safety valve (SSV) actuator.
A workover rig was being moved from one well to another. A welder was cutting the deck grating above the well to be worked over for blowout preventer (BOP) installation. The platform had been shut in by closing all the wells' manual master valves, but the safety system gas supply was maintained at 90 psi to keep surface safety valves in service. An "O" ring on one of the SSV actuators was leaking supply gas, and slag from the cutting operation caused the flash fire. The fire was extinguished quickly using a dry chemical fire extinguisher. There was no injury or damage.
In order to prevent a recurrence of this type of accident, the operator will take the following steps:
1. Pumpers have been instructed to check actuators more closely for leaks in the O-ring seals.
2. After the pressure has been bled from the bottom master valve up or from the surface controlled subsurface safety valve, the SSV will be closed by depressurizing the actuator.
3. The platform firewater deluge pump will be activated to extinguish any sparks created before they reach the well bay area.
[signed] D.W. Solanas
Regional Supervisor
Rules and Production
Gulf of Mexico OCS Region