Hero diver fled to australia to escape his piper alpha hell. The vast inferno created by simultaneous eruptions from ruptured gas and. Douglas and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This led to the appointment of lord cullen, a senior scottish judge, to hold a public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster. On the night of 67 july 1988 a major oil production platform known as piper alpha in the uk sector of the north sea was destroyed by explosion and fire, with the loss of 167 lives.
It produced oil from 24 wells and in its early life it had also produced gas from two wells. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster w. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster command. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster cm 10.
Learning from the piper alpha accident the offshore platform piper alpha, which was lo cated in the british sector of the north sea oil field and operated by occidental petroleum, was engulfed in a catastrophic fire on july 6, 1988. Jun 22, 2011 the public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster by william douglas cullen, lord cullen of whitekirk, 1990, hmso edition, in english. On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the piper alpha disaster, a north sea oil and gas insider claims safety measures are made a mockery by management bullying. This series contains the records of the public inquiry, chaired by the hon lord cullen between 11 november 1988 and 15 february 1990, into the accident on the piper alpha offshore drilling platform. Piper alpha survivors recall disaster 25 years on business. We also use cookies to collect information about how you use hse.
Stationery office, 1990 drilling platforms 488 pages. About piper alpha placed at north sea, the platform began production in 1976, first as an oil platform and then later converted to gas oil production started in 1976 with about 250,000 barrels 40,000 m3 of oil per day increasing to 300,000 barrels 48,000 m3 a gas recovery module. The piper alpha disaster, also known as the worst offshore disaster to happen in history occurred 30 years ago in 1988. Piper alpha was an oil production platform in the north sea approximately 120 miles 190 km. Piper alpha disaster on an oil and gas platform in the. It began production in 1976, initially as an oilonly platform but later converted to add gas production. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster command paper this book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The investigation into the piper alpha disaster has much to teach us thirty years on. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster 2 volume set by cullen, w.
Buy the public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster command paper by cullen, lord isbn. Speaker, i would like to make a statement about the report of the public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster cm. The stateoftheart of knowledge at time of piper alpha in.
The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster two volume. An inquiry into the disaster was critical of piper alphas operator, occidental, which was found guilty of having inadequate maintenance and safety procedures. Sweeping changes needed in the way that safety in the offshore industry is assessed. Importance learning from major incident piper alpha disaster. Ic chapter 10 show that the bodies of of the 165 personnel piper lnhc died as a result of th disaster were later recovered. Copyright jim thomson 20 safety in engineering ltd piper alpha. It is 25 years since tragedy struck in the north sea.
So other platforms continued production and pumping of gas for sometime which supplied additional fuel to the fire at piper. Twentyfive years ago the piper alpha disaster changed the oil and gas landscape but have the safety lessons been learnt. It accounted for around 10 percent of the total oil production at the time. Volume 1 is very good plus with shelfwear and bumped corners. Parkinson, the present secretary of state for transport, set up the public inquiry on. The accident that occurred on board the offshore platform piper alpha in july 1988 killed 167 people and.
In his 800 page inquiry into the piper alpha disaster, lord cullen. Apr 09, 2015 a key witness at the cullen inquiry, ed said. The cullen report was a public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster which resulted in 106 recommendations for policy changes in the uk oil and gas industry. Pdf in 1998, the explosion of the piper alpha platform claimed 167. Piper alpha rewrites the rules on offshore safety new scientist. Public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster the lord cullen report. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster two volume set. In november 1988, a public inquiry, led by lord william cullen, was initiated to. One hundred and sixty seven people died in the piper alpha fire on 6 july 1988, making it the worlds worst offshore oil disaster. Piper alpha was an oil production platform in the north sea approximately 120 miles 190 km northeast of aberdeen, scotland, that was operated by occidental petroleum caledonia limited. A search was made through the documents to determine whether. While this 5 summary has been condensed and paraphrased, it is believed to been consistent with the facts and conclusions outlined in the cullen report. Complete 2 volume set of oversized trade paperbacks.
This is the conclusion of the cullen report into the explosion on the oil rig piper alpha that killed 167 men. Most of the physical evidence sank to the bottom of the north sea, so the testimony of survivors and witnesses had to be woven together into a coherent story. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster journal. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster journal article. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster william. Piper alpha was the largest platform by production in the world in its era 317,000 barrelsday, peak. The change in safety management for offshore oil and gas production systems. In the boom of the 70s and early 80s, piper was the. Piper alpha disaster on an oil and gas platform in the north sea, july 1988 background what happened a series of explosions and an oil fed fire on the piper alpha oil and gas platform in the north sea on 6th july 1988, 120 miles northeast of aberdeen, killed 167 men.
The conference will be addressed by lord cullen, who chaired the month public enquiry that resulted in over 100 safety recommendations which made history for health and safety in the north sea. Jul 04, 20 e ven 25 years on, charles haffeys most powerful memory of the piper alpha disaster was the overwhelming, deafening noise. Hero diver fled to australia to escape his piper alpha. Jul 05, 20 piper alpha disaster prompted drastically improved safety measures in the oil industry, say experts. Volume 2 is very good minus with shelfwer, bumped corners and some creasing to the back cover. Buy the public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster by lord cullen from waterstones today. Buy the public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster. The disaster began with poor routine maintenance procedure. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Jun 23, 2010 a series of explosions and an oil fed fire on the piper alpha oil and gas platform in the north sea on 6th july 1988, 120 miles northeast of aberdeen, killed 167 men.
