Offshore Fixed Rig Risk

HSE
Health & Safety

Executive
Accident statistics for fixed offshore

units on the UK Continental Shelf
1980 - 2001
Prepared by
Det Norske Veritas Industry AS
for the Health and Safety Executive 2003
RESEARCH REPORT 096
HSE
Health & Safety

Executive
Accident statistics for fixed offshore

units on the UK Continental Shelf
1980 - 2001
Espen Funnemark
Det Norske Veritas Industry AS
Safety & Process Advisory Services
Veritasveien 1
1322 Hovik
Norway
Eoin Young
HSE Offshore Division
Room G SW
Rose Court
London
SE1 9HS
This project updates previous project; Accident Statistics for Fixed Offshore Units on the UK
Continental Shelf, 1991 - 1999. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published the project as
OTO 2002/012. This project follows the same format for fixed offshore units and extends the data
coverage to 21 years, 1980 - 2001.
The work was commisioned by the HSE as it had been noted that event frequencies quoted in the
safety cases of offshore installations tended to be lower than experience would anticipate.
It has been noted that extensive use has been made of OTO 2000/012 in safety cases submitted
following publication. Typically a review of relevant incidents has assisted the duty holder in confirming
that he has in place adequate mitigating measures.
This report and the work it describes were funded by the HSE. Its contents, including any opinions
and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE
policy.
HSE BOOKS
Crown copyright 2003

First published 2003
ISBN 0 7176 2211 8
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in
any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior
written permission of the copyright owner.
Applications for reproduction should be made in writing to:
Licensing Division, Her Majesty's Stationery Office,
St Clements House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQ
or by e-mail to hmsolicensing@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
ii
Table of Contents
Page
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................... 1

Introduction and background
1
Confidentiality
1
Objectives, results and conclusions
2
INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 7
OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF WORK.................................................................... 9
EXPOSURE DATA................................................................................................... 11
5
5.1
5.1.1
5.1.2
5.1.3
5.2
5.3
5.3.1
5.3.2
5.3.3
5.3.4
5.3.5
5.3.6
5.3.7
5.3.8
ORION
DATABASE................................................................................................. 13
Available data
13
Incident category codes
14
Dangerous occurrence type codes

14
Broad incident type codes

15
Event classification and coding principles

16
Result of interrogation
18
25
All fixed units

29
Drilling units
30
Production units
34
Wellhead units
38
Compression units
42
Pumping units
42
Injection/riser units
43
Accommodation units
6
6.1
6.2
6.2.1
6.2.2
6.2.3
6.2.4
6.2.5
6.2.6
6.2.7
6.2.8
WOAD
....................................................................................................................... 45
Available data
45
46
Result of interrogation
52
All fixed units

55
Drilling units
56
Production units
60
Wellhead units
60
Compression units
61
Pumping units
61
61
Accommodation units
BLOWOUT
DATABASE ......................................................................................... 63
8
8.1
8.2
8.2.1
8.2.2
ACCIDENT STATISTICS ........................................................................................ 65

Accident frequencies, All databases combined
65
Occurrence frequencies, ORION&WOAD

67
All fixed units
69
Drilling units
72
iii
8.2.3
8.2.4
8.2.5
8.2.6
8.2.7
8.2.8
8.3
Production units
Wellhead units
Compression units
Pumping units
Accommodation units
Frequencies, fixed units on NCS
73
77
81
84
84
84
86
CONCLUSIONS........................................................................................................ 87
10
REFERENCES .......................................................................................................... 89
Appendix A HSE ORION; DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE TYPE CODES
This report is part 1 of the published data.
Part 2 is the associated spreadsheet listing
individually the coding and text for each incident.
iv
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1 Introduction and background
In 1999, a project was initiated for the purpose of obtaining accident statistics for offshore floating
units on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). In this respect, five databases holding information
about incidents having occurred on floating units on the UKCS were interrogated. The survey
revealed that that none of them had a complete recording of such incidents. Consequently, the event
frequencies being obtained varied with the availability of sources. There was no reason to believe
that the situation and figures for fixed installations should be any different. Hence, it was proposed
to initiate a similar type of project, but addressing all types of risks to fixed units. It should be noted
that fixed units in this project are defined as comprising all bottom-fixed structures, but excluding
TLPs, FPSOs, FSUs and production jackups even though they are fixed during their production
phase. Accident statistics for the excluded units are found in HSEs OTO Report No. 2000/091
Accident Statistics for Floating Offshore Units on the UK Continental Shelf in 1980-98.
Initially, the proposed project for fixed units was to address the whole period 1980-2001, but since
it was realised that accidents from the period 1980-90 held by the former Sun Safety System had
not been transferred to the ORION database, the project was therefore limited to cover 1991-99.
The results from this study are found in HSEs Offshore Technology Report OTO 2002/012
Accident Statistics for Fixed Offshore Units on the UK Continental Shelf in 1991-99. In August
2001, HSE reported that the missing data was successfully retrieved and available at the same
format as 1991-99 data. It was then decided to set out a new project with the objective of analysing
the 1980-90 accident data and to obtain relevant exposure data in line with what was done for the
recent period 1991-99. The project deliverable should be an update/revision of the existing report
for the period 1991-99.
Prior to 1991 the regulation of offshore safety was the role of the Department of Energy, DEn.
During the period that the DEn was in place, data concerning incidents and accidents on offshore
installations within the UKCS was passed to the WOAD databank. From 1991 the role of regulation
of offshore safety passed to the HSE and very little, if any, data was passed to WOAD. The Health
And Safety At Work Act, HASAWA, Section 28, Disclosure of Information, being interpreted at
the time by the HSE so as to prevent the transfer of such information. As a consequence, from 1991
until very recently no UKCS offshore installation incident data has been made available to WOAD
by the HSE. Therefore current WOAD risk estimates exclude incidents and accidents on the UKCS
except for those where adequate quality information has been made available in the public domain.
A recent HSE legislative review of Section 28 allows, conditionally, the transfer of such data from
the HSE to WOAD. Provided that the project is in line with the general function of the HSE "To
secure the health, safety and welfare of persons at work" then it will not be in contravention of
HASAWA. This project has been accepted by the Open Government Unit of the HSE as fulfilling
that condition and in addition confidentiality is protected in that the information so transferred has
been "ring fenced".
1.2 Confidentiality
In order to ensure that the final results of the project were accurate and in line with the Quality
Control requirements of the WOAD databank it was necessary to obtain "raw" data from each of the
Databases interrogated. Raw data being defined as the data concerning a specific incident which
identified the installation, operator, location, date and time. The data so obtained enabled quality
checks to be undertaken on the different databases to prevent double counting of an incident or

accident.
It is a condition of the contract between the HSE and DNV, the custodians of the WOAD databank,
that any information so obtained will only be exported in a non attributable form to protect
confidentiality and once the project is completed, the raw data will be destroyed. That is, any
request for data obtained by WOAD as a result of this project will result in data being supplied
which is non attributable and will not allow identification of the name of the installation, company,
location, date or time of an incident. It will thus be impossible to pinpoint the installation or
operator by any means.
1.3 Objectives, results and conclusions

The main objective of the project is to obtain complete statistics (i.e. accident frequencies) for
accidents and incidents having occurred on fixed units engaged in the oil and gas exploration and
exploitation on the UKCS in the period 1980-2001. This is published both as a written report and an
associated spreadsheet in the MS Excel format listing individually the coding and text for each
incident.
Fixed units in this project are defined as comprising all bottom-fixed structures, but excluding
TLPs, FPSOs, FSUs and production jackups even though they are fixed during their production
phase. Accident statistics for the excluded units are found in HSEs OTO Report No. 2000/091
Accident Statistics for Floating Offshore Units on the UK Continental Shelf in 1980-98.
The results from this study would serve as a reference document for data to be used in future Risk
Assessments of offshore Fixed units and furthermore, be a valuable reference document for UK
Health & Safety Executive (HSE)/ Offshore Safety Division (OSD) when reviewing Safety Cases.
To fulfil this objective, relevant databases were interrogated with respect to both population and
accident data. This forms a complete basis of data for obtaining comprehensive accident statistics
for the type of units, geographical area and time period considered in this project. The following
databases were selected for interrogation:
ORION (the former Sun Safety System); UK HSE-Offshore Safety Division
Offshore Blowout Database (SINTEF, Norway)
Worldwide Offshore Accident Databank WOAD (Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Norway)
By combining and merging the results from the interrogation of the ORION and WOAD databases,
the accident frequencies for fixed units in the UKCS in the period 1980-2001 are estimated. Note
that the Offshore Blowout Database did not hold information about accidents on UKCS in the given
period beyond what was already recorded in the WOAD and ORION databases. In the following
tables the accident frequencies (i.e. number of accidents per unit year) are given per type of
installation, period and data source. N denotes number of accidents and F denotes frequency, i.e.
number of accidents per unit and year. The source ORION&WOAD refers to the database obtained
by pooling the ORION and WOAD databases and removing the overlapping records.
The result after having interrogated the databases and removing overlapping records is shown in an
Excel spreadsheet, which may be downloaded from HSEs Internet Home Page www.hse.gov.uk ,
documenting a total of 5563 events comprising accidents, hazardous situations and near-misses.
Note: Best efforts have been made to ensure complete anonymity within the free text associated
with each incident. However, it is possible that within the 5563 incidents some anonymisation has
been missed.
Table 1 Fixed Units (I). UKCS, 1980-2001.
No. of accidents and accident frequencies (per unit year). Source: ORION&WOAD
Type of installation
Drilling
Production
Wellhead
Compression
Year/period
1980-89
19
0.1152
995
1.6311
13
0.0861
0.1159
1990
0.4444
173
2.2763
0.2308
0.125
1991
0.1667
199
2.5190
0.1556
0.2222
320
3.9506
0.1875
0.6667
1992
1993
0.0526
407
4.7326
17
0.3333
0.3000
1994
0.4737
474
5.1522
0.1607
0.5000
350
3.8043
21
0.3684
13
1.1818
1995
1996
0.0588
359
3.8602
22
0.3385
0.8889
1997
0.1667
368
3.9149
37
0.5286
0.3636
1998
0.0556
365
3.7629
36
0.5000
0.1818
1999
0.0556
319
3.3229
41
0.5190
0.4167
2000
410
4.1837
40
0.4762
0.1667
2001
411
4.1515
24
0.2824
1990-99
27
0.1406
3334
3.7630
208
0.3574
49
0.4900
1980-2001
46
0.1201
5150
3.0419
285
0.3160
59
0.3057
Table 2 Fixed Units (II). UKCS, 1980-2001.
Pumping
Year/period
Injection/riser
F
Accommodation
All fixed, (I) & (II)
1980-89
0.0222
0.1707
1043
0.9473
1990
0.2000
192
1.2468
1991
0.3333
213
1.2909
1992
0.3333
0.1667
338
1.9766
1993
0.1250
0.1429
430
2.3370
0.2500
499
2.5330
384
1.9296
1994
1995
1996
0.1111
391
1.9073
1997
0.1000
413
1.9299
1998
0.1000
405
1.8409
1999
0.0909
367
1.6096
2000
0.0909
453
1.9277
435
1.8354
2001
1990-99
0.0750
0.0920
3632
1.8751
1980-2001
0.0483
16
0.1067
5563
1.5849
The main conclusions from the work undertaken in this project are summarised below.
The main source for accident and incident information being available for the UKCS offshore
industry should be the HSEs ORION
Due to the accident reporting requirements for Fixed units on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS),
the main source for accident and incident information being available for the UKCS offshore
industry should be the HSEs ORION. The interrogation of ORION in this project showed that the
database contains information for accidents and incidents ranging from hazardous situations and
working accidents with no consequences to severe damage and total loss of units.
Large difference in number of accidents between WOAD and ORION
When comparing the information held by DNVs Worldwide Offshore Accident Databank
(WOAD) and ORION, there is a big difference in number of accidents. This is mainly explained by
the fact that WOAD only receives information about accidents through publicly available sources,
which in most cases only addresses events with large consequences.
Slight increase in event frequencies when merging the databases together

