Worst Property Losses

The worst property losses suffered during this period are highlighted below. Almost all are associated with blowout incidents. 

Blowout, Jackup Rig suffered catastrophic damage, (Cities Service -1981). 

Blowout, Major damage to rig and submersible barge, (Placid -1981). 

Blowout, Extensive damage to two rigs and platform (Union - 1993). 

Cut into Pipeline not hydrocarbon free, Platform destroyed, (Arco -1989) 

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As noted nearly five centuries ago, fires produce smoke and as learned this century, most of the fire deaths in this country result from people breathing that smoke (1). Over the years, the United States and Canada have had the worst fire loss records among the industrialized countries which keep such records (2). At present, the United States suffers 6,000 deaths and 30,000 reported injuries per year (3). The annual property damage exceeds 7 billion, and the total cost of fire is over 50 billion (4). 

Figure 20-3 represents the plot of the data from Table 20-1. In this case, the operation could expect a 90,000 property damage accident approximately every twenty-four return periods or about once every six years. In this case the expected mean annual worst case loss would be approximately 32,000. 

The consequence of incomplete phase separation in a biphasic catalysed reaction results in contamination of the product phase by some of the catalyst immobilization solvent, as well as the catalyst. In the worst possible case, a distillation process is still required to purify the product. In addition, with some of the catalyst lost from the immobilization phase (the catalyst is often expensive and toxic) the system is less active when a second batch of the substrate is introduced. The best way to minimize (or ideally eliminate) catalyst loss is to design a catalyst that is considerably more soluble in the immobilization phase compared to the product phase. This is usually done by attaching groups to the catalyst that provide the desired solubility properties for the immobilization solvent and many examples of these modified ligands are given in the following chapters. 

Sieve retention Reliable at worst case product properties Reliable separation even at high flows and pressure conditions Blockage, i.e., exhaustion, can be determined No unspecific adsorption, minimal loss of desired product, and little adsorptive fouling Retentive only at the specific pore size rating... 

Fire protection engineers on my staff made many computations of property damage and business interruption loss estimates for their clients. A reasonable-worst-case hazard and exposure scenario—a modeling of an event—would be written. It would include assumptions about hazards being realized, where on the property the incident would most likely occur, the value of the facilities and equipment in that area, and the monetary value of the damage to property that could occur. Clients provided the values of properties used in the computations, and they were often inaccurate. 

In a chemical operation, outside consultants were to work with staff engineers to determine the reasonable worst case that would result in severe damage to operations. Agreement was reached on a scenario whereby a pipe and valve failure would release a large quantity of a combustible liquid. The consultants and the internal engineers arrived at an estimate of the direct property damage loss of 400 million— which was 20% of the location s replacement cost. It was estimated that there would be 4 fatalities, and 12 serious injuries. Replacement time to recover from the damage was estimated at a minimum of 18 months, but more likely 24 months. 

As such, all material functionalities are the result of a combination of appropriate material architecture and physico-chemical characteristics of its constituent elements. Small-scale damage affecting the chemical structure or architecture will lead to a decrease of the intended properties/functionality which can further lead to the replacement of the damaged area or, in the worst case scenario, to the catastrophic failure of the structure with consequent loss of time, material and money. 

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