Breaking: Brae Alpha Gas Blast Due to Catastrophic Failure of Pipework not Inspected for 30 YEARS
Brae Alpha gas blast exposed employees to unacceptable risk of fire, explosion and injury
The huge Gas Blast on Marathons Brae Alpha platform on the 26th of December last year was the result of significant maintenance failures.
The gas blast was initially reported by mainstream media as a leak but Oil and Gas People was tipped off by workers offshore and broke the news of the major Gas Blast the day after it wiped out an entire module of the Brae Alpha platform.
Oil and Gas People has been pressing Marathon for more information since but despite the platform remaining shutdown, Marathon has remained silent.
The HSE Executive has finally released a detailed statement confirming the cause of the Gas Blast:
The HSE said Marathon failed to remove insulation of pipework for inspection since its commissioning in 1983.
Marathon Oil’s own corrosion strategy recommended it was done at least every 12 year, the report said.
The HSE said failures exposed personnel to an “unacceptable risk” of serious injury from fire and explosion.
The firm has been issued with a mere improvement notice it is unclear if any further criminal prosecution will be likely.
Marathon said it was co-operating fully with the HSE and was taking immediate steps to comply with the improvement notice.
A spokesperson said: “Many of the prescribed remedial actions are already well under way. The safety and welfare of our workforce continues to be our first priority.
“Production remains shut-in on the Brae Alpha installation while we continue our investigation and will remain so until we are confident it is safe to resume operations.
“At this time, we are unable to estimate a timeline for this.”