If all fixed units are considered for the period 1980-2001, this study demonstrates a total event
frequency of 1.58 per installation per year. Only a slight increase in the frequency is seen when
merging the ORION and WOAD databases together. This is due to that there are only a few (51 to
be exact) events being recorded in WOAD and not in ORION. The total event frequency is a factor
about 35 times higher than that which is obtained from WOAD.
2 INTRODUCTION
In 1999, a project was initiated for the purpose of obtaining accident statistics for offshore floating
units on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). In this respect, five databases holding information
about incidents having occurred on floating units on the UKCS were interrogated. These were UK
Health & Safety (HSE) - Field Operations Divisions (HSE-FOD) FOCUS database, HSE-OSDs
Sun Safety System database (from 2000: ORION), Marine Accidents Investigation Bureaus
(MAIB) accident database, SINTEFs Offshore Blowout Database and Det Norske Veritas (DNV)
Worldwide Offshore Accident Databank, WOAD. The survey revealed that that none of them had
a complete recording of such incidents. Consequently, the event frequencies being obtained varied
with the availability of sources. See ref. /1/, OTO Report No. 2000/091 Accident Statistics for
Floating Offshore Units on the UK Continental Shelf in 1980-98 for details.
There is no reason to believe that the situation and figures for incidents on fixed units are any
different compared to the one addressed in the previous project. In 2001, it was therefore proposed
to initiate a similar type of project, but addressing all incidents on fixed units. The results from the
study are documented in ref. /2/, OTO Report No. 2002/012 Accident Statistics for Fixed Offshore
Units on the UK Continental Shelf in 1991-99.
Initially, the latter project was to address the whole period 1980-2001, but since it was realised that
accidents from the period 1980-90 held by the former Sun Safety System had not been transferred
to the ORION database, the project was therefore limited to cover 1991-99. In August 2001 HSE
reported that the missing data was successfully retrieved and available at the same format as 1991
99 data. It was then decided to set out a new project with the objective of analysing the 1980-90
accident data and to obtain relevant exposure data in line with what was done for the recent period
1991-99. The project deliverable should be an update/revision of the existing report, ref. /2/.
This report documents the results from the two latter projects, covering the period 1980-2001.
3 OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF WORK

The main objective of the project is to obtain complete statistics (i.e. accident frequencies) for
accidents and incidents having occurred on fixed units engaged in the oil and gas exploration and
exploitation activities on the UK Continental Shelf in the period 1980-2001. This is published both
as a written report and an associated spreadsheet in the MS Excel format listing individually the
coding and text for each incident. As explained above the statistics had to be produced in two
separate projects due to lack of ORION data for the period 1980-90, the former covering the years
1991-99 and the latter 1980-90.
Fixed units in this project are defined as comprising bottom-fixed installations (manned or
unmanned) designed for drilling, accommodation, production, compression, pumping, and
injection/riser purposes, or combinations of these. Regarding production installations, the study
differentiates between the traditional (manned) production platforms, steel jackets or GBSs, and
wellhead platforms (normally unmanned).
It should be noted that TLPs, FPSOs, FSUs and production semi-submersibles and jackups have not
been included in this study, even though they are fixed during their production phase. Accident
statistics for the excluded units are found in ref. /1/, OTO Report No. 2000/091 Accident Statistics
for Floating Offshore Units on the UK Continental Shelf in 1980-98.
The classification of units is according to the following:
Category
Type of unit description
Drilling
Drilling platforms whose sole purpose is to drill
Production
Traditional (manned) production platforms, steel jackets or

GBSs. Included are also platforms with drilling,
production, and accommodation facilities (i.e. large
integrated platforms)
Wellhead
Wellhead platforms (normally unmanned) with no

processing facilities, serving as well support. Often
linked to the main production platforms.
Compression
Gas compression platforms
Pumping
Pumping platforms
Injection/riser
Water or gas injection and riser platforms
Accommodation
Accommodation platforms
The results from this study would serve as a reference document for data to be used in future Risk
Assessments of offshore Fixed units and furthermore, be a valuable reference document for
HSE/OSD when reviewing Safety Cases.
To fulfil this objective, relevant databases were interrogated with respect to both population and
accident data. This forms a complete data basis for obtaining comprehensive accident statistics for
the said type of units, geographical area and time period. The following databases were selected for
interrogation:
ORION* (UK HSE-Offshore Safety Division)
Offshore Blowout Database (SINTEF, Norway)
Worldwide Offshore Accident Databank WOAD (DNV, Norway)
*): The former Sun Safety System
10
4 EXPOSURE DATA
Exposure (population) data in this context relates to the number of unit- (or platform-) years for
each type of installation. By interrogating relevant sources holding such information, the number of
unit-years are obtained for each year and type of unit for the UKCS in the period 1980-2001.
From WOAD and OPL (The North Sea Development Guide. Seventh Edition, Oilfield
Publications Limited. ISBN 1 902157 08 7, November 1998, ref. /3/), the exposure data for fixed
units on the UKCS are obtained. The data are given in two following tables.

Number of unit-years
Type of Installation
Year
Drilling
Production
Wellhead
Compression
1980-89
165
610
151
69
1990
18
76
39
1991
18
79
45
1992
18
81
48
1993
19
86
51
10
1994
19
92
56
10
1995
19
92
57
11
1996
17
93
65
1997
18
94
70
11
1998
18
97
72
11
1999
18
96
79
12
2000
18
98
84
12
2001
18
99
85
12
1990-99
182
886
582
100
1980-2001
383
1693
902
193
11
Table 4 Fixed Units (II). UKCS. 1980-2001. Number of unit-years

Year
Pumping
Injection/riser
Accommodation
1980-89
20
45
41
1101
1990
154
1991
165
1992
171
1993
184
1994
197
1995
199
1996
10
205
1997
10
214
1998
11
220
1999
10
11
228
2000
10
11
235
2001
10
11
237
1990-99
20
80
87
1937
1980-2001
44
145
150
3510
12
5 ORION DATABASE
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR 95)
arrangement came into force on 1 April 1996 and requires that all work-related accidents, diseases
and dangerous occurrences are to be reported to the HSE. It applies to all work activities, but not to
all types of incidents. The incidents are to be reported using the OIR/9B and F2508A forms. These
forms are to be completed and submitted to the local HSE-OSD office.
Prior to 1 April 1996 injuries and dangerous occurrences were reported on the OIR/9A form. This
form was created under the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 and the Offshore
Installations (Inspectors and Casualties) Regulations 1973.
The information submitted on the OIR/9A, OIR/9B and F2508A forms are recorded in a database,
ORION (the former Sun Safety System), run by the HSE-OSD offices in Bootle, Liverpool.
The Sun Safety System (now ORION) was primarily developed to record incident data reported on
the OIR/9A form. Other information is however recorded on the database, including details of
inspections, investigations, prosecutions and the registration and location details of Offshore
Installations. The OIR/9A form was first published in October 1990, and the Sun Safety System
was implemented in 1st January 1991. The Sun Safety System does however contain some data on
pre 1991 incidents (imported from previous systems maintained by the Safety Directorate of the
Department of Energy), though not all fields on the OIR/9A form are available for this data. The
Sun Safety System was decommissioned year 2000 and all data from 1991(incl.) was transferred to
ORION.
Note that notification of hydrocarbon releases (voluntarily submitted on the OIR/12 form) are also
recorded in a separate and specifically designed database which is maintained by the HSE-OSD
offices in Bootle, Liverpool.
5.1 Available data

For the purposes of this project HSE-OSD made available information from ORION on Excel
spreadsheets, one per year for the period 1980-2001. Incidents categorised as slips-trips-and-falls
were excluded. Each relevant incident was reported with the following parameters:
Location name (name of installation)
Location type (Fixed attended or Fixed N.U.I.*)
Date of incident
Accident report type (incident category); coded, codes given in section 5.1.1
Dangerous occurrence type; coded, codes given in Appendix A (see section 5.1.2)
Broad incident type; coded, codes given in section 5.1.3
Incident notes (incident description, free text)
*): Normally Unmanned Installation
A sample record is given below (example of incident reported under RIDDOR 95).
13
Location name
< Installation name >
Location type
Fixed attended
Date of incident
<Date>
Dangerous
occurrence type
Failure offshore
Broad incident type Lifting / crane operations

