by Bill Ball
The oil and gas industry is inherently hazardous, and tank battery fires pose a significant risk. These fires not only result in financial losses but can also lead to tragic consequences. Understanding the causes and implementing preventive measures is crucial for ensuring the safety of your oilfield operations.
The Fire Triangle: The Foundation of Fire Prevention
Every fire requires three elements: fuel, oxygen, and an ignition source. This is known as the “fire triangle.” By eliminating any one of these elements, we can prevent fires. In the context of oilfield tank batteries, the fuel is typically natural gas, which accumulates in the vapor space above the stored liquids.
Controlling the Conditions
To prevent tank battery fires, we need to focus on controlling the three legs of the fire triangle:
- Fuel Control: Minimize the presence of flammable vapors by implementing vapor control systems, such as gas blanketing or vapor recovery units.
- Oxygen Control: Prevent air from entering tanks by keeping thief hatches closed and ensuring proper sealing of all openings.
- Ignition Source Control: Install flame arrestors on vent lines, ensure proper grounding to prevent static electricity buildup, and train personnel on safe handling procedures to avoid accidental ignition.
Common Causes and Solutions
- Lightning Strikes: Lightning can ignite flammable vapors. Implement lightning protection systems, such as properly grounded catenary wires or lightning rods, to mitigate this risk.
- Static Electricity: Static discharge can also act as an ignition source. Ensure proper grounding of all equipment and tanks, and consider installing in-tank static drains to dissipate static charges.
- Open Thief Hatches: Leaving thief hatches open allows air to mix with flammable vapors, creating a dangerous situation. Train personnel on the importance of keeping hatches closed.
- Improper Tank Design and Venting: Inadequate venting or improper equalization of tank pressures can lead to the accumulation of flammable vapors. Design tank batteries with proper venting and consider using common gas manifolds to maintain vapor spaces above the upper explosive limit.
The Importance of Training and Maintenance
Regular safety training for all personnel is essential. Emphasize the importance of fire prevention, proper handling procedures, and the risks associated with open thief hatches and other unsafe practices. Additionally, conduct routine inspections and maintenance of tanks, venting systems, and grounding equipment to ensure they are in good working order.
Conclusion
Tank battery fires are preventable. By understanding the fire triangle, implementing proper controls, and prioritizing safety training and maintenance, you can significantly reduce the risk of fires and protect your valuable assets and personnel. Remember, safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Read the technical paper, TANK BATTERY FIRE PREVENTION: A focus on Eliminating Oilfield Tank Fires
Bill Ball is a senior staff consultant to KBK Industries with over 50 years of oilfield engineering experience and holder of twenty-three oil and gas industry related US patents. His credentials represent the culmination of a lifetime of breakthroughs and innovations. Bill’s twenty-three US process equipment patents speak to this. His first patent has become an industry “game changer.” It is the industry’s first true oil-water separation “skim tank”, the “HWSB”. Today there are over 3,500 HWSB® skim tanks separating and capturing oil that used to be injected and lost forever. Bill resides in Bixby, a suburb of Tulsa, Oklahoma.