Sweeping changes needed in the way that safety in the offshore industry is assessed. I still remember when my lecturer presented a documentary about the worst offshore oil disaster piper alpha and its make a very significant issue for us to follow all the procedures permit to work at offshore rig. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster, volume 1. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster book, 1993. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster volume two by cullen, w. Douglas and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Piper alpha re ceived and sent to the shore the oil and gas production of a group of platforms. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster two volume set by cullen, lord and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The crew worked to resolve the issue before platform production was affected. 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. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster journal.
Piper alpha rewrites the rules on offshore safety new. We also use cookies to collect information about how you use hse. For a worker on the piper alpha platform the night of july 6, 1988, the events. Importance learning from major incident piper alpha disaster. One hundred and sixty seven people died in the piper alpha fire on 6 july 1988, making it the worlds worst offshore oil disaster. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster the hon. Parkinson, the present secretary of state for transport, set up the public inquiry on july 1988 and. 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 atform from the,xlpha forll the all pi. It was built in the north sea by a consortium run by occidental and dr. The author headed the public inquiry into this disaster. It was connected by an oil pipeline to flotta and by gas pipelines to two other installations.
On 6 july 1988 a series of explosions ripped through the piper alpha platform in the north sea. Pdf in 1998, the explosion of the piper alpha platform claimed 167 lives, making. Friend and predecessor, the member for hertsmere mr. Complete 2 volume set of oversized trade paperbacks. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster 2 volume set by cullen, w. Volume 2 is very good minus with shelfwer, bumped corners and some creasing to the back cover. This is the conclusion of the cullen report into the explosion on the oil rig piper alpha that killed 167 men. Speaker, i would like to make a statement about the report of the public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster. The piper alpha was a north sea oil production platform operated by occidental petroleum caledonia ltd. Jun 23, 2010 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. It produced oil from 24 wells and in its early life it had also produced gas from two wells. The recommendations covered the regulatory system, prevention and mitigation measures, and evacuation, escape, and rescue. References weekend aberdeen, nov 27, 20, youtube, retrieved from.
Piper alpha disaster how is piper alpha disaster abbreviated. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster two. Pdf the british offshore oil industry after piper alpha. 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. Apr 09, 2015 a key witness at the cullen inquiry, ed said. Piper alpha disaster prompted drastically improved safety. Piper alpha was the largest platform by production in the world in its era 317,000 barrelsday, peak.
The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster w. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster, volume 2 volume 10 of cm series great britain. Buy the public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster command paper by cullen, lord isbn. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster two volume set cullen, w.
As shifts changed and the night crew aboard piper alpha assumed duties for the evening, one of the platforms two condensate pumps failed. 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. Lord cullen, the public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster cm 10, presented to parliament by the secretary of state for energy. Parliament the public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster, great britain. Late in the evening of 06 july 1988, a series of explosions ripped through the piper alpha platform in the north sea.
The piper alpha disaster which killed 167 workers on 6 july 1988 off the coast of aberdeen is the worldsdeadliest ever oil rig accident. A public inquiry, undertaken by lord cullen at the request of the government, was. 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. Public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster the lord cullen report. Preventable disasters in the offshore oil industry. 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. The cullen report can refer to one of three reports of public inquiries into disasters that were overseen by william cullen, baron cullen of whitekirk.
The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster two volume. Piper alpha remembered flames could be seen 100km away survivors and relatives are on monday commemorating the 10th anniversary of piper alpha, the worlds worst offshore oil disaster. The controversy around it was heightened when a report. Piper alpha platform, north sea offshore technology oil. An explosion on the piper alpha platform occurred in july 1988. The platform began production in 1976, first as an oil platform and then later converted to gas production. The investigation into the piper alpha disaster has much to teach us thirty years on. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster lord w.
Piper alpha was no accident, it was a disaster waiting to happen. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster cm. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster william. As a result he recommends that the safety regulations with regard to offshore operations. The piper alpha incident is still regarded as the worst offshore oil disaster in the history of the uk. Department of energy the public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster chairman the hon lord cullen vol.