Incident notes
Whilst lifting a 300kg flowline pipe spool from the cellar deck east
lay-down area by crane, the load became snagged under a protruding
structural beam causing the 1 tonne lifting sling to fail resulting in the
load falling approx 20 ft to the deck. No personnel were injured, but
the deck sustained a large gash. The area was barriered off pending
inspection of the area and communication with the HSE.
It is a condition of the contract between the HSE and DNV that any information so obtained will
only be exported in a non attributable form to protect confidentiality. That is, data exported to any
type of database should not allow identification of the name of the installation, company, location,
date or time of an incident. It will thus be impossible to pinpoint the installation or operator by any
means.
The introduction of RIDDOR 95 offshore from 1/4/96 brought with it the use of Dangerous
Occurrence (DO) type codes for the first time - DOs were recorded prior to this, but not against any
specific coding and under different legislation (e.g. Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act
1971).
The recording of Broad Incident Type (BIT) is held against earlier data and prior to RIDDOR 95
was actually recorded on the report form by the duty holder although post RIDDOR, it has been
OSD who have coded BIT.
5.1.1 Incident category codes

The following codes are used for the parameter Accident report type (or Incident category).
Code
Description
Fatality
Major Injury
Over 3 day Injury
Dangerous Occurrence
5.1.2 Dangerous occurrence type codes

A complete list of the codes used for the parameter Dangerous occurrence type (DO) is found in
Appendix A. This field is only completed for category 4 incidents (Dangerous Occurrences) and
only for incidents in the period from April 1996 to date (ref. RIDDOR 95).
14
5.1.3 Broad incident type codes

The following codes are used for the parameter Broad incident type (BIT). This field is only
completed for category 1-3 incidents (Fatalities and Injuries) and only for incidents in the period
from April 1996 to date (ref. RIDDOR 95).
Code
Description
Loss of containment
Fire / explosion
Air transport
Sea transport
Slips / trips / falls
Falling objects
Handling goods / materials
Lifting / crane operations
Use of hand tools
10
Use of machinery
11
Exposure to harmful substances
12
Diving related
13
Electrical
14
Structural / foundation
15
Mooring
16
Radiation
17
Other
15
5.2 Event classification and coding principles

The WOAD concept of classifying events has been selected for the review work on the records
received from HSEs ORION. Hence the events are categorised according to the table below. It
should be noted that not all types of events apply to fixed units.
Table 5 Event classification, WOAD

Type of event
Explanation
Anchor failure
Problems with anchor/anchor lines, mooring devices, winching

equipment or fairleads (e.g. anchor dragging, breaking of
mooring lines, loss of anchor(s), winch failures).
Blowout
An uncontrolled flow of gas, oil or other fluids from the

reservoir, i.e. loss of 1. barrier (i.e. hydrostatic head) or leak
and loss of 2. barrier, i.e. BOP/DHSV.
Capsize
Loss of stability resulting in overturn of unit, capsizing, or

toppling of unit.
Collision
Accidental contact between offshore unit and/or passing marine

vessel when at least one of them is propelled or is under tow.
Examples: tanker, cargo ship, fishing vessel. Also included are
collisions with bridges, quays, etc., and vessels engaged in the
oil and gas activity on other platforms than the platform
affected, and between two offshore installations (to be coded as
CN only when intended for close location).
Contact
Collisions/accidental contacts between vessels engaged in the

oil and gas activity on the platform affected, e.g.
support/supply/stand-by vessels, tugs or helicopters, and
offshore installations (floating or fixed). Also are included
collisions between two offshore installations only when these
are intended for close location.
Crane accident
Any event caused by or involving cranes, derrick and draw

works, or any other lifting equipment.
Explosion
Explosion
Falling load
Falling load/dropped objects from crane, drill derrick, or any

other lifting equipment or platform. Crane fall and lifeboats
accidentally to sea and man overboard are also included.
Fire
Fire.
Foundering
Loss of buoyancy or unit sinking.
Grounding
Floating installation in contact with the sea bottom.
Helicopter accident
Accident with helicopter either on helideck or in contact with

the installation.
Leakage
Leakage of water into the unit or filling of shaft or other
16
Type of event
Explanation
compartments causing potential loss of buoyancy or stability
problems.
List
Uncontrolled inclination of unit.
Machinery failure
Propulsion or thruster machinery failure (incl. control)
Off position
Unit unintentionally out of its expected position or drifting out

of control.
Spill/release
Loss of containment. Release of fluid or gas to the

surroundings from unit's own equipment/vessels/tanks causing
(potential) pollution and/or risk of explosion and/or fire.
Structural damage
Breakage or fatigue failures (mostly failures caused by

weather, but not necessarily) of structural support and direct
structural failures. "Punch through" also included.
Towing accident
Towline failure or breakage
Well problem
Accidental problem with the well, i.e. loss of one barrier

(hydrostatic head) or other downhole problems.
Other
Event other than specified above
The categorisation of the incidents has been performed according to a set of principles defined in
the project in order to obtain consistency and to ease the coding work. In addition, guidelines for
excluding incidents from the material have been established. Some examples of both categories are
given below.
Events coded as Falling load involve loads and objects, either rolling, leaning, tilting, falling,
rotating, swinging, or sliding. Man over board is also included here.
Maloperation of lifting equipment or technical failure leading to falling load is coded as Crane
failure + Falling load.
Events involving radiation from radioactive materials (causing injuries or not) are coded as
Other.
Events involving equipment or part of equipment bursting or blowing out, are coded as
Spill/Release.
Incidents that occur during maintenance indicating design shortcomings or inadequate
procedures have been coded accordingly (crane failure, falling load, etc.).
Occupational Hazard (OH) incidents, with personal injuries or not, are defined to be events
which are not related to operations of equipment and events caused by obvious human errors
during maintenance. Furthermore, events occurring during diving operations, which are not
caused by platform related events, are coded as OH. In addition, injuries not caused by failure of
equipment (e.g. squeezing/crushing fingers or hands in connection with pipe handling
operations and no failure of lifting equipment) are coded as OH. The OH events have only been
counted, but are excluded from the statistics (i.e. no frequencies).
Recorded false ESDs and alarms are excluded from the data material.
Slips, trips and falls on the platform are excluded from the data material.
Prompt releases (no fire) of halon are excluded from the data material.
17
5.3 Result of interrogation

The information that was available for each incident has been reviewed and the chain of events
obtained. The classification of events has been done according to the WOAD concept (see previous
section). One accident may comprise a chain of consecutive events (accident outcomes or
occurrences), e.g. a blowout resulting in explosion, fire and oil spill. This means that one single
accident or incident may give rise to several occurrences. The total number of occurrences will thus
be much higher than the total number of accidents recorded. When giving accident frequencies per
type of event, these are generally presented as number of occurrences per unit per year (ref.
sections 5.3.1- 5.3.8).
However, when presenting frequencies irrespective of type of event, the figures are given as number
of accidents per unit per year (ref. Table 10 and Table 11).
The two following tables summarise the result of the interrogation of data available from ORION,
i.e. the number of incidents per year. The available data material comprises a total of 5512 events
(platform related events) giving rise to a total of 7086 occurrences. These events comprise
accidents, hazardous situations and near-misses. As can be seen from the two tables below, no
accidents are recorded on pumping platforms and further only a limited number of events on
injection/riser and accommodation platforms.
It should be noted that in addition to the identified platform related events a total of 1660
occupational hazard events are reported, which are not included in the analysis.
Note that blank cells in the following tables denote that no accidents are recorded.
18
Table 6 Fixed Units (I). UKCS. 1980-2001.

No. of accidents. Source: ORION
Year of event
Drilling
Production
Wellhead
Compression
1980-89
19
975
13
1990
169
1991
197
317
1992
1993
403
17
1994
471
348
21
13
1995
1996
359
22
1997
366
37
1998
362
36
1999
318
41
2000
405
40
2001
411
24
1990-99
27
3310
208
49
1980-2001
46
5101
285
58
19

No. of accidents. Source: ORION
Year of event
Pumping
Injection/riser
Accommodation
1980-89
1021
1990
188
1991
211
1992
335
1993
426
496
1994
1995
382
1996
391
1997
411
1998
402
1999
366
2000
448
2001
435
1990-99
3608
1980-2001
15
5512
20
Table 8 Fixed units (I). UKCS, 1980-2001.

No. of occurrences. Source: ORION
Type of event
Drilling
Production
Wellhead
13
Compression
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
150
14
Crane
16
1337
34
Explosion
66
Falling object
16
1705
42
Fire
722
28
10
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
11
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
13
Structural
2248
192
11
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
288
10
62
21
29
Table 9 Fixed units (II). UKCS. 1980-2001.

No. of occurrences. Source: ORION
Type of event
Pumping
Injection/ riser
Accommodation
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
Crane
17
174
1393
Explosion
67
Falling object
1775
Fire
776
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
12
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
2485
11
Towing/towline
Well problem
300
Other
68
The results from performing a statistical analysis of the data are shown below and in the following
sub-sections. The exposure data used in the analysis are documented in chapter 4 of this report.
The tables below show the accident frequencies (i.e. number of accidents per unit-year) for all fixed
units on the UKCS in 1980-2001.
22
Table 10 Fixed units (I). UKCS. 1980-2001.

