Fire Hazards Caused by Equipment Used in Offshore Oil and Gas Operations: Prescriptive vs. Goal-Oriented Legislation

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61989100%3A27740%2F25%3A10256839" target="_blank" >RIV/61989100:27740/25:10256839 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8010029" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8010029</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/fire8010029" target="_blank" >10.3390/fire8010029</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Fire Hazards Caused by Equipment Used in Offshore Oil and Gas Operations: Prescriptive vs. Goal-Oriented Legislation

Original language description

This article offers a concise overview of the best practices for safety in offshore oil and gas operations, focusing on the risks associated with various types of equipment, particularly on the risk of fire. It identifies specific machinery and systems that could pose hazards, assesses their potential impact on safety, and explores conditions that may lead to accidents. Some of the largest accidents were analyzed for their associations with fire hazards and specific equipment. Two primary regulatory approaches to offshore safety are examined: the prescriptive approach in the United States (US) and the goal-oriented approach in Europe. The prescriptive approach mandates strict compliance with specific regulations, while in the goal-oriented approach a failure to adhere to recognized best practices can result in legal accountability for negligence, especially concerning human life and environmental protection. This article also reviews achievements in safety through the efforts of regulatory authorities, industry collaborations, technical standards, and risk assessments, with particular attention given to the status of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs). Contrary to common belief, the most frequent types of accidents are not those involving a fire/explosion caused by the failure of the Blowout Preventer (BOP) after a well problem has already started. Following analysis, it can be concluded that the most frequent type of accident typically occurs without fire and is due to material fatigue. This can result in the collapse of the facility, capsizing of the platform, and loss of buoyancy of mobile units, particularly in bad weather or during towing operations. It cannot be concluded that accidents can be more efficiently prevented under a specific type of safety regime, whether prescriptive or goal-oriented.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10500 - Earth and related environmental sciences

Project

—

Continuities

—

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Fire

ISSN

2571-6255

e-ISSN

2571-6255

Volume of the periodical

8

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1

Country of publishing house

CH - SWITZERLAND

Number of pages

22

Pages from-to

29

UT code for WoS article

001404073600001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85216201470