OK, first let us first know what exactly is an oil rig?
It is an offshore platform, also referred to as an oil platform or oil rig, is a large structure with facilities to drill wells and extract and process Petroleum and Natural Gas and export the products to shore. Depending on the circumstances, the platform may be Fixed Platform to the ocean floor, may consist of an Artificial Island, or may float.
Just imagine a fire in an oil rig?
It would be so horrible. So here are some safety measures taken during a fire accident in an oil rig:-
1)If there is a minor accident caused then they put it off with a foam extinguisher. If in chance it is a fire caused by an electric short circuit they use Dry chemical powder (DCP) extinguisher.
2) If it is a big fire accident then they is no way to stop the fire. The people aboard the rig must be evacuated within 30 min. This is done by helicopters, life rafts and life boats.
3) As every institution or an organization or an industry has some code of safety to follow. In oil rigs and some ships the specific security code or a book of instructions to follow is IAMSAR (International Aeronautical Maritime Safety and Rescue).
4) For the communication from the rig to another ship or seaport there are some instruments used in the radio room of the rig. The instruments are:-
a) SAT-C: - It is known as satellite at sea communication. In this the crew members can talk to a near by sea port or a ship.
b) MF-HF Radio: - It is a Medium Frequency and High Frequency radio. Through this the crew member can communicate with the nearest sea port. In this Radio there is one button called DSC Distress button. When there is any problem or distress in the rig if this button is pressed then the information of the ship and the signal of a problem in the rig will be shown in the nearest sea port so that it can immediately send the rescue operation team to the rig.
c) VHF Radio: - It is a Very High Frequency Radio. Through this radio the crew members can talk to the seaport through two channels. Channel 16 and channel 70. Through channel 70 they can explain the problem clearly to the people in the seaport.
d) EPIRB: - It is Emergency Programmed International Rescue Beacon. It is automatic. When the EPIRB touches water then it will send the full details of the rig and the location of the rig with the latitude and longitude and Time in GMT to the nearest seaport. It is helpful so that the seaport can immediately send the rescue operation team to the rig. There is one EPIRB in one rig. It can float.
e) SART: - It is Safety and Rescue Transmitter. It is placed in each life raft and life boat and one in the radio room. It has to be operated by hand. When the rig is in danger then if this thing is operated it will send the information to the nearest ship or sea port. In the radar of the ship or the sea pot they can see the location of the rig blinking. So the ship can come to the immediate rescue of the rig or the sea port can send the rescue team to the rig. In a life boat or a life raft if it is operated the information is send to a near by ship or a sea port for the rescue of the crew members evacuated from the rig using a life boat or a life raft. The crew members evacuated from the rig through life boats or life rafts must be saved within 24 hours.
5) The rescue team sent by the seaport rescues the crew members come by helicopters mainly.
6) In case there is an oil spill the rescue teams come in tug boats to the rig and keep some big plastic drums like things to prevent oil from spreading away.
7) There will be separate fire fighting boats which will come to the rig and throw foam mixed with water to keep off the fire from a distance about 70m away from the rig.
By,
N.T.Ganatma