Accident frequencies (per unit year). Source: ORION
Year of event
Drilling
Production
Wellhead
Compression
Average 1980-89
0.1152
1.5984
0.0861
0.1014
1990
0.4444
2.2237
0.2308
0.1250
1991
0.1667
2.4937
0.1556
0.2222
3.9136
0.1875
0.6667
1992
1993
0.0526
4.6860
0.3333
0.3000
1994
0.4737
5.1196
0.1607
0.5000
3.7826
0.3684
1.1818
1995
1996
0.0588
3.8602
0.3385
0.8889
1997
0.1667
3.8936
0.5286
0.3636
1998
0.0556
3.7320
0.5000
0.1818
1999
0.0556
3.3125
0.5190
0.4167
2000
4.1327
0.4762
0.1667
2001
4.1515
0.2824
Average 1990-99
0.1406
3.7359
0.3574
0.4900
Average 1980-2001
0.1201
3.0130
0.3160
0.3005
23

Accident frequencies (per unit year). Source: ORION
Year of event
Pumping
Injection/ riser
Accommodation
Average 1980-89
0.0222
0.1463
0.9273
1990
0.2000
1.2208
1991
0.3333
1.2788
1992
0.3333
0.1429
1.9591
1993
0.1250
0.1250
2.3152
0.2222
2.5178
1994
1995
1.9146
1996
0.1000
1.9073
1997
0.1000
1.9206
1998
0.0909
1.8273
1999
0.0909
1.6053
2000
0.0909
1.9064
2001
1.8354
Average 1990-99
0.0750
0.0920
1.8627
Average 1980-2001
0.0483
0.1000
1.5704
24
5.3.1 All fixed units

In the following tables the number of occurrences and corresponding frequencies for all fixed units
are given per year/period. N denotes number of occurrences and F denotes frequency, i.e. number of
occurrences per unit and year. Blank cells denote no occurrences recorded (and hence no
frequencies calculated).
Table 12 Fixed Units. UKCS, 1980-89, 1990, 1991, 1992.
No. of occurrences and occurrence frequencies (per unit year). Source: ORION
Year/period
1980-89
Type of event
1990
N
1991
4.510-3
Collision
1.810-3
Contact
77
0.0699
12
0.0779
Crane
421
0.3824
63
0.4091
Explosion
32
0.0291
Falling object
465
0.4223
Fire
225
Helicopter
Leakage
1992
F
5.810-3
0.0485
0.0351
62
0.3758
69
0.4035
0.0260
0.0364
0.0351
68
0.4416
82
0.4970
92
0.5380
0.2044
34
0.2208
16
0.0970
73
0.4269
5.410-3
0.0130
6.110-3
9.110-4
210
0.1907
70
0.4545
74
0.4485
245
1.4327
0.0130
0.0121
0.0526
0.0364
0.0175
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Foundering
Grounding
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
-4
9.110
Well problem
20
0.0182
Other
4.510-3
Towing/towline
25
Table 13 Fixed Units. UKCS, 1993-1996.
Year
1993
Type of event
1994
F
1995
F
1996
0.0101
4.910-3
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
5.410-3
0.0102
0.1508
Contact
0.0326
10
0.0508
12
0.0603
10
0.0488
Crane
70
0.3804
94
0.4772
78
0.3920
68
0.3317
Explosion
5.410-3
0.0152
5.010-3
4.910-3
Falling object
88
0.4783
126
0.6396
101
0.5075
94
0.4585
Fire
47
0.2554
66
0.3350
47
0.2362
34
0.1659
5.410-3
5.010-3
187
1.0163
217
1.0905
162
0.7902
0.0163
0.0101
4.910-3
Well problem
0.0109
13
0.0660
0.0402
50
0.2439
Other
0.0217
0.0355
0.0402
0.0146
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
320
1.6244
Towing/towline
26
Year
1997
Type of event
1998
1999
Collision
4.710-3
9.110-3
0.0132
Contact
0.0421
0.0227
0.0351
Crane
93
0.4346
104
0.4727
80
0.3509
Explosion
0.0327
4.510-3
8.810-3
Falling object
117
0.5467
134
0.6091
126
0.5526
Fire
48
0.2243
43
0.1955
41
0.1798
199
0.9299
196
0.8909
172
0.7544
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
4.710
Well problem
43
Other
-3
-3
4.510
0.2009
44
0.2000
38
0.1667
9.310-3
0.0227
0.0219
Towing/towline
27
Table 15 Fixed Units. UKCS, 2000, 2001, 1990-99, 1980-2001.
Year
Period
2000
Type of event
2001
F
1990-99
1980-2001
4.210-3
1.510-3
2.610-3
14
7.210-3
21
6.010-3
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
0.0213
Contact
0.0340
0.0127
86
0.0444
174
0.0496
Crane
90
0.3830
100
0.4219
781
0.4032
1393
0.3969
Explosion
0.0128
32
0.0165
67
0.0191
Falling object
137
0.5830
145
0.6118
1028
0.5307
1775
0.5057
Fire
50
0.2128
52
0.2194
449
0.2318
776
0.2211
4.210-3
2.610-3
12
3.410-3
2.810-4
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
213
0.9064
8.510-3
Well problem
34
0.1447
35
Other
15
0.0638
Structural
220
0.9283
1842
0.9510
2485
0.7080
4.110-3
11
3.110-3
0.1477
211
0.1089
300
0.0855
0.0211
43
0.0222
68
0.0194
Towing/towline
28
5.3.2 Drilling units

The recorded number and type of occurrences and the corresponding frequencies are given for fixed
drilling units in the following table. N denotes number of occurrences and F denotes frequency, i.e.
number of occurrences per unit and year.
Table 16 Drilling units. UKCS, 1980-2001.
Year
Type of event
Average
1980-89
Contact
0.0242
Crane
0.0364
Year
Type of event
Average
1990-99
Contact
5.510-3
Crane
10
0.0549
Falling object
10
0.0549
-3
Explosion
6.110
Falling object
0.0364
Fire
0.0220
Fire
0.0182
Spill/release
0.0440
Spill/release
0.0303
Well problem
0.0110
Crane
0.2778
0.0131
Falling object
0.1667
16
0.0418
Fire
0.0556
Explosion
2.610-3
Spill/release
0.1111
Falling object
16
0.0418
Contact
0.0556
Fire
0.0183
Crane
0.0556
Spill/release
13
0.0339
Spill/release
0.0556
Well problem
5.210-3
1993
Spill/release
0.0526
1994
Crane
0.0526
Falling object
0.0526
Fire
0.1579
Spill/release
0.2105
Well problem
0.0526
1996
Falling object
0.0588
1997
Crane
0.0556
Falling object
0.1667
Crane
0.0556
Falling object
0.0556
Well problem
0.0556
Crane
0.0556
Falling object
0.0556
1990
1991
1998
1999
Contact
Average
1980-2001
Crane
29
5.3.3 Production units

In the following tables the number of occurrences and corresponding frequencies for fixed
production units area given per year/period. N denotes number of occurrences and F denotes
frequency, i.e. number of occurrences per unit and year. Blank cells denote no occurrences recorded
(and hence no frequencies calculated).
Table 17 Production Units. UKCS, 1980-89, 1990-92.
Year/period
1980-89
Type of event
1990
N
1991
6.610-3
Collision
3.310-3
Contact
70
0.1148
11
0.1447
Crane
409
0.6705
53
0.6974
Explosion
31
0.0508
Falling object
450
0.7377
Fire
215
Helicopter
Leakage
1992
F
0.0116
0.1013
0.0465
59
0.7468
66
0.7674
0.0526
0.0759
0.0698
57
0.7500
78
0.9873
89
1.0349
0.3525
32
0.4211
14
0.1772
70
0.8140
8.210-3
0.0263
0.0127
1.610-3
199
0.3262
65
0.8553
68
0.8608
230
2.6744
0.0263
0.0253
0.1047
0.0759
0.0349
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Foundering
Grounding
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
-3
1.610
Well problem
19
0.0311
Other
8.210-3
Towing/towline
30
Table 18 Production Units. UKCS, 1993-1996.
Year
1993
Type of event
1994
F
1995
F
1996
0.0217
0.0108
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
0.0123
0.0218
0.0217
Contact
0.0494
0.0870
11
0.1196
0.0860
Crane
68
0.8395
92
1.0000
76
0.8261
65
0.6989
Explosion
0.0123
0.0326
0.0109
0.0108
Falling object
86
1.0617
124
1.3478
98
1.0652
88
0.9462
Fire
46
0.5679
60
0.6522
38
0.4130
34
0.3656
0.0123
0.0109
174
2.1481
197
2.1413
147
1.5806
0.0370
0.0217
0.0108
Well problem
0.0247
12
0.1304
0.087
50
0.5376
Other
0.0494
0.0761
0.0761
0.0323
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
304
3.3043
Towing/towline
31
Year
1997
Type of event
1998
1999
Collision
0.0106
0.0206
0.0208
Contact
0.0851
0.0515
0.0521
Crane
86
0.9149
100
1.0309
76
0.7917
Explosion
0.0745
0.0103
0.0208
Falling object
107
1.1383
130
1.3402
119
1.2396
Fire
44
0.4681
40
0.4124
35
0.3646
172
1.8298
167
1.7216
141
1.4688
0.0106
0.0103
Well problem
43
0.4574
40
0.4124
37
0.3854
Other
0.0213
0.0412
0.0313
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
Towing/towline
32
Table 20 Production Units. UKCS, 2000, 2001, 1990-99, 1980-2001.
Year
Period
2000
Type of event
2001
F
1990-99
1980-2001
0.0101
3.410-3
4.710-3
11
0.1242
17
0.0100
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
0.0408
Contact
0.0612
0.0202
72
0.0813
150
0.0886
Crane
89
0.9082
98
0.9899
741
0.8363
1337
0.7897
Explosion
0.0306
32
0.0361
66
0.0390
Falling object
136
1.3878
143
1.4444
976
1.1016
1705
1.0071
Fire
49
0.5000
45
0.4545
413
0.4661
722
0.4265
0.0101
5.610-3
11
6.510-3
5.910-4
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
177
1.8061
0.0204
Well problem
32
0.3265
32
Other
13
0.1327
Structural
207
2.0909
1665
1.8792
2248
1.3278
9.010-3
11
6.510-3
0.3232
205
0.2314
288
0.1701
0.0505
39
0.0440
62
0.0366
Towing/towline
33
5.3.4 Wellhead units

In the following table the number of occurrences and corresponding frequencies for fixed
(production) wellhead units area given per year/period. N denotes number of occurrences and F
denotes frequency, i.e. number of occurrences per unit and period. Blank cells denote no
occurrences recorded (and hence no frequencies calculated).
Table 21 Wellhead Units. UKCS, 1980-89, 1990-92.
Year/period
1980-89
Type of event
1990
6.610-3
Contact
Crane
1991
6.610-3
0.0256
0.0199
Falling object
0.0265
Fire
0.0265
0.0265
6.610-3
1992
0.1282
0.0444
0.0588
0.1795
0.0667
0.0588
0.0196
13
0.2549
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Explosion
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
0.0769
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
34
0.1111
Table 22 Wellhead Units. UKCS, 1993-1996.
Year
1993
Type of event
1994
F
1995
F
1996
0.0175
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
0.0208
0.0179
0.0175
0.0308
Crane
0.0208
0.0179
0.0175
0.0462
0.0208
0.0179
0.0175
0.0769
0.0357
0.0526
0.125
14
0.2456
15
0.2308
0.0175
Explosion
Falling object
Fire
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
0.1458
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
35
Year
1997
Type of event
1998
F
1999
0.0139
0.0127
0.0380
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
0.0143
Crane
0.0857
0.0417
0.0380
Falling object
0.0857
0.0417
0.0633
Fire
0.0429
0.0417
0.0506
25
0.3571
26
0.3611
26
0.3291
Well problem
0.0417
0.0127
Other
0.0139
0.0253
Explosion
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
Towing/towline
36
Table 24 Wellhead Units. UKCS, 2000, 2001, 1990-99, 1980-2001.
Year
Period
2000
Type of event
2001
F
1990-99
F
1980-2001
F
1.110-3
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
5.210-3
3.310-3
Contact
0.0238
0.0118
10
0.0172
14
0.0155
Crane
0.0119
0.0235
28
0.0481
34
0.0377
Falling object
0.0119
0.0235
35
0.0601
42
0.0466
Fire
0.0119
0.0824
16
0.0275
28
0.0310
34
0.4048
13
0.1529
141
0.2423
192
0.2129
0.0238
0.0353
6.910-3
10
0.0111
-3
6.710-3
Explosion
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
0.0238
37
6.910
5.3.5 Compression units