This paper examines the following aspects of offshore safety in oil and gas production systems before and after the piper alpha disaster. An explosion and resulting oil and gas fires destroyed piper alpha on 6 july. It was connected by an oil pipeline to flotta and by gas pipelines to two other installations. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster 1990. Pa images brings you snapshots of the days leading news, showbiz and sport pictures alongside an archive dating back to 1863. This produced a further massive explosion and fireball that engulfed the piper alpha platform.
Piper alpha was a large north sea oil platform that started production in 1976. As shifts changed and the night crew aboard piper alpha. Professionalismpiper alpha oil rig disaster wikibooks. The accident killed 165 out of 226 crew members and two crew members from the standby vessel sandhaven. Nov 03, 2011 this report in two volumes is the final report on the public inquiry into the piper alpha platform disaster in the north sea by a parliamentary commission under lord cullen. Piper alpha disaster anniversary of tragedy in the north sea, john konrad, 2011 in the evening of 6th july 1988, a series of catastrophic explosion occurred on piper alpha offshore platform. Parliament the public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster, great britain.
The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster two. Piper alpha was an oil production platform in the north sea operated by occidental petroleum caledonia limited. Piper alpha platform, north sea offshore technology oil. The first cullen report was prompted by occidental petroleums piper alpha disaster on 6 july 1988, in which gas condensate ignited, killing 167 of the 229 people on board the oil platform in only 22 minutes. To determine the cause, the british government established a commission of inquiry. It outlines the findings of the investigation in vol. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster, volume 2 william douglas cullen lord. The author headed the public inquiry into this disaster. Department of energy the public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster chairman the hon lord cullen vol. It began production in 1976, but on july 6, 1988 it was the site of the worlds.
The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster volume two by cullen, w. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster, volume 2 volume 10 of cm series great britain. Piper alpha re ceived and sent to the shore the oil and gas production of a group of platforms. As shifts changed and the night crew aboard piper alpha assumed duties for the evening, one of the platforms two condensate pumps failed.
As a result he recommends that the safety regulations with regard to offshore operations. May 25, 2014 importance learning from major incident piper alpha disaster 1 comment i t is vital that lessons are learned from all major incidents, as management, cultural and technical failure i. The crew worked to resolve the issue before platform production was affected. E ven 25 years on, charles haffeys most powerful memory of the piper alpha disaster was the overwhelming, deafening noise. In 1990 this commission came with the famous cullen report.
The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster by william douglas cullen, lord cullen of whitekirk, 1990, hmso edition, in english. An explosion on the piper alpha platform occurred in july 1988. Jul 15, 20 twentyfive years ago the piper alpha disaster changed the oil and gas landscape but have the safety lessons been learnt. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster in. The explosion and fire on the piper alpha platform, 6 july. It was built in the north sea by a consortium run by occidental and dr. Piper alpha disaster prompted drastically improved safety measures in the oil industry, say experts. Piper alpha rewrites the rules on offshore safety new. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster two volume set cullen, w. An explosion and resulting oil and gas fires destroyed piper alpha on 6 july 1988, killing 167.
It was connected by an oil pipeline to flotta and by. Learning from the piper alpha accident semantic scholar. Alpha, as well as two of its guideline documents readily available to. Piper alpha was no accident, it was a disaster waiting to happen. Wikipedia, 2010 also see the moving bbc documentary of 1989 spiral into disaster. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. It began production in 1976, but on july 6, 1988 it. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster lord w. A public inquiry, undertaken by lord cullen at the request of. Pdf preventable disasters in the offshore oil industry. Piper alpha disaster prompted drastically improved safety.
The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster, volume 1. The piper alpha incident is still regarded as the worst offshore oil disaster in the history of the uk. About piper alpha placed at north sea, the platform began production in 1976, first as an oil platform and then later converted to gas oil production started in 1976 with about 250,000 barrels 40,000 m3 of oil per day increasing to 300,000 barrels 48,000 m3 a gas recovery m. The change in safety management for offshore oil and gas. Hon lord cullenthe public enquiry into the piper alpha disaster.
Importance learning from major incident piper alpha disaster 1 comment i t is vital that lessons are learned from all major incidents, as management, cultural and technical failure i. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster by lord. Copyright jim thomson 20 safety in engineering ltd piper. On july 6, 1988, the piper alpha oil platform experienced a series of 10 catastrophic explosions and fires. Greatly since the piper alpha disaster but largescale tests in a mock up offshore module revealed. Publication date 1990 series command papers note at head of title. Jul 04, 20 on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the piper alpha disaster, a north sea oil and gas insider claims safety measures are made a mockery by management bullying. Piper alpha 25 years on have we learned the lessons. Friend and predecessor, the member for hertsmere mr. The heat ruptured the riser of a gas pipeline from another installation. In the boom of the 70s and early 80s, piper was the worlds most productive.
The piper alpha disaster, which remains the worst offshore accident to date, drew the attention of the offshore industry and the regulators to the damage that could arise in the event of an explosion and fire on an offshore platform and triggered many changes that shaped the current offshore regulatory and operating environment. On 6 july 1988, there was a massive leakage of gas condensate on piper alpha, which was ignited causing an explosion which led to large oil fires. The worst disaster in the history of offshore many years before macondo, there was a much more deadly disaster offshore in the north sea. Jul 02, 20 an inquiry into the disaster was critical of piper alphas operator, occidental, which was found guilty of having inadequate maintenance and safety procedures. Cullen noted many deficiencies in the permit to work system on piper alpha, including the lack of any consistent practice of physically lockingoff isolated equipment, and the. The explosion and fire on the piper alpha platform 45 hour 6hour north figure 4. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster nottingham. The recommendations covered the regulatory system, prevention and mitigation measures, and evacuation, escape, and rescue.