Fire in Rental Generator on Production Platform
Effective Date: 6/20/1985
 | Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region |
Notice No. 141
June 20, 1985
Fire in Rental Generator on Production Platform
When the lights went out on a production platform, the operator checked the rental 100 kilowatt electrical generator and engine. He saw smoke coming from the generator/engine unit. Upon opening the side panel, he saw the wiring arcing and engine oil spraying from a split in the rubber hose serving the oil pressure kill switch. The oil spraying onto the generator engine ignited. The fusible plugs in the emergency shutdown loop on the generator melted and shut in the platform. The operator actuated the engine kill switch, and put out the fire, using three 30-pound dry chemical units. Damage was estimated at $1,000. It was determined later that the engine's low oil level shutdown devices failed to operate.
To prevent a recurrence of this type of accident, the operator will require that all companies providing rental generators also provide verification by witnessed testing that all shutdown systems are operable.