The explosion and fire on the Piper Alpha platform, 6 July 1988. A case study

On 6 July 1988, at about 22.00, an explosion occurred on the Piper Alpha platform an oil and gas production facility in the North Sea. Within seconds a major unstabilized crude-oil fire developed and all but the wellhead area and the lower parts of the platform were engulfed in smoke. The subsequent fire escalation was swift and dramatic with the first of three gas risers failing catastrophically after 20 min. In the disaster 167 persons lost their lives in what was the world's worst offshore accident. The background to the investigation and the sources of evidence are reviewed. The available evidence is examined to explain the rapid fire escalation following the initial explosion. There fellows a commentary on the way fire and fire dynamics are now being considered in the design and operation of UK offshore installations.