In the following table the number of occurrences and corresponding frequencies for fixed
compression units are given per year/period. N denotes number of occurrences and F denotes
frequency, i.e. number of occurrences per unit and period. Blank cells denote no occurrences
recorded (and hence no frequencies calculated).
Table 25 Compression Units. UKCS, 1980-89, 1990-92.
Year/period
1980-89
Type of event
1990
0.0290
Falling object
0.0435
Fire
0.0145
0.0145
0.0145
1991
F
1992
0.1111
0.1111
0.1111
0.2222
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
Crane
Explosion
1
0.1250
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
38
0.1111
Table 26 Compression Units. UKCS, 1993-1996.
Year
1993
Type of event
1994
1995
F
1996
0.1000
0.0909
0.1000
0.1818
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
Crane
Explosion
Falling object
Fire
0.1000
0.5455
0.4000
0.5455
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
0.5000
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
39
Year
1997
Type of event
1998
0.0909
1999
F
0.0833
0.3333
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
Crane
Explosion
Falling object
Fire
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
0.1818
0.1818
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
40
Table 28 Compression Units. UKCS, 2000, 2001, 1990-99, 1980-2001.
Year
Period
2000
Type of event
2001
F
1990-99
F
1980-2001
0.0300
0.0259
Falling object
0.0600
0.0466
Fire
0.0900
10
0.0518
5.210-3
29
0.1503
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
Crane
Explosion
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
0.1667
26
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
41
0.2600
5.3.6 Pumping units

No accidents are recorded on pumping platforms in the ORION database, and hence the overall
calculated occurrence frequency is 0.
5.3.7 Injection/riser units

A low number of events are recorded on injection/riser type of installations in the ORION database
for the period 1980-2001. The recorded number and type of occurrences and the corresponding
frequencies are given in the following table. N denotes number of occurrences and F denotes
frequency, i.e. number of occurrences per unit and year.
Table 29 Injection/riser units. UKCS. 1980-2001.

No. of occurrences per unit year. Source: ORION
Year
Type of event
Average
1980-89
Falling object
0.0222
Fire
0.0222
1990
Fire
0.2000
1991
Fire
0.3333
1993
Contact
0.1250
Average
1990-99
Contact
0.0125
Fire
0.0375
Average
1980
2001
Contact
6.910-3
Falling object
6.910-3
Fire
0.0272
42
5.3.8 Accommodation units

The recorded number and type of occurrences and the corresponding frequencies for fixed
accommodation units are given in the following table. N denotes number of occurrences and F
denotes frequency, i.e. number of occurrences per unit and year.
Table 30 Accommodation units. UKCS. 1980-2001.

No. of occurrences per unit year. Source: ORION
Year
Type of event
Average
1980-89
Contact
0.0488
Crane
0.0244
Falling object
0.0244
Fire
0.0488
Spill/release
0.0244
1992
Contact
0.1429
1993
Fire
0.1250
1994
Contact
0.1111
Spill/release
0.1111
1996
Fire
0.1000
1997
Fire
0.1000
1998
Spill/release
0.0909
1999
Falling object
0.0909
2000
Collision
0.0909
Average
1990-99
Contact
0.0230
Falling object
0.0115
Fire
0.0230
Spill/release
0.0230
Collision
6.710-3
Contact
0.0267
Crane
6.710-3
Falling object
0.0133
Fire
0.0333
Spill/release
0.0200
Average
1980
2001
43
44
6 WOAD
One of the main sources for offshore accident information for public use is the Worldwide Offshore
Accident Databank (WOAD) operated by Det Norske Veritas (DNV). WOAD contains some 4.300
events from the period 1970-2001, derived mainly from public-domain sources such as Lloyds
Casualty Reports, newspapers and official publications. Most of the data is from the UK and
Norwegian Sectors and the US Gulf of Mexico. Exposure data is also provided, allowing accident
rates to be calculated for different accident types, unit types, geographical locations, degrees of
damage, etc.
6.1 Available data

The WOAD database contains information on accidents for fixed units on the UKCS since 1970.
Each record in the database contains information on a number of aspects concerning the installation
and the accident. Below is given a sample record from the database with a selection of parameters,
only.
Date
930717
Time
2100 hrs
Type
Jacket (combined drilling/production)
Name
<Rig name>
Operation mode
Production
Chain of events
Spill/release (of diesel) fire
No. of injuries
No. of fatalities
Degree of damage
Insignificant
No. of evacuees
274 called to muster
Description
A fire broke out on the platform with a crew of 274 who were called
to muster stations and production was temporarily suspended for
about one hour. Black smoke was spotted coming out from a turbine.
The fire was resulting from diesel ignition in the exhaust stack. It is
unknown how diesel fuel found its way into the exhaust system. The
turbine was put out of service.
45
6.2 Result of interrogation

The database was interrogated for retrieval of relevant records and the search resulted in 159
records matching the defined search criterion (period: 1980-2001, type of unit: fixed, geographical
area: North Sea, UK Shelf) giving rise to a total of 203 occurrences. These events comprise mainly
major accidents, but also some hazardous situations and near-misses are recorded.
The following two tables summarises the results of the search. Note that blank cells in the following
tables denote that no accidents are recorded.

No. of accidents. Source: WOAD
Year of event
Drilling
Production
Wellhead
Compression
1980-89
39
1990
16
1991
14
1992
14
1993
17
1994
11
1995
13
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
1990-99
101
1980-2001
151
46

No. of accidents. Source: WOAD
Year of event
Pumping
Injection/riser
1980-89
Accommodation
46
1990
16
1991
14
1992
14
1993
17
1994
11
1995
14
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
1990-99
102
1980-2001
159
The 159 accidents listed in the two previous tables include a total of 203 occurrences as listed in
Table 33 and Table 34.
47
Table 33 Fixed units (I). UKCS, 1980-2001.

No. of occurrences. Source: WOAD
Type of event
Drilling
Production
Wellhead
Compression
Collision
Contact
11
Crane
Explosion
18
Falling object
15
Fire
27
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
80
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
48
Table 34 Fixed units (II). UKCS, 1980-2001.

No. of occurrences. Source: WOAD
Type of event
Pumping
Injection/ riser
Accommodation
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
11
Crane
Explosion
18
Falling object
15
Fire
29
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
83
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
The results from performing a statistical analysis of the data are shown below and in the following
sub-sections. The exposure data used in the analysis are documented in chapter 4 of this report
When giving accident frequencies per type of event, these are generally presented as number of
occurrences per unit per year (ref. sections 6.2.1-6.2.8).
However, when presenting frequencies irrespective of type of event, the figures are given as number
of accidents per unit per year (ref. the two following tables).
The table below shows the accident frequencies (i.e. number of accidents per unit year) for all fixed
units on the UKCS in 1980-2001. Blank cells denote no occurrences recorded (and hence no
49
Table 35 Fixed units (I). UKCS. 1980-2001.

Accident frequencies (per unit year). Source: WOAD
Year of event
Drilling
Production
Wellhead
Compression
Average 1980-89
0.0639
0.0199
0.0290
1990
0.2105
1991
0.1772
1992
0.1728
1993
0.1977
1994
0.1196
1995
0.1413
1996
0.0429
1997
0.0319
1998
0.0412
1999
0.0521
2000
0.0918
2001
0.0202
Average 1990-99
0.1140
1.710-3
Average 1980-2001
0.0892
4.410-3
50
0.0175
0.0104

Accident frequencies (per unit year). Source: WOAD
Year of event
Pumping
Injection/ riser
Average 1980-89
Accommodation
0.0488
0.0418
1990
0.1039
1991
0.0848
1992
0.0819
1993
0.0924
1994
0.0558
1995
0.0704
1996
0.0195
1997
0.0140
1998
0.0182
1999
0.0219
2000
0.0383
2001
8.410-3
Average 1990-99
0.0527
Average 1980-2001
0.0133
51
0.0453

Table 37 Fixed Units. UKCS, 1980-89, 1990, 1991, 1992.
No. of occurrences and occurrence frequencies (per unit year). Source: WOAD
Year/period
1980-89
Type of event
1990
2.710-3
Collision
9.110-4
Contact
4.510-3
Crane
3.610
-3
Explosion
10
9.110-3
1991
1992
0.0195
6.110-3
-3
0.0117
0.0117
5.810-3
0.0117
5.810-3
0.0351
5.810-3
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
6.110
0.0195
-3
Falling object
4.510
Fire
11
0.0100
1.810-3
9.110-4
20
0.0182
0.0130
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
0.0455
-3
3.610
Well problem
2.710-3
Other
9.110-4
10
0.0606
-3
6.110
0.0121
Towing/towline
52
Year
1993
Type of event
1994
F
1995
5.110-3
1996
0.0151
4.910-3
4.910-3
4.910-3
4.910-3
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
1
5.410-3
5.110-3
Crane
0.0109
5.110-3
Explosion
5.410-3
5.110-3
Falling object
0.0217
5.110-3
5.010-3
Fire
0.0109
0.0102
0.0251
10
0.0543
0.0457
0.0302
5.010-3
0.0101
Collision
Contact
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
5.410-3
53
Year
1997
Type of event
1998
F
1999
4.510-3
4.410-3
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
Crane
4.710-3
4.710-3
Explosion
Falling object
Fire
9.110-3
4.410-3
0.0136
0.0132
4.410-3
4.410-3
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
4.710-3
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
4.710-3
54
Year
Period
2000
Type of event
2001
F
1990-99
F
1980-2001
5.210-4
1.110-3
Collision
3.610-3
2.310-3
Contact
3.110-3
11
3.110-3
Crane
2.610-3
2.610-3
Explosion
4.110-3
18
5.110-3
Falling object
10
5.210-3
15
4.310-3
16
8.310-3
29
8.310-3
5.210-4
8.510-4
2.810-4
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Fire
4.310-3
4.210-3
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
0.0255
4.210-3
Structural
56
0.0289
83
0.0236
2.110-3
2.310-3
5.210-4
2.010-3
3.110-3
2.010-3
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
8.510-3
1
4.210-3

