High Potential Incident Alert

Uncontrolled Gas Release

Incident summary
A 1/2 ball valve was attached to the pressure test points to enable diagnostics to be conducted. The nipple on the ball valve failed resulting in the release of methane gas.

Sharing learnings across the Australian oil and gas industry

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Arrow Energy
More information: Damien Fellows (07) 3012 4000

February 2010

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Critical factors
Critical factors are those that if they were not present, the incident would not have occurred. The critical factors were: 1. Incorrect valve used > No adaptors were available for the kiene valve. > The ball valve is much heavier and requires a nipple to screw into the test point. 2. Auto Shutdown not activated > Pressure loss was not enough to trigger the auto shutdown 3. Vibration > The vibration of this unit was high, and combined with the weight of the valve increased the likelihood of the failure

Key Learnings
Trigger points for the upper & lower shutdown to be changed as the pressure loss from the nipple failure was not enough to trigger the auto alarm and shutdown. A procedure is to be developed to include the use of kiene valve adaptors & not ball valves for diagnostic work. Additional Kiene valve adaptors to be made available. Personnel advised not to enter the plant in the event of a gas release, due to the potential for explosion.

High potential incident alerts are distributed by APPEA for the Australian oil and gas industry to highlight learnings from incidents. For more information or to submit an alert, contact Elizabeth Hood, Senior Policy Advisor Skills & Safety, ehood@appea.com.au or 08 9481 5225.

APPEA