What would it take to avoid sinking the platform? 2

[docellen]

Seems like just a little extra steel between the underwater pontoons would do it. Then, of course, we would need a tugboat nearby to keep the rig from drifting off and snapping the riser.

 

[JRMacGregor]

Has this had much coverage in the US ? Next to none over here !

The journalist is taking liberties with the truth when he blames TOP OFFICIALS for wanting to sleep undisturbed as the reason for inhibiting the gas alarms. That is nowhere stated in the testimony.

I am sure alarms were inhibited so that ALL the crew could sleep.

However, this inhibition of the gas alarms (if true) may possibly have contributed to the extent of the pollution, and probably (almost certainly) had a lot to do with the loss of life.

Quite apart from sounding a general alarm, these rigs are fitted with an automatic emergency shutdown (ESD) system which should take action on detected gas. These actions include shutting down sources of ignition, closing air intakes etc - in order to minimise the dependence on human intervention to prevent explosions.

Failure of this ESD system to operate would explain some of the reports we have had of running away generators (although it seems there is something else wrong with the design/operation of that system also).

A rig with a runaway well and a disabled ESD system is a recipe for disaster. If this testimony is confirmed, then the ESD system is one intended safety barrier which was actually NOT in place.

If I recall correctly, disabled alarms/shutdowns were the major reason for Chernobyl, and perhaps Bhopal.


Alarms, detectors disabled so top rig officials could sleep
The Deepwater Horizon's fire and gas leak alarms were disabled for at least a year to prevent false alarms from waking up rig leaders, a chief engineer told federal investigators.
July 23, 2010|Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Reporting from Kenner, La —

Critical fire and gas leak alarm systems had been disabled for at least a year aboard the Deepwater Horizon because the rig's leaders didn't want to wake up to false alarms, a rig chief engineer tech told federal investigators.

"I discovered it was 'inhibited' about a year ago," said Mike Williams, the chief engineer tech who worked for rig owner Transocean aboard the Deepwater Horizon, which erupted in flames April 20, killing 11 men and starting the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

"I inquired," Williams told an investigative panel from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Interior Department in suburban New Orleans. "The explanation I got was that from the [offshore installation manager] down, they did not want people to wake up at 3 a.m. due to false alarm," Williams said. Williams later said the rig's captain had also agreed that the alarms were to be disabled.

Williams said he complained repeatedly about disabling the systems, from six months to three days prior to the rig's explosion. He said he told supervisors it was unsatisfactory for the alarms to be disabled, but was rebuffed.

The alarm systems could have been helpful to alert crew members of catastrophe and initiate an emergency shutdown system that could have shut down the engines -- a dangerous ignition source -- as soon as a surge of flammable natural gas surged up the oil well onto the rig.

Williams testified that prior to the explosions, he heard a hissing sound and heard an engine over-rev. Alarms in "inhibited" mode means that a control panel that would detect the alarm would indicate the alert, but general alarms that would sound loudly across the rig would not go off.

The emergency shutdown system also had previous problems. Williams said another employee, at some point before the April 20 disaster, inadvertently triggered an emergency shutdown system to an engine that was running. Down came fire doors intended to deprive the engine of oxygen, which would have put out a fire in the engines had there been one.

But the doors weren't built strongly. Once the doors came down, the force of the engines ripped the fire doors off their hinges.

"The engine was running. The fire dampers closed, and it sucked the fire doors off the engines," Williams said. "The function of them was to shut down the engine. If it can't get air, it can't run."

Testimony here..............................

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/07/2...ndex.html?section=cnn_latest#fbid=KwZ1_V5zydu

 

[DrillerNic]

I once had a big scare perforating offshore China when I didn't get radio silence due to the radio operator being threatened by a communist party bloke who wanted to make a phone call home- the perforating system energised while running in.

And I remember my first trip to the Montrose as Night DSV- the general alarm went at 2pm on my first day's sleep as someone had forgetted to disable them went they tested them in the control room!

Disabling any alarm is absolutely shocking, and for a OIM to agreee to it.... if true he should be NRB'd instantly.

 

[waross]

A good part of the blame should rest with the safety regulators. I have seen too many instances where a conscientious worker may lose his job and even be blackballed in that area for reporting a serious safety violation. No support or enforcement at all from the regulators.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[786392]

I 100% agree to waross;
Since indirectly this was the basic(potential)reason for my First & (could well probably be)the last Job switch over from; a Company I served Almost 28 years at a stretch of my Prime Time!

Best Regards
Qalander(Chem)