Operator rapped after gas leak alarm

A North Sea operator has been reprimanded by watchdogs over the set-up of two offshore platforms. Oil workers responding to what was assumed to be a false gas alarm on the Davy installation found themselves trapped by a “highly flammable” hydrocarbon release capable of killing everyone on board earlier this year. The 10 crew members were left stranded on board the normally unmanned platform unable to seek shelter in the safety refuges due to the cloud of un-ignited gas “compromising” escape routes. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said the Davy’s sister platform, the Bessemer, has now been included in warnings to the operator over similar situations arising again. The HSE inspector who carried out the review into the June leak said the “near identical” design of the Bessemer made it subject to the same issues. The inspector said the arrangements and equipment provided for emergency response on the platforms “did not provide sufficient protection for personnel on the installation during a foreseeable major incident”.

“Whilst there remains a risk of the release of hydrocarbon gas from plant on or connected to the Davy installation, those arrangements and equipment would not be effective in the event of any further hydrocarbon gas leak from a similar location, if and when personnel are deployed to the installation in the future,” the inspector added.