Marine Accident Report - Explosion and Fire Onboard the U.S. Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit GLOMAR ARCTIC II in the North Sea, 130 Nautical Miles East-Southeast of Aberdeen, Scotland, January 15, 1985

摘要

On January 15, 1985, the US semi-submersible mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) GLOMAR ARCTIC II was conducting well testing operations 130 nautical miles east-southeast of Aberdeen, Scotland, in the North Sea. About 2030, the drilling unit experienced an explosion in the port pontoon pumproom. The chief engineer and third assistant engineer were killed in the blast. Damage to the drilling vessel was estimated to be $2.3 million dollars. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the misassembly of the No. 3 crude oil burner nozzle assembly by the well test crew, which resulted in the fracture of the No. 3 crude oil burner tip. The fracture allowed flammable crude oil and gas hydrocarbons to be released into the port pontoon pumproom, creating an explosive hydrocarbon atmosphere which was subsequently ignited by an electrical component in the pumproom. Contributing to the fracture of the No. 3 burner tip was the improperly manufactured burner tip and the lack of adequate Otis Pressure Control Company maintenance and inspection procedures for the well test crew.