Shell UK fined for 'potentially catastrophic' pipework fire risk

Oil giant Shell UK has been fined £560,000 after failing to maintain pipework for seven years that risked a "potentially catastrophic" fire at its Brent Charlie platform.

A court heard that the pipework deteriorated to such an extent that contained hydrocarbon fluids escaped, forming a potentially explosive and flammable mixture that could have ignited.

The court was told that the leak in May 2017 involved 200kg of gas and 1,550kg of crude oil and put over 170 platform workers at risk.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that deficiencies in Shell's safety management system led to the release.

Production was stopped and 31 non-essential personnel were flown home as a precaution following the incident.

The court was told that the "possibility of ignition" was estimated at less than 1%.

Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told that the pipework was installed for short-term use and was due to be removed in 2010 but remained in place for seven years, during which time it suffered corrosion damage.

The court was told that in addition to the release, ventilation fans designed to prevent, control or mitigate the effects of escaped hydrocarbon gas did not function properly as they were also not suitably maintained.

This led to a large release of mixed phase crude oil and gas from the corroded pipework.

The court was told that on 19 May 2017 there was an "uncontrolled hydrocarbon release incident" from a return oil line (ROL) pipework inside concrete leg Column 4 of the Brent Charlie offshore installation.

The release was the largest uncontrolled hydrocarbon release on the UK Continental Shelf reported to the HSE that year.

The court was told that the release placed workers at risk from a potentially catastrophic fire and explosion if the escaping hydrocarbon gas had ignited inside the concrete leg.

The court heard that the HSE noted that the platform manager and emergency teams deserved praise for their actions that assisted preventing the incident from escalating.

Shell UK Limited admitted two charges under the Offshore Installations (Prevention of Fire and Explosion, and Emergency Response) Regulations 1995.

HSE offshore health and safety inspector Dozie Azubike said: "This release occurred in a confined space with limited access.

"It is simply fortunate that no one was in the leg at the time, or they could have been asphyxiated from the hydrocarbon-rich atmosphere, quite apart from any fire and explosion risk."

A Shell spokesperson said: "Shell's focus on safety and care for our people is deeply ingrained in our culture and drives every decision we make.

"When an alarm alerted us to a gas leak on Brent Charlie in 2017, the emergency procedure was followed immediately and no one was harmed.

"The prosecutor has accepted our analysis that the risk of the leak igniting was extremely low.

"However, our usual preventative measures did not pick up this problem. We have investigated and made sure this cannot happen again."