1 0 Mo s t E x p e n s i v e A c c i d e n t s

Incident Cost
(2002 US$)

1. Piper Alpha
Occidental's Piper Alpha platform was destroyed by
explosion and fire in 1988. 167 workers were killed in
the blaze.
$1,270,000,000

2. Petrobras P36
In 2001, an explosion destabilised the P36 production
rig in the Campos Basin, Brazil, eventually causing it to
sink.
$515,000,000

3. Enchova Central
Petrobras' Enchova PCE-1 Platform suffered twice with
blowouts and fire in both 1984 and 1988, ending with
the loss of the platform in 1988.
$461,000,000

4. Sleipner A Platform
A design error resulted in the structural failure in 1991
of the gravity base unit of the original Sleipner A
platform.
$365,000,000
5. Mississippi Canyon 311A Platform
In 1987, the Mississippi Canyon 311A Platform in the
Gulf of Mexico was tilted to one side by an extensive
underground blowout.
$274,000,000

6. Mighty Servant 2
The Mighty Servant 2 struck a rock and sank off
Indonesia whilst carrying platform modules in 1999.
$220,000,000

7. Bombay High North
A support vessel collided with Bombay High North in
2005, rupturing a riser and causing a major fire which
destroyed the platform.
$173,000,000
(2005)

8. Steelhead Platform
A blowout in 1987 led to six months of trouble for the
Steelhead Platform, resulting in fire and extensive
platform damage.
$171,000,000
9. Name not known
1993: Explosion and fire destroyed a platform control
room and damaged adjacent platforms on Lake
Maracaibo, Venezuela, with eleven fatalites.
$122,000,000
10. Name not known
1998: A topside module was dropped in the Gulf of
Mexico, striking assisting barges and causing an
explosion before sinking to the sea floor.
$116,000,000

P i p e r A l p h a

1. Before the fire

2. Tharos & Piper Alpha fire

3. Piper Alpha fire

4. Piper Alpha detail

5. After the fire - remains of Piper Alpha with Tharos behind
Rig: Piper Alpha Platform
Date: 06 J ul 1988
Location: North Sea, U.K.
Operator: Occidental
Fatalities: 167
Summary
The Piper Field was discovered by Occidental in J anuary 1973, with the Piper Alpha platform
becoming operational in 1976. Located about 120 miles north-east of Aberdeen, the platform initally
produced crude oil. In late 1980, gas conversion equipment was installed allowing the facility to
produce gas as well as oil. A sub-sea pipeline, shared with the Claymore platform, connected Piper
Alpha to the Flotta oil terminal on the Orkney Islands. Piper Alpha also had gas pipelines connecting it
to both the Tartan platform and to the separate MCP-O1 gas processing platform. In total, Piper Alpha
had four main transport risers: an oil export riser, the Claymore gas riser, the Tartan gas riser and the
MCP-01 gas riser.
On 06 J uly 1988, work began on one of two condensate-injection pumps, designated A and B, which
were used to compress gas on the platform prior to transport of the gas to Flotta. A pressure safety
valve was removed from compressor A for recalibration and re-certification and two blind flanges were
fitted onto the open pipework. The dayshift crew then finished for the day.
During the evening of 06 J uly, pump B tripped and the nightshift crew decided that pump A should be
brought back into service. Once the pump was operational, gas condensate leaked from the two blind
flanges and, at around 2200 hours, the gas ignited and exploded, causing fires and damage to other
areas with the further release of gas and oil. Some twenty minutes later, the Tartan gas riser failed
and a second major explosion occurred followed by widespread fire. Fifty minutes later, at around
2250 hours, the MCP-01 gas riser failed resulting in a third major explosion. Further explosions then
ensued, followed by the eventual structural collapse of a significant proportion of the installation.
A number of factors contributed to the severity of the incident :
- the breakdown of the chain of command and lack of any communication to the platform's crew;
- the presence of fire walls and the lack of blast walls - the fire walls predated the installation of
the gas conversion equipment and were not upgraded to blast walls after the conversion;
- the continued pumping of gas and oil by the Tartan and Claymore platforms, which was not shut
down due to a perceived lack of authority, even though personnel could see the Piper burning.
167 men died as a result of the explosions and fire on board the Piper Alpha, including two operators
of a Fast Rescue Craft. 62 men survived, mostly by jumping into the sea from the high decks of the
platform. Between 1988 and 1990, the two-part Cullen Inquiry established the causes of the tragedy
and made recommendations for future safety regimes offshore. 106 recommendations were made
which were subsequently accepted and implemented by the offshore operators.
Sources:
Scottish Courts: Opinion of Lord Caplan
Wikipedia: Piper Alpha

Photos
1. Fleumer Aerophoto
2. NOPSA Introduction
3. Cardiff University Engineering Dept.
4. NOPSA Introduction
5. NFPA Safety at Sea
E n c h o v a Ce n t r a l

1. Enchova Central fire
Rig: Petrobras Enchova Central Platform (PCE-1)
Date: 16 Aug 1984 & 24 April 1988
Location: Enchova Field, Brazil
Operator: Petrobras
Summary
Located in the Campos Basin near Rio de J aneiro and run by Petrobras, the Enchova Central platform
was the location of two major incidents. In the first incident, on 16 August 1984, two blowouts occurred
which were followed by an explosion and fire. The platform was evacuated but 37 workers (reports
vary but 37 appears most often quoted) lost their lives when one of the lifeboats slipped from its
lowering cable and fell 20 metres to the sea.
The second incident to strike the platform occurred four years later on 24 April 1988 and resulted in
the destruction of the platform. Whilst performing a workover on a well, converting from oil to gas, the
well suffered a gas blowout. The BOP did not shut the well in and attempts to kill the well failed. As the
blowout continued, drillpipe was forced out of the well and struck one of the platform legs, resulting in
sparks which ignited gas from the blowout. The fire on the platform then burned for 31 days, resulting
in extensive damage to the topside structure. Fortunately, a floating hotel was alongside the Enchova
Central at the time and the platform was evacuated with no loss of life.
The platform was later declared a total loss. A new facility was built to replace the Enchova and, 18
months after the incident, full production was restored.
Sources:
Marsh Risk Consulting: 100 Largest Losses
DTI: Leak Frequencies from CO2 Sequestration
UFRJ : Contingency Planning for Oil Spill Accidents in Brazil

