Dropped objects risk associated

Process Hazards Analysis (PHA) techniques were developed for the onshore chemical and refining industries. These industries typically work with a much wider range of chemicals than are used offshore, and many of those chemicals are highly toxic and/or corrosive—something that is rarely a major consideration offshore. Therefore, the use of onshore-style PHA methods when analyzing the risks associated with offshore facihties can feel like something of a misfit. Where possible, these techniques should be modified so that problems to do with hazardous chemicals receive less prominence, but other issues, such as dropped objects and escape and evacuation routes, are analyzed more thoroughly. 

The following strategies can be used to reduce the risk associated with a dropped object to an acceptable level ... 

One means of reducing the risk associated with dropped objects is to create a safe zone or quadrant at the seabed. No subsea equipment should be installed in that zone. All lifts to and from the rig or platform should be carried out in the water column above that zone. Then, if the object is dropped, the chance of an important piece of equipment being hit is minimized. 

Major accidents involve the accidental release of considerable energy and the potential for multiple fatalities and major material damage. In offshore oil and gas production, there are a few types of hazards or energies associated with the risk of major accidents. For a floating PDQ platform, they include fires and explosions due to rupture of process containment, blow-out or maritime accidents (hull puncture due to ship collisions, dropped objects, extreme weather or ballasting errors). We will here focus on the prevention... 

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