Piper alpha platform was constructed in two sections by mcdermott engineering and uie at ardersier and cherbourg, respectively. Automatic shutdown valves were made mandatory on rigs to starve any potential fires of fuel. Piper alpha re ceived and sent to the shore the oil and gas production of a group of platforms. Piper alpha was a north sea oil production platform operated by occidental petroleum caledonia ltd. Dont forget to subscribe for more documentaries like this one.
The gas processing system of the platform comprised two highpressure condensate pumps. Jun 21, 20 fire in the night relives the tragic events that occurred on the piper alpha rig on 6th july 1988. This is piper alpha spiral to disaster bbc by green world group on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Using cgi, forensic science and eyewitness accounts, seconds from disaster on national geographic channel, reenacts the final moments of some of the worlds most tragic events. Preventing piper alpha and iso 3 nicholas and smith. Watch full episodes, specials and documentaries with national geographic tv channel online. For example, prior to the disaster, auditing on piper alpha often identified some of risks that contributed to the explosion but instead of the audit findings being analysed and evaluated two elements in the process outlined in the iso 3, they were ignored. The video that you refer to is a bbc production called spiral to disaster from the bbc disaster series 1. Piper alpha platform, north sea offshore technology oil and gas. Saturday, july 6, 20 marked the 25th anniversary of the largest disaster in the history of offshore oil and gas industry. In the following sections we will examine the causes of the piper alpha oil rig explosion and the subsequent inquiry into the incident that claimed 167 crew members lives.
The date shown for national piper alpha day can change, if for instance several hundred people tweeted about piper alpha day in early april, then in may a few thousand people tweeted about piper alpha day, then the date shown for national piper alpha day, could come up twice. Im looking for that too, i saw it yesterday on a mist course and would like to watch it again. What caused the giant piper alpha oil rig explosion. Piper alpha the night that changed our world print this page the sky was alight and acrid smoke billowed into the cold air the night 167 men lost their lives 28 years on and the scars of the piper alpha disaster have still not healed. Explosion in the north sea piper alpha disaster youtube. Piper alpha spiral to disaster rovworld subsea information. This workshop utilizes a case study of the tragic event of the explosion and fire at the piper alpha oil platform in the north sea which resulted in the loss of 167 lives. Occidental engineers knew the danger of a gas fire but hadnt designed safety features. Hes fastthat bulky body can reach speeds of 30 miles per hour. Minutes silence for piper alphas 167 victims bbc news.
Click here to visit our frequently asked questions about html5. Jan 03, 2017 dont forget to subscribe for more documentaries like this one. Seconds from disaster returns to national geographic channel international to recreate and analyse 6 of the most famous disasters of recent history. A large fixed platform, piper alpha was situated on the piper oilfield, approximately 120 miles either 200 or 220 km northeast of aberdeen in 474 feet 144 m of water. A disaster which could have been, if not totally adverted, dramatically changed in course without the horrible loss of human lif. A massive explosion 120 miles out to sea ignites a fight for survival for 226 men. Piper alpha film a reminder that same hazards exist today. The australian animals may be descendents of asian dingoes that were introduced to the continent some 3,000. Piper alpha film a reminder that same hazards exist. It began production in 1976, 2 initially as an oilonly platform but later converted to add gas production. The dingo is legendary as australias wild dog, though it also occurs in southeast asia. Jul 01, 2018 30th anniversary of the worlds deadliest offshore oil disaster on july 6, 1988, 167 people died in the piper alpha explosion. Piper alpha was an oil production platform in the north sea approximately 120 miles 190 km northeast of aberdeen, scotland, that was operated by occidental petroleum caledonia limited. The night the system failed the piper alpha inferno duration.
When in upland areas, sandpipers live along river, ponds, or lakes. Your browser does not currently recognize any of the video formats available. National geographic channel seconds from disaster season. But on the night of 6 july 1988, a series of explosions erupted resulting in the d. Piper alpha platform, north sea offshore technology oil. As shifts changed and the night crew aboard alpha piper assumed duties for the evening, one of the platforms two condensate pumps failed.
