Fire -- Lube Oil on Engine Exhaust
Effective Date: 7/9/1976
 | Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region |
Notice No. 046
July 9, 1976
OCS Operations Safety Alert
Fire -- Lube Oil on Engine Exhaust
A fire recently occurred on an offshore platform drilling rig when lubricating oil dripped onto an engine exhaust.
The rig was circulating a well when oil lubricating the drawworks chains leaked through a faulty chain guard gasket and dripped into the engine room and on a hot exhaust manifold. The hot manifold apparently vaporized the oil and the oil vapors entered a diesel engine turbocharger and ignited. The fire was extinguished in less than two minutes. There were no injuries to personnel and only minor damage to the turbocharger air intake and filter.
To prevent a recurrence of this type of accident the operator is making the following recommendations:
1. Stop all oil leaks and inspect all potential sources a minimum of twice daily to insure that engine vibration has not caused a leak to develop.
2. Insulate or shield manifolds and exhausts to prevent ignition of oil if a leak should occur undetected.
[signed] D.J. Bourgeois
for D.W. Solanas
Oil and Gas Supervisor
Field Operations
Gulf of Mexico Area