Hazardous area classification in simultaneous production and drilling at oil and gas platform

Abstract

Hazardous area, three-dimensional space, in which a flammable/explosive atmosphere is or may be expected to be present in quantity, requiring ignition source controls to manage safety risks, such as fires and explosions. Fire and explosion can result in catastrophic consequences for people and property, causing loss of life or severe injury and possible loss of business. Hazardous Area Classification is a method of analyzing and classifying the environment where explosive gas atmospheres may occur. The primary purpose of this classification is to facilitate the proper selection and installation of the apparatus to be used safely in that environment, considering the properties of the flammable materials that will be present. The method used is the point source approach, where equipment with variabilities of temperature, pressure, equipment, and the degree and type of ventilation that would take place on release may vary significantly, making individual assessment necessary. This study discusses the extent of the hazardous area due to an explosive atmosphere in Simultaneous Production and Drilling mode. It classifies the identified hazardous area based on frequency and likelihood of flammable release or ignitable cloud expected to be present. Using this information, ignition of flammable release or explosive gas cloud suspension in the air, which inevitably occurs in a Simultaneous Production and Drilling area handling flammable components, can be avoided.