Witness some of the harrowing stories of the 1988 explosion at piper alpha. In 1988, piper alpha endured a gas leak with the subsequent fire and explosion reducing her to a wreck, ending up on the bottom of the north sea. Step change in safety has commissioned a short film about the piper alpha disaster featuring artwork by sue jane taylor. On october 9, 1963, a massive landslide slammed into a dam reservoir, unleashing a sixbilliongallon. The mandalorian, gravity falls, and free solo top our list of the best prime video. The piper alpha disaster which killed 167 workers on 6 july 1988 off the coast of aberdeen is the worldsdeadliest ever oil rig accident. The first full account of the most tragic oil rig disaster in history, the human story behind it, and the true nature of its legacy. The crew worked to resolve the issue before platform production was affected. Piper alpha was an oil production platform in the north sea approximately 120 miles 190 km. Piper alpha the night that changed our world step change.
One hundred and sixty seven men died in the worlds worst offshore oil disaster. It was a catastrophe that killed 167 men and left only 61 survivors, each of whom had to fight for their lives to escape the huge, labyrinthine structure and the flames that were consuming it. Piper alpha spiral to disaster is a gripping dramadocumentary that recreates the three hours of the tragedy. Testimony from key witnesses and survivors, enhanced by reconstructions, archive and photoreal computer g national geographic for everyone in everywhere. During the late 1970s, major works were carried out to enable the platform to meet uk government gas export requirements and after this work had been completed, piper alpha was operating in what was known as phase 2 mode operating with the gas conservation module gcm since the end of 1980 up until july 1988.
But the inquiry said the first explosion and fireball was at 10pm. A true story of the piper alpha disaster on the north sea brad matsen on. Piper alpha was a north sea oil production platform operated by occidental. Seconds from disaster, season 1, episode 10, explosion in the. This safety video training workshop utilizes a case study of the tragic event of the explosion and fire at the piper alpha oil platform. At the inquiry i told them that the first explosion i heard would be at 9. On wednesday, july 6, 1988 the piper alpha platform in the uk part of the north sea was struck by an explosion which set the facility on fire, killing 167 men on board. It produced crude oil and natural gas from 24 wells for delivery to the flotta oil terminal on orkney and to other installations by three separate pipeli. May 06, 20 july 6, 1988, piper oilfield, north sea. A series of explosions destroyed the piper alpha oil platform in the north sea.
The common sandpiper is a migrator, but it frequents similar habitats yearround. Trinity research outlines cost of not supporting firms in danger of closure due to covid19 crisis. Implementing a safety culture in a major multi national. One of the worst manmade disasters in history from. The 20 documentary film fire in the night is about the disaster. May 06, 20 national aeronautics and space administration. Residents of the valley of vajont in italy had reservations about a new hydroelectric damespecially when cracks began to appear in the nearby mountain. Quintinshill, the worst railway disaster in british history duration. A disaster which could have been, if not totally adverted, dramatically changed in course without the horrible loss of human life. As shifts changed and the night crew aboard piper alpha.
Worker empowerment and engagement are essential to prevent major accidents such as the 1988 explosion of the piper alpha platform in the north sea. Learn how piper alpha s connection to a network of rigs fueled the fire. It produced oil from 24 wells and in its early life it had also produced gas from two wells. Sue jane, who was offshore in the months before to the disaster, sketched. Learning from the piper alpha accident the offshore platform piper alpha, which was lo cated in the british sector of the north sea oil field and operated by occidental petroleum, was engulfed in a catastrophic fire on july 6, 1988. Piper alpha was a large north sea oil platform that started production in 1976. The platform began production in 1976, first as an oil platform and then later converted. It can be obtained from the bbc education and training department and it cost approx. According to espinozagala, anderson did not join them since he was waiting for his new assignment on discovery spirit. Jul 07, 2018 documentary chronicling the tragic events that occurred in the north sea on board the piper alpha rig in july 1988, in what was the worlds deadliest offshore oil disaster. Documentary chronicling the tragic events that occurred in the north sea on board the piper alpha rig in july 1988, in what was the worlds deadliest offshore oil disaster. National geographic featured this incident in an episode of its seconds from disaster documentary. A minutes silence has been held in aberdeen in memory of the 167 men who lost their lives in the piper alpha disaster 30 years ago. National geographic channel seconds from disaster season 1.
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