A tool for identifying the risk of major accidents has been developed at the Kårstø gas processing plant. This makes it possible to manage operations in a way which minimises the risk of fire and explosion.
Plans call for a high level of maintenance, modification and development activity at this facility, which lies north of Stavanger.
Since such work will be executed while the plant remains in full operation, as well as during planned maintenance shutdowns, good and appropriate risk management will be required.
The new tool is based on the recognition that three parameters must be present at roughly the same time and place for a major accident to occur: hydrocarbons, ignition sources and people.Cutting or eliminating the contribution from at least one of these parameters can substantial reduce the risk of major incidents.
Based on information about each activity's content and date of execution, any overlap of the three parameters will be identified. The associated level of risk in the plant's various fire areas can then be calculated.
Comparing the calculated risk with established criteria will provide an indication of whether the overlap of the planned activities provides an unacceptably high level of risk. The organisation is thereby notified of the need to implement risk-reducing measures. These could include changes to working methods, halting the activity, or transferring it to a different period or out of the plant.
Since the risk management tool is tightly integrated with the whole planning process for Kårstø, inappropriately overlapping activities and the need for risk reduction can be identified early.
