I’m always taken aback by knowing what oil and gas disasters people know about. It is our industry and it is something we should from time to time reflect on. There is always something to learn and something to keep us tuned into safety. You should know about these disasters if you’re an oil and gas professional or aspiring to do something in our industry.
If there is something on this list you think should be, let me know in the comments.
Piper Alpha (1988)
The Piper Alpha disaster was a catastrophic explosion on a North Sea oil platform, killing 167 workers and leaving only 61 survivors. The incident began when a condensate pump was shut down for maintenance, but the handover communication failed to note that critical safety valves were removed, leading to a massive gas leak that ignited. This tragedy prompted global changes in offshore safety, including the development of the Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) program by the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). Poor communication during shift handovers, inadequate maintenance procedures, such as Lock Out Tag Out, and a lack of emergency response planning were identified as root causes. The one thing I always find regrettable was that the connected platforms provided additional gas to the burning platform, not realizing the platform was on fire but only aware of the falling pipeline pressure. The disaster emphasized the importance of clear communication, safety systems, and proactive risk management to prevent similar events.
See more about the incident here:
You may wonder how A refinery incident applies to oil and gas, a lot.
Texas City Refinery Explosion (2005)
The BP Texas City refinery explosion occurred when a tower was overfilled with flammable hydrocarbons, leading to a vapor cloud that ignited and caused a massive blast, killing 15 workers and injuring 180 others. The explosion drew attention to critical safety failures in process safety management, spurring OSHA to enhance enforcement of its Process Safety Management (PSM) standards and driving industry-wide improvements in hazard identification and risk reduction. Some things to point out that were identified in the CBS’s findings (https://www.csb.gov/bp-america-texas-city-refinery-explosion/) that I find interesting: consecutive days work by employees. Safety record celebrations. Workers that were leaving early and coming in late. As well as poor communication. I always wonder if they were understaffed for the work happening. The hair on my neck always stands up when I see an incident where people are celebrating safety records. Root causes included outdated faulty equipment, poor training, ignoring ignition sources, and allowing unsafe practices like staging vehicles in process areas. Operators were also placed in hazardous locations without proper safety considerations. The event highlighted the need to asses the stage occupants in relation to process hazards. My other thoughts? Trust instruments unless evidence suggests otherwise, and prioritize safety culture over cost-cutting or convenience.
Please look into these incidents further and change how you view safety. It’s not just wearing the correct type of glove. It can be waiting until the second day of your shift, waiting for the weather to change, or just asking a question. Hopefully, always communicate.
To delve deeper into the critical lessons from past oil and gas disasters, consider listening to the podcast episode "Ep. #28 - Benefits of Competition" from The Crude Cast, which discusses how competition drives innovation and safety in the industry.
For more insights into effective communication within the oil and gas sector, check out my book, Crude Communication, available on Amazon.
Additionally, you might find value in reading the blog post "Oil and Gas Safety: Top Hazards and Solutions" on Vector Solutions. For broader perspectives on industry safety, the CDC's NIOSH Science Blog offers a dedicated section on oil and gas topics, and the National Association of Safety Professionals provides resources on safety moments in oil extraction.
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