Integrated Consequence Modelling for Fire Radiation and Combustion Product Toxicity in offshore Petroleum Platform using Risk Based Approach

¹ Mechanical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia.
² Civil Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia.

^* Corresponding author: mohdhazwan@ump.edu.my

Abstract

The processing area of offshore platform has high probability of leakage of hydrocarbons. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is one of the most common hydrocarbon produced in offshore platforms. Leakage of LNG can cause pool fire, jet fire, flash fire or fire ball. Thermal radiations due to fire is the major source of damage to workers on board. But due to fire, various combustion product toxic gases are also produced that have both acute and chronic health effects. These toxic gases can cause incapacitation, increased heart rate, vomiting and even death. Predicting the human injury due to thermal radiations and concentration of toxic gases are the key issues. A risk based approach takes in to consideration the duration a worker spent on different location of offshore platform and also it has the additive ability to evaluate overall risk due to fire radiation and toxic gases. Grid based approach helps in better visualization of risk posed by fire radiation and combustion product toxic gases at different locations of platform. The current study proposed an integrated consequence modelling approach for fire and combustion product toxic gases using risk based and grid based approaches. The integrated accident is modelled using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). The results showed that risk posed by thermal radiation is confined on sub cellar deck (lower deck) but estimated risk due to combustion product gas (carbon monoxide) on cellar deck (upper deck) has significant value that needs to be considered. The current approach would be useful for emergency preparedness plans and safety measures designs for offshore platforms.