Element 4: Fire protection and emergency response

Management of international oil and gas operational safety

4.1 Unit IOG1

Learning outcomes

On completion of this element, candidates should be able to demonstrate understanding of the content through the application of knowledge to familiar and unfamiliar situations. In particular they should be able to:

4.1          Outline appropriate control measures to minimise the effects of fire and explosion in the oil and gas industries

4.2          Outline the principles, procedures and resources for effective emergency response.

Content

4.1          Fire and explosion in the oil and gas industries

• Leak and fire detection systems, including spot, line, zone, flame, and heat detection systems

• Passive fire protection, including hydrocarbon and cellulostic passive fire protection of structures and equipment supports, such as bulkheads, vessels, columns, spheres, flare supports
• Active water based fire protection systems, both onshore and offshore, including manual and automatic operation features
• Chemical/foam based extinguishing systems (which system; use of correct media for risk trying to mitigate)
• Inert extinguishing systems
• Examples of fire protection systems and their function for equipment specific types, including; floating roof tanks, process modules, spheres, gas turbines and compressors.

4.2          Emergency response

• Emergency Plan

-                role and importance of Emergency Plan (as part of safety case link to element 1.4)

-                content of Emergency Plan

-                fire and explosion strategy and detailing of it to specific risk based fire protection features

• Alarms – importance of response
• Medical emergency planning, tiered response, medical evacuation procedures and back up resources
• Principles of escape evacuation and rescue from on-shore facilities and offshore platforms, including primary, secondary and tertiary escape devices for offshore
• Roles and operation of fire teams onshore and offshore in upstream and downstream facilities
• Training and drills
• External support agencies and resource liaison, including municipal and offshore
• Liaison with emergency services.