Petroleum & Gas Inspectorate | Alert | No.103 V 1 | 03 June 2022
Over pressure event in a TEG reboiler column causing a significant fall from height
What happened?
A triethylene glycol (TEG) reboiler termination cap (cap) discharged under pressure from the reboiler column due to an over pressure event which occurred whilst workers were switching between pumps. No persons were injured, however the approximately 10kg cap landed in an area of the plant where workers could have been standing.
How did it happen?
Methane gas backflowed from the TEG contactor to the TEG reboiler during manual switching of the glycol pumps.
Key issues
- The cap fell approximately 8m to ground level
- The approximately 10kg cap landed in an area of the plant accessible to workers
- A serious injury or potential fatality was narrowly avoided without specific controls in place to prevent the incident.
Critical controls
Investigations are continuing in relation to failed critical controls to prevent the over pressure event within the TEG reboiler column reoccurring.
Recommendations
Facilities operating similar plant and equipment should assess the likelihood and consequence of a related over pressure event occurring.
Where potential risks are identified, existing controls should be assessed to ensure risks to workers are kept at the required level of as low as is reasonably practicable.
Investigations are ongoing and further information may be published as it becomes available. The information in this publication is what is known at the time of writing.
We issue Safety Notices to draw attention to the occurrence of a serious incident, raise awareness of risks, and prompt assessment of your existing controls.
Contact: Tony Willis, Manager Investigations , +61 7 5459 6191 tony.willis@rshq.qld.gov.au
Issued by Resources Safety & Health Queensland
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