Piper alpha 25 years on have we learned the lessons. 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 public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster by william douglas cullen, lord cullen of whitekirk, 1990, hmso edition, in english. Jul 05, 20 piper alpha disaster prompted drastically improved safety measures in the oil industry, say experts. This section provides a summary of the events that occurred, explanations of the reasons they were allowed to happen, and a short overview of the consequences of the disaster. From piper alpha to deepwater horizon public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster, vols. It outlines the findings of the investigation in vol. As a result he recommends that the safety regulations with. 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 that killed 167 workers in the worlds deadliest offshore oil industry disaster.
Undoubtedly the piper alpha disaster drove changes that helped make uk oil and gas the leader it is today, creating a modern, hitech sector with one of the best safety records in the world. Jul 15, 20 twentyfive years ago the piper alpha disaster changed the oil and gas landscape but have the safety lessons been learnt. The piper alpha, owned by occidental petroleum, went up in flames because the british department of energy was effectively captured by the industry. A total of 167 oil workers died when the production platform in the north sea caught fire with horrific consequences. 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. Pdf preventable disasters in the offshore oil industry. The accident killed 165 out of 226 crew members and two crew members from the standby vessel sandhaven. Pipe lift raft on its aunching platform efore h, init. It began production in 1976, initially as an oilonly platform but later converted to add gas production. A look into the piper alpha disaster highlighting ethical issues. Piper alpha disaster on an oil and gas platform in the. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster journal article.
Download as ppt, pdf, txt or read online from scribd. 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. Stationery office, 1990 drilling platforms 488 pages. Professionalismpiper alpha oil rig disaster wikibooks. Engulfed in fire, over the next few hours most of the oil rig topside modules collapsed into the sea. Lord cullen, author of the report on the piper alpha disaster. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster book. 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. In the boom of the 70s and early 80s, piper was the worlds most productive. 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. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster nottingham. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster in. The death toll includes two crewmen of a rescue vessel.
The case for safety the north sea piper alpha disaster. Public inquiries in the united kingdom public safety british royal commissions reports of the. Publication date 1990 series command papers note at head of title. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster 1990.
The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster command. The stateoftheart of knowledge at time of piper alpha in. 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. There were only five inspectors for the entire north sea. Piper alpha is an offshore oil and gas platform that suffered an explosion. Twentyfive years ago the piper alpha disaster changed the oil and gas landscape but have the safety lessons been learnt. Landmark piper alpha cullen report now free to download news. Hero diver fled to australia to escape his piper alpha hell. The stateof the art of knowledge at time of piper alpha in.
Piper alpha disaster prompted drastically improved safety measures in the oil industry, say experts. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster cm 10. An explosion and resulting oil and gas fires destroyed piper alpha on 6 july 1988, killing 167 men. In the space of two hours, 167 men lost their lives. Nov 08, 2008 permit to work based on piper alpha story i still remember when my lecturer presented a documentary about the worst offshore oil disaster piper alpha and its make a very significant issue for us to follow all the procedures permit to work at offshore rig. The cullen inquiry uncovered not only what probably happened on the terrible night of 06 july 1988. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster two volume set.
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 06, 20 on 6 july 1988 a series of explosions ripped through the piper alpha platform in the north sea. Greatly since the piper alpha disaster but largescale tests in a mock up offshore module revealed. Jun 22, 2011 the public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster by william douglas cullen, lord cullen of whitekirk, 1990, hmso edition, in english. 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. Piper alpha was a north sea oil production platform operated by occidental petroleum caledonia ltd. The 1990 report of the uk public inquiry under lord cullen qc into the causes. The piper alpha disaster on the morning 6 th july 1988, as part of a maintenance program, a gas pump pressure safety valve was removed from the processing area and, as the work could not be completed that day, a blanking plat was fitted over the end of. Piper alpha was a large north sea oil platform that started production in 1976. Hero diver fled to australia to escape his piper alpha. The public inquiry into the piper alpha disaster, volume 2 william douglas cullen lord. Overview of the piper alpha disaster overview of the piper alpha disaster piper alpha had many effects, in human, regulatory, and monetary terms. Piper alpha was an oil production platform in the north sea operated by occidental petroleum caledonia limited. Volume 1 is very good plus with shelfwear and bumped corners.
This section provides a summary of the events that occurred, explanations of the reasons they were allowed to happen, and a. So other platforms continued production and pumping of gas for sometime which supplied additional fuel to the fire at piper. It is 25 years since tragedy struck in the north sea. On july 6, 1988, the piper alpha oil platform experienced a series of 10 catastrophic explosions and fires.