Risk Assessment of the Controlling Methods to Prevent the Harmful Environmental Effects from Fire and Explosion: A Case Study

Abstract

Oil and gas production is an inherently hazardous activity due to the large volume of flammable and explosive hydrocarbons stored or processed in a facility. Therefore, formal risk assessments are necessary for various phases of the asset life cycle because they help personnel identify, evaluate, and control the hazards that could result in loss of life, injury, pollution, property damage, or business disruption. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of fire and explosion (F&E) in the Gas Treating Unit of a gas refinery using the DOW’S fire and explosion index in order to examine the influence of the controlling methods. Accordingly, the important processes of the subunits in the Gas Treating Unit were identified based on the important influential parameters such as process pressure, temperature, and material value. In the next step, the most important parameters affecting the fire and explosion index were calculated for each subunit. In each case, the corresponding control methods were identified and their effects were investigated. The results revealed that 5 subunits out of the 5 studied had a severe risk of fire and explosion. The feed gas K.O DRUM (Knock-out Drum) was the most critical subunit of the Gas Treating Unit, given an F & E index value of 235.62. According to the research findings, the controlling methods could reduce the F&E index but not less than 98.7.

Keywords

• Risk Assessment
• Environmental Impacts
• Hydrocarbon Refining
• Storage Facilities