No accidents are recorded on drilling platforms in the WOAD database in the period 1980-2001,
and hence the overall calculated occurrence frequency is 0.
55

production units are given per year/period. N denotes number of occurrences and F denotes
Table 41 Production Units. UKCS, 1980-89, 1990, 1991, 1992.
Year/period
1980-89
Type of event
1990
3.310-3
8.210-3
Crane
6.610
-3
Explosion
10
0.0164
1991
1992
0.0395
0.0126
0.0247
0.0126
2
0.0247
0.0123
0.0247
0.0123
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
0.0395
-3
Falling object
8.210
Fire
0.0148
1.610-3
1.610-3
17
0.0279
0.0263
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
0.0921
-3
4.910
Well problem
4.910-3
Other
1.610-3
10
0.126
0.0741
0.0126
0.0123
0.0253
Towing/towline
56
Year
1993
Type of event
1994
F
1995
0.0109
1996
0.0217
0.0108
0.0108
0.0108
0.0108
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
0.0116
0.0109
Crane
0.0233
0.0109
Explosion
0.0116
0.0109
Falling object
0.0465
0.0109
0.0109
Fire
0.0233
0.0217
0.0543
10
0.1163
0.0978
0.0652
0.0109
0.0217
Contact
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
0.0116
57
Year
1997
Type of event
1998
F
1999
0.0103
0.0104
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
Crane
0.0106
0.0106
Explosion
Falling object
Fire
0.0206
0.0104
0.0309
0.0313
0.0104
0.0104
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
0.0106
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
0.0106
58
Table 44 Production Units. UKCS, 1990-99, 1980-2001.
No. of occurrences and occurrence frequencies (per unit year).
Source: WOAD
Year
Period
2000
Type of event
2001
F
1990-99
F
1980-2001
1.110-3
1.810-3
Collision
6.810-3
3.510-3
Contact
6.810-3
11
6.510-3
Crane
5.610-3
5.310-3
Explosion
9.010-3
18
0.0106
Falling object
10
0.0113
15
8.910-3
16
0.0181
27
0.0159
1.110-3
1.210-3
5.910-4
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Fire
0.0102
0.0101
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
0.0612
0.0101
Structural
56
0.0632
80
0.0473
4.510
-3
4.110-3
1.110-3
4.110-3
6.810-3
4.110-3
Towing/towline
Well problem
0.0204
0.0101
Other
59

A low number of events, 5 in total, are recorded on fixed (production) wellhead units in the WOAD
database for the period 1980-2001. The recorded number and type of occurrences and the
corresponding frequencies are given in the following table. N denotes number of occurrences and F
denotes frequency, i.e. number of occurrences per unit and year.
Table 45 Wellhead units. UKCS, 1980-2001.
Source: WOAD
Year
Type of event
Average
1980-89
Blowout
6.610-3
Collision
6.610-3
Spill/release
0.0132
1995
Collision
0.0175
Average
1990-99
Collision
1.710-3
Average
1980
2001
Blowout
1.110-3
Collision
2.210-3
Spill/release
2.210-3

A low number of events, 2 in total and both in the period 1980-89 (3 occurrences), are recorded on
fixed compression units in the WOAD database. The recorded number and type of occurrences and
the corresponding frequencies are given in the following table. N denotes number of occurrences
and F denotes frequency, i.e. number of occurrences per unit and year.
Table 46 Compression units. UKCS, 1980-2001.
Source: WOAD
Year
Type of event
Average
1980-89
Fire
0.0145
Helicopter
0.0145
Spill/release
0.0145
Fire
5.210-3
Helicopter
5.210-3
Spill/release
5.210-3
Average
1980
2001
60
6.2.6 Pumping units

No accidents are recorded on fixed pumping platforms in the WOAD database in the period 1980
2001, and hence the overall calculated occurrence frequency is 0.

No accidents are recorded on injection or fixed riser platforms in the WOAD database in the period
1980-2001, and hence the overall calculated occurrence frequency is 0.

A low number of events, 2 in total and both in the period 1980-89, are recorded on fixed
accommodation units in the WOAD database. The recorded number and type of occurrences and
the corresponding frequencies are given in the following table. N denotes number of occurrences
and F denotes frequency, i.e. number of occurrences per unit and year.
Table 47 Accommodation units. UKCS, 1980-2001.
Source: WOAD
Year
Type of event
Average
1980-89
Fire
0.0244
Structural
0.0244
Average
1980
2001
Fire
6.710-3
Structural
6.710-3
61
62
7 BLOWOUT DATABASE
The database was interrogated and the following query was set up for searching for relevant records
in the database:
Date > Date(1980.1.1) AND Country=UK
Ten records matched this query, but only 4 records occurred on fixed units (the remaining ones on
floating platforms). All 4 accidents were also recorded in WOAD. Hence, no separate frequencies
are calculated here.
63
64
8 ACCIDENT STATISTICS
By combining and merging the results from the interrogation of the two databases, ORION and
WOAD, the accident/occurrence frequencies for floating units in the UKCS in the period 1980
2001 are estimated. All tables in this chapter present the number of accidents/occurrences with
corresponding frequencies per type of fixed unit, per year and the whole period 1980-2001. The
source ORION&WOAD refers to the database obtained by pooling the databases ORION and
WOAD and removing the overlapping records.
8.1 Accident frequencies, All databases combined

In this section the accident frequencies for floating units in the UKCS in the period 1980-2001 are
presented. The following tables give the number of accidents and corresponding frequencies per
type of fixed unit, period and data source. N denotes number of occurrences and F denotes
Drilling
Production
Wellhead
Compression
Year/period
1980-89
19
0.1152
995
1.6311
13
0.0861
0.1159
1990
0.4444
173
2.2763
0.2308
0.125
1991
0.1667
199
2.5190
0.1556
0.2222
320
3.9506
0.1875
0.6667
1992
1993
0.0526
407
4.7326
17
0.3333
0.3000
1994
0.4737
474
5.1522
0.1607
0.5000
350
3.8043
21
0.3684
13
1.1818
1995
1996
0.0588
359
3.8602
22
0.3385
0.8889
1997
0.1667
368
3.9149
37
0.5286
0.3636
1998
0.0556
365
3.7629
36
0.5000
0.1818
1999
0.0556
319
3.3229
41
0.5190
0.4167
2000
410
4.1837
40
0.4762
0.1667
2001
411
4.1515
24
0.2824
1990-99
27
0.1406
3334
3.7630
208
0.3574
49
0.4900
1980-2001
46
0.1201
5150
3.0419
285
0.3160
59
0.3057
65
Pumping
Year/period
Injection/riser
F
Accommodation
1980-89
0.0222
0.1707
1043
0.9473
1990
0.2000
192
1.2468
1991
0.3333
213
1.2909
1992
0.3333
0.1667
338
1.9766
1993
0.1250
0.1429
430
2.3370
0.2500
499
2.5330
384
1.9296
1994
1995
1996
0.1111
391
1.9073
1997
0.1000
413
1.9299
1998
0.1000
405
1.8409
1999
0.0909
367
1.6096
2000
0.0909
453
1.9277
435
1.8354
2001
1990-99
0.0750
0.0920
3632
1.8751
1980-2001
0.0483
16
0.1067
5563
1.5849
66
8.2 Occurrence frequencies, ORION&WOAD

In this section the occurrence frequencies for fixed units in the UKCS in the period 1980-2001 are
presented. The following two tables summarise the result of the interrogation of data from
ORION&WOAD, i.e. the number of occurrences and corresponding frequencies. N denotes
number of occurrences and F denotes frequency, i.e. number of occurrences per unit and year
(average, 1980-2001). Blank cells denote no occurrences recorded (and hence no frequencies
calculated).
No. of occurrences and occurrence frequencies (per unit year). Source: ORION&WOAD
Drilling
Type of event
Production
F
Wellhead
Compression
5.310-3
1.110-3
17
0.0100
3.3E-03
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
0.0131
153
0.0904
14
0.0155
Crane
16
0.0418
1339
0.7909
34
0.0377
0.0259
69
0.0408
-3
Explosion
2.610
Falling object
16
0.0418
1710
1.0100
42
0.0466
0.0466
Fire
0.0183
729
0.4306
28
0.0310
10
0.0518
11
6.510-3
0.0104
29
0.1503
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
-4
Leakage
5.910
List
5.910-4
2268
1.3396
14
8.310-3
293
69
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
13
0.0339
Structural
192
0.2129
0.1731
10
0.0111
0.0408
0.0067
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
5.210-3
67
Pumping
Type of event
Injection/riser
F
Accommodation
N

N
10
2.810-3
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
6.910-3
Crane
6.710-3
21
6.010-3
0.0267
177
0.0504
6.710-3
1395
0.3974
70
0.0199
Explosion
Falling object
6.910-3
0.0133
1780
0.5071
Fire
0.0276
0.0333
783
0.2231
Helicopter
13
3.710-3
Leakage
2.810-4
List
2.810-4
Foundering
Grounding
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
0.0200
2505
0.7137
Structural
6.710-3
15
4.310-3
Well problem
305
0.0869
Other
75
0.0214
Towing/towline
68

