CHALLENGES IN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY FOR MAJOR FIRE AND GAS LEAKS- RISK REDUCTION METHODS

Rekhapalli Srinivasa Rao, KVSG Murali Krishna, Ayila Subrahmanyam

Abstract: Oil and gas industries play a major role to fulfil the human requirements of daily needs including cooking, transportation etc. With the consumption, demand on production of petroleum products and plant operations in summer months and extreme weather conditions to operate with high risk. Lack of gas leaks detection system and uncontrolled gas venting through flare stacks with black smoke are major threats for the plant as well as people working in the industry or neighbourhood. The heat index is an index that combines air temperature and relative humidity in an attempt to determine the human-perceived equivalent temperature, how hot it feels. During summer months with high heat index, combating major fire in industries is present burning problem. As per heat index chart above 52oC all works should be stopped according to safety requirements. But even by using well advanced fire gear and ice jackets and following work to rest period ratio of 20:10 minutes, is difficult to combat fire. This paper explains the challenges facing now a days in oil and gas industries when an extreme weather conditions like high winds from cyclones, major gas leaks and combating fire in summer months. Also explains the risk reduction from major fire and gas system if any major or minor gas leaks in industry. Establishing safety systems like gas leaks detection equipment, deluge and fire water system as well as mobile fire protection systems. And safety devices such as pressure reliefs, incinerators and flare stacks etc. Flaring is high temperature oxidation process of combustion of waste gases venting from any process. By adopting new technologies of advanced process control with automation of steam control system, black carbon or soot from flare stacks can be minimized and save human being health from dangerous particulate matter emission from sooty flares.

Keywords: Emission, flare, gas leak, hazard, heat index

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2014.0328005