Photos
1. Petro & Qumica


5. Mississippi Canyon 311A Platform
In 1987, the Mississippi Canyon 311A Platform in the Gulf of Mexico was
tilted to one side by an extensive underground blowout.
$274,000,000
Mi g h t y S e r v a n t 2

1. North Nemba Topsides

2. Mighty Servant underway

3. Mighty Servant capsized
Vessel: Mighty Servant 2 Heavy Lift Ship
Date: 02 November 1999
Location: Singkep, Indonesia
Operator: Dockwise
Fatalities: 5
Summary
One of the few heavy-lift ships capable of transporting the largest semi-subs and jackups, the Mighty
Servant 2 had been in service for almost 16 years by the time of its demise. Heavy-lift ships are
typically moved alongside their cargo and then partially submerged, allowing their cargos to be floated
onto the cargo deck. The Mighty Servant 2's most famous transport was the U.S. Navy's USS Samuel
B. Roberts frigate, which was transported from the Persian Gulf back to the U.S. after suffering
damage from a mine.
In 1999, the Mighty Servant 2 capsized near the Indonesian island of Singkep off the coast of Sumatra
after striking a previously uncharted rock pinnacle in 32m of water. The ship was carrying production
modules fabricated in Korea for the North Nemba project in Angola. Although the accident occurred on
a calm day with flat seas, the Mighty Servant capsized within four minutes resulting in five fatalities.
The vessel was declared a total loss by its insurance underwriters and was sold for scrap. In
November 2000, it arrived in Alang, India where it was broken up - a sad end to a great ship.
Sources:
Wikipedia: Mighty Servant 2
Marsh 100 Largest Losses
World Ship Society Newsletter
B o m b a y Hi g h No r t h

1. Bombay High North fire

2. Bombay High North fire

3. Bombay High North fire

4. Noble J ackup & BHN

Rig: Bombay High North Platform
Date: 27 J uly 2005
Location: Bombay High, Indian Ocean
Operator: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
Fatalities: 22

Summary
The state-owned ONGC Bombay High North platform, located off the west coast of India around 100
miles west of Mumbai (Bombay), was 'totally lost in less than two hours' according to ONGC Chairman
Subir Raha.
Oil and Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said the platform was 'completely destroyed by the fire'
after heavy swells pushed the nearby support vessel MV Sagar Suraksha into the platform. The boat
was alongside the platform to transfer an ill employee to another rig where medical facilities were
available. The accident occurred at 1605 in the afternoon and caused a serious oil spill which then
ignited, engulfing the MSV Samudra Suraksha, and the Bombay High North platform. Noble Corp.
confirmed later that the Noble Charlie Yester jackup, alongside for drilling operations, suffered
localised heat and fire damage but escaped serious damage.
The wells were shut in once the alarm was raised and attempts were made to control the fire but the
platform was abandoned as the fire spread. Survivors escaped by a number of means: via a bridge to
a neighbouring platform, by lifeboats or by jumping into the sea where many were picked up by
support vessels or navy and coast guard boats.
There were 384 personnel on platform at the time of the fire and reports state 22 fatalities. A clean-up
operation was also undertaken after a 10 nautical mile oil spill resulted from the fire.
The Bombay High field accounts for 40% of India's domestic production, of which the North platform
accounted for one quarter. The other platforms at the Bombay High field were operating normally and
it was expected that 70% of the North's output could restored within a month after the accident.
Sources:
Risk-i: Review 2005
Risk-i: Offshore Platform Fire, India
Rediff: What really caused the ONGC fire?

Photos
1. Canadian Wellsite
2. Canadian Wellsite
3. Canadian Wellsite
4. NOPSA Introduction


























S t e e l h e a d P l a t f o r m

1. Marathon Steelhead Platform
Rig: Steelhead Platform
Date: 20 Dec 1987
Location: Cook Inlet, Alaska
Operator: Marathon
Summary
The Marathon-owned Steelhead Platform suffered a natural gas blowout whilst drilling well M-26 in the
McArthur River Field. The crew were setting casing when gas from a shallow gas pocket began to flow
from the well. Attempts were made to kill the well with drilling mud but the gas unfortunately ignited,
leading to a fire which caused extensive damage to the drilling package. The fire burned out of control
for a week before the well bridged and extinguished the fire. The forty-nine crew on board managed to
evacuate the rig without serious injuries via the lifeboats.
The fire destroyed the helideck and damaged the accommodation module, the drilling module and one
of the cranes. Problems with the well continued and, in the following six months, the well blew out
twice more before being brought under control, delaying the start of production by a number of
months. The platform was later repaired, allowing the resumption of drilling and production.
Sources:
MARSH: 100 Largest Losses
Minerals Management Service: OCS Study
Alaska Department of Natural Resources: 1999 Oil and Gas Lease Sale

Photos
1. Peninsula Clarion
9. Name not known
1993: Explosion and fire destroyed a platform control room and damaged
adjacent platforms on Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela, with eleven fatalites.
$122,000,000
10. Name not known
1998: A topside module was dropped in the Gulf of Mexico, striking
assisting barges and causing an explosion before sinking to the sea floor.
$116,000,000