Table 52 Fixed Units. UKCS, 1980-89, 1990-92.
Year/period
1980-89
Type of event
1990
N
1991
4.5E-03
Collision
1.8E-03
Contact
80
0.0727
12
0.0779
Crane
422
0.3833
63
0.4091
Explosion
35
0.0318
Falling object
468
0.4251
Fire
228
Helicopter
1992
F
0.0054
0.0485
0.0272
62
0.3758
70
0.3804
0.0260
0.0364
0.0326
68
0.4416
82
0.497
94
0.5109
0.2071
36
0.2338
16
0.097
73
0.3967
5.410-3
0.0130
6.110-3
Leakage
9.110-4
List
9.110-4
216
0.1962
71
0.4610
75
0.4545
247
1.3424
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Foundering
Grounding
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
3.6E-03
Well problem
22
0.0200
Other
5.4E-03
-3
6.110
0.0130
0.0121
0.0489
6.5E-03
0.0364
0.0217
Towing/towline
69
Year
1993
Type of event
1994
F
1995
1996
5.110-3
0.0151
4.910-3
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
5.810-3
0.0152
0.0151
Contact
0.0409
10
0.0508
12
0.0603
10
0.0488
Crane
70
0.4094
94
0.4772
78
0.392
68
0.3317
4.910-3
Explosion
5.810
Falling object
88
Fire
-3
-3
0.0152
5.010
0.5146
126
0.6396
101
0.5075
94
0.4585
48
0.2807
66
0.335
47
0.2362
34
0.1659
5.810-3
5.010-3
188
1.0994
217
1.0905
162
0.7902
0.0234
0.0101
4.910-3
Well problem
0.0117
14
0.0711
0.0452
50
0.2439
Other
0.0234
0.0355
0.0402
0.0146
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
321
1.6294
Towing/towline
70
Year
1997
Type of event
1998
1999
Collision
4.710-3
0.0136
0.0132
Contact
0.0421
0.0227
0.0351
Crane
93
0.4346
104
0.4727
80
0.3509
Explosion
0.0327
4.510-3
8.810-3
Falling object
117
0.5467
134
0.6091
126
0.5526
Fire
48
0.2243
44
0.2
41
0.1798
200
0.9346
198
0.9
173
0.7588
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
4.710
Well problem
43
Other
-3
-3
4.510
0.2009
44
0.2
38
0.1667
0.0140
0.0227
0.0219
Towing/towline
71
Year
Period
2000
Type of event
2001
F
1990-99
1980-2001
4.210-3
2.610-3
10
2.810-3
15
7.710-3
21
6.010-3
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
0.0213
Contact
0.0340
0.0127
86
0.0444
177
0.0504
Crane
90
0.3830
100
0.4219
782
0.4037
1395
0.3974
Explosion
0.0128
0.0000
32
0.0165
70
0.0199
Falling object
137
0.5830
145
0.6118
1030
0.5318
1780
0.5071
Fire
50
0.2128
52
0.2194
453
0.2339
783
0.2231
4.210-3
2.610-3
13
3.710-3
Leakage
5.210-4
2.810-4
List
5.210-4
2.810-4
1852
0.9561
2505
0.7137
10
5.210-3
15
4.310-3
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
217
0.9234
8.510-3
Well problem
35
0.1489
35
0.1477
213
0.1100
305
0.0869
Other
15
0.0638
0.0211
46
0.0237
75
0.0214
Structural
220
0.9283
Towing/towline

Since WOAD did not contribute with any recorded accidents to fixed drilling units beyond what
was already recorded in the ORION database, the frequencies for the combined ORION & WOAD
database remain the same as shown in Table 16 in section 5.3.2 of this report.
72

production units are given year/period. N denotes number of occurrences and F denotes frequency,
i.e. number of occurrences per unit and year. Blank cells denote no occurrences recorded (and hence
no frequencies calculated).
Table 56 Production Units. UKCS, 1980-89, 1990, 1991, 1992.
Year/period
1980-89
Type of event
1990
8.210-3
1991
F
1992
F
0.0123
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
3.310-3
Contact
73
0.1197
11
0.1447
0.1013
0.0493
Crane
410
0.6721
53
0.6974
59
0.7468
68
0.8395
Explosion
34
0.0557
0.0526
0.0759
0.0123
Falling object
453
0.7426
57
0.7500
78
0.9873
86
1.0617
Fire
218
0.3574
34
0.4474
14
0.1772
47
0.5802
Helicopter
8.210-3
0.0263
0.0127
Leakage
1.610-3
List
1.610-3
205
0.3361
66
0.8684
69
0.873418
176
2.1728
0.0127
0.0494
Foundering
Grounding
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
-3
6.610
Well problem
21
0.0344
0.0263
0.0253
0.0349
Other
9.810-3
0.0132
0.0759
0.0494
Towing/towline
73
Year
1993
Type of event
1994
F
1995
1996
0.0109
0.0217
0.0108
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
0.0117
0.0217
0.0217
Contact
0.0466
0.0870
11
0.1196
0.0860
Crane
67
0.7791
92
76
0.8261
65
0.6989
Explosion
0.0698
0.0326
0.0109
0.0108
Falling object
91
1.0581
124
1.3478
98
1.0652
88
0.9462
Fire
70
0.8140
60
0.6522
38
0.4130
34
0.3656
0.0109
197
2.1413
147
1.5806
0.0217
0.0108
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
231
2.6860
305
3.3152
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
0.1047
13
0.1413
0.0761
50
0.5376
Other
0.0465
0.0761
0.0761
0.0323
74
Year
1997
Type of event
1998
1999
Collision
0.0106
0.0206
0.0208
Contact
0.0851
0.0515
0.0521
Crane
86
0.9149
100
1.0309
76
0.7917
Explosion
0.0745
0.0103
0.0208
Falling object
107
1.1383
130
1.3402
119
1.2396
Fire
44
0.4681
41
0.4227
35
0.3646
173
1.8404
169
1.7423
142
1.4792
0.0106
0.0103
Well problem
43
0.4574
40
0.4124
37
0.3854
Other
0.0319
0.0412
0.0313
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
Towing/towline
75
Table 59 Production Units. UKCS, 2000, 2001, 1990-99, 1980-2001.
Year
Period
2000
Type of event
2001
F
1990-99
Anchor failure
Blowout
0.0101
1980-2001
4.510-3
5.310-3
11
0.0124
17
0.0100
Capsize
Collision
0.0408
Contact
0.0612
0.0202
72
0.0813
153
0.0904
Crane
89
0.9082
98
0.9899
742
0.8375
1339
0.7909
Explosion
0.0306
32
0.0361
69
0.0408
Falling object
136
1.3878
143
1.4444
978
1.1038
1710
1.0100
Fire
49
0.5000
45
0.4545
417
0.4707
729
0.4306
0.0101
4.510-3
11
6.510-3
Leakage
5.910-4
List
5.910-4
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
181
1.8469
0.0204
Well problem
33
0.3367
32
Other
13
0.1327
Structural
207
2.0909
1675
1.8905
2268
1.3396
10
0.0113
14
8.310-3
0.3232
206
0.2325
293
0.1731
0.0505
42
0.0474
69
0.0408
Towing/towline
76

In the following tables the number of occurrences and corresponding frequencies for fixed wellhead
(production) units are given per year/period. N denotes number of occurrences and F denotes
Table 60 Wellhead Units. UKCS, 1980-89, 1990, 1991, 1992.
Year/period
1980-89
Type of event
1990
6.610-3
Contact
Crane
1991
6.610-3
0.0256
0.0199
0.1282
1992
F
0.0208
0.0444
0.0208
3.410-3
5.310-3
0.1795
0.0667
0.0208
0.0769
0.1111
0.1458
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Explosion
Falling object
0.0265
Fire
0.0265
0.0265
6.610-3
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
77
Year
1993
Type of event
1994
F
1995
F
1996
0.0175
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
Crane
0.0179
0.0175
0.0308
0.0589
0.0179
0.0175
0.0462
Falling object
0.0589
0.0179
0.0175
0.0769
Fire
0.0196
0.0357
0.0526
13
0.2549
0.125
14
0.2456
15
0.2308
0.0175
Explosion
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
78
Year
1997
Type of event
1998
F
1999
0.0139
0.0127
0.0380
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
0.0142
Crane
0.0857
0.0417
0.0380
Falling object
0.0857
0.0417
0.0633
Fire
0.0429
0.0417
0.0506
25
0.3571
26
0.3611
26
0.3291
Well problem
0.0417
0.0127
Other
0.0139
0.0253
Explosion
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
Towing/towline
79
Table 63 Wellhead Units. UKCS, 2000, 2001, 1990-99, 1980-2001.
Year
Period
2000
Type of event
2001
F
1990-99
F
1980-2001
F
1.110-3
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
5.210-3
3.310-3
Contact
0.0238
0.0118
10
0.0172
14
0.0155
Crane
0.0119
0.0235
28
0.0481
34
0.0377
Falling object
0.0119
0.0235
35
0.0601
42
0.0466
Fire
0.0119
0.0824
16
0.0275
28
0.0310
34
0.4048
13
0.1529
141
0.2423
192
0.2129
0.0238
0.0353
6.910-3
10
0.0111
-3
0.0067
Explosion
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
0.0238
80
6.910

In the following tables the number of occurrences and corresponding frequencies for fixed wellhead
units are given per year/period. N denotes number of occurrences and F denotes frequency, i.e.
number of occurrences per unit and year. Blank cells denote no occurrences recorded (and hence no
Table 64 Compression Units. UKCS, 1980-89, 1990, 1991, 1992.
Year/period
1980-89
Type of event
1990
0.0290
Falling object
0.0435
Fire
0.0145
0.0290
0.0145
1991
F
1992
0.1111
0.1111
0.1111
0.2222
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
Crane
Explosion
1
0.1250
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
81
0.1111
Year
1993
Type of event
1994
1995
F
1996
0.1000
1000
0.0909
0.1000
0.1818
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
Crane
Explosion
Falling object
Fire
0.1000
0.5455
0.4000
0.5455
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
0.5000
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
82
Year
1997
Type of event
1998
0.0909
1999
F
0.0833
0.3333
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
Crane
Explosion
Falling object
Fire
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
0.1818
0.1818
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
83
Table 67 Compression Units. UKCS, 2000, 2001, 1990-99, 1980-2001.
Year
Period
2000
Type of event
2001
F
1990-99
F
1980-2001
0.0300
0.0259
Falling object
0.0600
0.0466
Fire
0.0900
10
0.0518
0.0104
29
0.1503
Anchor failure
Blowout
Capsize
Collision
Contact
Crane
Explosion
Foundering
Grounding
Helicopter
Leakage
List
Machinery
Off position
Spill/release
0.1667
26
0.2600
Structural
Towing/towline
Well problem
Other
8.2.6 Pumping units

No accidents are recorded on fixed pumping platforms in either the WOAD database or the ORION
database in the period 1980-2001, and hence the overall calculated occurrence frequency is 0.

Since WOAD did not contribute with any recorded accidents to fixed injection/riser units beyond
what was already recorded in the ORION database, the frequencies for the combined ORION &
WOAD database remain the same as shown in Table 29 in section 5.3.7 of this report.

