What's new at HSE » Pipelines

Safety instrumented systems for the overpressure protection of pipeline rises

Fiona — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:49:08 +0000

The purpose of this semi permanent circular is to provide guidance on pipeline riser system pressure containment, and on the overpressure protection of riser systems by means of instrumented systems which are remotely located on a normally unattended installation (NUI) or sub-sea.

View SPC/TECH/OSD/31 - Overpressure protection of pipline rises

HSE Seminar on Flexible Pipeline/Riser Integrity Management - Register now

phil — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:37:20 +0000

HSE has organized an industry technical seminar on ‘Flexible pipeline/riser integrity management’ to be held 27 November 2008 at the Macdonald Pittodrie House Hotel, near Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Flexible pipeline/riser integrity seminar details

Public consultations alerts

Gavin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:40:09 +0000

Sign up email or mobile phone text alerts to be informed about new consultations, reminders and results of consultations…

Interim guidance on conveying carbon dioxide in pipelines

Peter — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:10:49 +0000

This note seeks to draw attention to: current knowledge and guidance on the hazards from CO₂, current UK legislation, possible legislative changes, existing pipeline design codes and standards, ongoing initiatives and research; and good practice in the design of pipeline systems for transporting bulk quantities of CO₂ in the UK.

Read this guidance note on conveying CO2 in pipelines

Carbon capture storage (CCS) website launched

HSEnews — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:00:10 +0000

Carbon capture & storage (CCS) is the process of capturing the CO₂ that is emitted when fossil fuels are burned. HSE along with other regulatory bodies and stakeholders are working together to enable a safe working introduction of this process.

Find out more

Third party major accident hazard pipeline (MAHP) infringement

Fiona — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:01:18 +0000

Third party damage to underground services of all types continues to be a source of danger and when the underground service is a Major Accident Hazard Pipeline (MAHP) such as a high-pressure gas main or a petrochemical pipeline then the consequences of a rupture can be devastating to people and the environment.

The aim of the report was to produce a case study to illustrate the sequence of events and the underlying factors of the incident, as well as to communicate the lessons that can be learned for risk management.

View research report

Integrity of buried metal LPG pipework

Fiona — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:43:18 +0000

This Operational Circular alerts inspectors to a matter of potential major concern namely the ongoing integrity of buried, metallic pipework, used for conveying LPG as a vapour or a liquid. Further information on matters of potential major concern can be found in OC 18/12.

View OC286-105 [PDF 19KB]

Shell UK oil products Ltd fined £266,681

phil — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:31:35 +0000

Shell UK Oil Products Limited had a ‘narrow escape’ after 20 tonnes of a highly flammable and toxic gas escaped through a corroded pipe at their Stanlow Manufacturing Complex, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, but dispersed without exploding.

Read the press release

HSC Chair’s call for effective leadership in the downstream oil industry

HSE news — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:05:48 +0000

Chairing an International Safety Conference the Chair of the (HSC) Judith Hackitt told the UK Petroleum Industry Association , “I cannot emphasise enough how industry leaders must play a pivotal role in setting strong and visible process safety controls throughout their organisations. Safety not only ensures that people go home safely at the end of the day, but is also good business”.

Read the press release in full

Geoffrey Podger issues challenge to major hazard industries

HSE news — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:15:07 +0000

HSE Chief Executive, Geoffrey Podger, today challenged the major hazard industries to take more responsibility for tackling the safety issues it faces.

View the press release in full

Investigation of delayed repairs for gas escapes

Paul — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 09:43:15 +0000

This guidance has been developed to supplement the existing Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 (GS(M)R) guidance document L80. This will be used by HSE Inspectors during investigations of gas escapes from gas distribution pipelines.

Read the circular

Major Hazard Safety Performance Indicators report 2006/07

Fiona — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 09:34:38 +0000

Published annually to monitor and compare industry safety performance year-on-year across the UK’s gas transmission, distribution and major accident hazard pipelines sectors.

View the report [PDF 321KB]

Natural gas salt cavity storage

Fiona — Wed, 16 May 2007 14:31:39 +0000

This semi permanent circular provides guidance for Inspectors on the application of COMAH and PSR to the development and operation of salt cavity natural gas storage sites.

Read the circular [PDF 103kb]

Operational strategy 2007 - 2012

Fiona — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 11:44:09 +0000

The strategy is aimed at ensuring the risks from major hazards in the changing pipeline and gas supply industries are properly controlled.

View the document [PDF 65kb]

Elastomeric seals for rapid gas decompression applications in high-pressure services - RR485

HSE news — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 08:34:26 +0000

Seal damage and observed gas leaks to atmosphere caused by Rapid Gas Decompression (also known as Explosive Decompression) in elastomeric seals have been reported in many types of equipment in the oil and gas industry. These failures have had costly financial, safety and environmental implications for the operators and equipment suppliers.

Read the report

Chemical and Downstream Oil Industries Forum (CDOIF). Agenda and minutes.

HSE news — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 13:30:20 +0000

Agenda and Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 18 July 2006.

See details

Further guidance on emergency plans for major accident hazard pipelines

HSE news — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 14:02:18 +0000

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance booklet L822 provides advice on HSE’s interpretation of the Regulations and how they will be enforced. The purpose of this document is to amplify that advice, especially in relation to the roles of local authorities and pipeline operators in preparing emergency plans.

Further guidance on emergency plans for MAH pipelines[PDF113Kb]

Buncefield Adjournment debate held, Wednesday 19th July, 2006

HSE news — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 16:23:00 +0000

Mike Penning, Member of Parliament for Hemel Hempstead, obtained an Adjournment debate on ‘Health and Safety Executive inquiry into Buncefiield oil depot fire in Hemel Hempstead’, which took place on the morning of 19th July 2006. The debate was attended and contributed to by local representatives from both national and European government, and the Government’s Ministerial response was delivered by James Plaskitt MP, the Department for Work and Pensions Parliamentary Under Secretary (Commons).

Read a full transcript of the debate

Commission endorses publication of the initial report of the independent board’s investigation into the explosion and fires at the Buncefield oil storage depot

HSE news — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:59:07 +0000

The HSC and the Board of the Environment Agency today have received and endorsed publication of the initial report by the independent Major Incident Investigation Board appointed to supervise the investigation of the explosion and fires at the Buncefield Oil Storage Depot, Hemel Hempstead, on 11 December 2005.

Read the press release

Buncefield initial report published

HSEnews — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 15:29:57 +0000

The report contains summary and up-dated information on the work previously described in the three Progress Reports. The Board have also taken this opportunity to draw some broad early conclusions, and to indicate issues requiring special attention going forward. Several annexes of detailed information accompany the report.

Read the latest Buncefield report