The recorded number and type of occurrences and the corresponding frequencies are given in the
following table. N denotes number of occurrences and F denotes frequency, i.e. number of
occurrences per unit and year.
84
Table 68 Accommodation units. UKCS. 1980-2001.
No. of occurrences per unit year. Source: ORION&WOAD
Year
Type of event
Average
1980-89
Contact
0.0488
Crane
0.0244
Falling object
0.0244
Fire
0.0488
Spill/release
0.0244
Structural
0.0244
1992
Contact
0.1429
1993
Fire
0.125
1994
Contact
0.1111
Spill/release
0.1111
1996
Fire
0.1000
1997
Fire
0.1000
1998
Spill/release
0.0909
1999
Falling object
0.0909
2000
Collision
0.0909
Average
1990-99
Contact
0.0230
Falling object
0.0115
Fire
0.0230
Spill/release
0.0230
Collision
6.710-3
Contact
0.0267
Crane
6.710-3
Falling object
0.0133
Fire
0.0333
Spill/release
0.0200
Average
1980
2001
85
8.3 Frequencies, fixed units on NCS

An interrogation of the WOAD database for accidents and incidents on fixed production units on
the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) in the period 1980-2001, showed a total of 1350 recorded
accidents. Combined with the corresponding exposure of about 700 unit-years in the same period,
the frequency becomes 1.93 accidents per unit-year.
The comparable figure for the UKCS, as calculated in this report using the combined ORION and
WOAD databases, is 1.58 (from Table 49).
86
9 CONCLUSIONS
The conclusions from the work undertaken in this project are summarised below.
The event frequencies strongly vary with the source being used
As identified in the recent project on floating units (ref. /1/), this project also clearly shows that the
event frequencies being obtained strongly depend on which database is being interrogated.
The main source for accident and incident information being available for the UKCS offshore
industry should be the HSEs ORION database
Due to the accident reporting requirements for fixed units on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS), the
main source for accident and incident information being available for the UKCS offshore industry
should be the HSEs ORION database. The interrogation of ORION in this project showed that the
database contains information for accidents and incidents ranging from hazardous situations and
working accidents with no consequences to severe damage and total loss of units.
Large difference in number of accidents between WOAD and ORION
When comparing the information held by DNVs Worldwide Offshore Accident Databank
(WOAD) and ORION, there is a big difference in number of accidents. This is mainly explained by
the fact that WOAD only receives information about accidents through publicly available sources,
which in most cases only addresses events with large consequences.
Slight increase in event frequencies when merging the databases together
If all fixed units are considered for the period 1980-2001, this study demonstrates a total event
frequency of 1.58 per installation per year. Only a slight increase in the frequency is seen when
merging the ORION and WOAD databases together. This is due to that there are only a few (51 to
be exact) events being recorded in WOAD and not in ORION. The total event frequency is a factor
about 35 times higher than that which is obtained from WOAD.
87
88
10 REFERENCES
/1/
Accident Statistics for Floating Offshore Units on the UK Continental Shelf in 1980
98. HSE Offshore Technology Report OTO 2000/091.
/2/
Accident Statistics for Fixed Offshore Units on the UK Continental Shelf in 1991-99.
HSE Offshore Technology Report OTO 2002/012.
/3/
The North Sea Development Guide. Seventh Edition, Oilfield Publications Limited.
ISBN 1 902157 08 7, November 1998.
89
90
APPENDIX
HSE ORION; DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE TYPE CODES
A-1
The following codes are used for the parameter Dangerous occurrence type given in HSEs
ORION Database. This field is only completed for category 4 incidents (Dangerous
Occurrences) and only for incidents in the period from April 1996 to date (ref. RIDDOR 95).
Code Short text / Output Name
Description
01
FAIL LIFT MACH
The collapse of the overturning of, or the failure of any load bearing
part of any
a. lift or hoist;
b. crane or derrick;
c. mobile powered access platform;
d. access cradle or window-cleaning cradle;
e. pile-driving or rig having an overall height. when operating, of
more than 7 metres, or
f. fork lift truck.
02
FAIL VESSEL
The failure of any closed vessel (including a boiler or boiler tube) or

of any associated pipework, in which the internal pressure was above
or below atmospheric pressure, where the failure has the potential to
cause the death of any person.
03
FAIL FREIGHT
1.
2.
The failure of any freight container in any of its load-bearing

parts while it is being raised, lowered or suspended,
In this paragraph, "freight container" means a container as
defined in regulation 2(1) of the Freight Containers (Safety
Convention) Regulations 1984(a).
04
CONTACT ELECTRIC
Any unintentional incident in which plant or equipment either

a. comes into contact with an uninsulated overhead electric line in
which the voltage exceeds 200 volts; or
b. causes an electrical discharge from such an electric line by
coming into close proximity to it.
05
FIRE/EX ELECTRIC
Electrical short circuit or overload attended by fire or explosion

which results in the stoppage of the plant involved for more than 24
hours or which has the potential to cause the death of any person.
06
EXPLOSION/MISFIRE
Any of the following incidents involving explosives:

a. the unintentional explosion or ignition of explosives other than
one
i.
caused by the unintentional discharge of a weapon
where, apart from that unintentional discharge, the weapon
and explosives functioned as they were designed to do; or
ii.
where a fail-safe device or safe system of work
functioned so as to prevent any person from being injured in
consequence of the explosion or ignition;
b. a misfire (other than one at a mine or quarry or inside a well or
one involving a weapon) except where a fail-safe device or safe
system of work functioned so as to prevent any person from
being endangered in consequence of the misfire;
c. the failure of the shots in any demolition operation to cause the
intended extent of collapse or direction of fall of a building or
structure;
d. the projection of material (other than at a quarry) beyond the
boundary of the site on which the explosives are being used or
beyond the danger zone in circumstances such that any person
was or might have been injured thereby;
e. any injury to a person (other than at a mine or quarry or one
otherwise reportable under these Regulations) involving first-aid
or medical treatment resulting from the explosion or discharge of
any explosives or detonator.
A-2
Description
07
RELEASE SUBS
Any accident or incident which resulted or could have resulted in the

release or escape of a biological agent likely to cause severe human
infection or illness.
08
FAIL RADIATION
1.
09
10
FAIL BREATHING
FAIL DIVING
COLLAPSE SCAFF
a.
the malfunction of a radiation generator or its ancillary

equipment used in fixed or mobile industrial radiography,
the irradiation of food or the processing of products by
irradiation, causes it to fail to de-energise at the end of the
intended exposure period ; or
b.
the malfunction of equipment used in fixed or mobile

industrial radiography or gamma irradiation causes a
radioactive source to fail to return to its safe position by the
normal means at the end of the intended exposure period,
2.
In this paragraph, "radiation generator" has the same meaning as

in regulation 2 of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1985(b).
1.
Any incident in which breathing apparatus malfunctions
a.
while in use. or
b.
during testing immediately prior to use in such a way that had

the malfunction occurred while the apparatus was in use it would
have posed a danger to the health or safety of the user,
2.
This paragraph shall not apply to breathing apparatus while it is

being -
a.
used in a mine; or
b.
maintained or tested as part of a routine maintenance procedure.
Any of the following incidents in relation to a diving operation

a.
11
any incident in which
the failure or the endangering of

i.
any lifting equipment associated with the diving operation,

or
ii.
life support equipment, including control panels, hoses and

breathing apparatus, which puts a diver at risk;
b.
any damage to, or endangering of, the dive platform, or any

failure of the dive platform to remain on station, which puts a
diver at risk;
c.
the trapping of a diver;
d.
any explosion in the vicinity of a diver; or
e.
any uncontrolled ascent or any omitted decompression which

puts a diver at risk.
The collapse or partial collapse of

a.
b.
any scaffold which is

i.
more than 5 metres in height which results in a substantial

part of the scaffold falling or overturning; or
ii.
erected over or adjacent to water in circumstances such that

there would be a risk of drowning to a person falling from
the scaffold into the water; or
the suspension arrangements (including any outrigger) of any

slung or suspended scaffold which causes a working platform or
cradle to fall.
A-3

12
CRASH TRAIN
13
FAIL WELL
14
15
FAIL PIPELINE
Description
Any of the following incidents in relation to a well (other than a well

sunk for the purposes of the abstraction of water)
a.
a blow-out (that is to say an uncontrolled flow of well-fluids

from a well);
b.
the coming into operation of a blow-out prevention or diversion

system to control a flow from a well where normal control
procedures fail;
c.
the detection of hydrogen sulphide in the course of operations at

a well or in samples of well-fluids from a well where the
presence of hydrogen sulphide in the reservoir being drawn on
by the well was not anticipated by the responsible person before
that detection;
d.
the taking of precautionary measures additional to any contained

in the original drilling programme following failure to maintain
a planned minimum separation distance between wells drilled
from a particular installation; or
e.
the mechanical failure of any safety critical element of a well

(and for this purpose the safety critical element of a well is any
part of a well whose failure would cause or contribute to. or
whose purpose is to prevent or limit the effect of, the
unintentional release of fluids from a well or a reservoir being
drawn on by a well).
The following incidents in respect of a pipeline or pipeline works

a.
the uncontrolled or accidental escape of anything from. or inrush

of anything into, a pipeline which has the potential to cause the
death of, major injury or damage to the health of any person or
which results in the pipeline being shut down for more than 24
hours;
b.
the unintentional ignition of anything in a pipeline or of anything

which, immediately before it was ignited, was in a pipeline;
c.
any damage to any part of a pipeline which has the potential to

cause the death of, major injury or damage to the health of any
person or which results in the pipeline being shut down for more
than 24 hours;
d.
any substantial and unintentional change in the position of a

pipeline requiring immediate attention to safeguard the integrity
or safety of a pipeline;
e.
any unintentional change in the subsoil or seabed in the vicinity

of a pipeline which has the potential to affect the integrity or
safety of a pipeline;
f.
any failure of any pipeline isolation device, equipment or system

which has the potential to cause the death of, major injury or
damage to the health of any person or which results in the
pipeline being shut down for more than 24 hours; or
g.
any failure of equipment involved with pipeline works which has

the potential to cause the death of, major injury or damage to the
health of any person.
FAIL FAIR RIDE
A-4

16
17
OVERTURN DANGSUB
RELEASE DANGSUB
Description
1.
RELEASE PET HYDRO
a.
the road tanker or vehicle carrying the tank container

overturns (including turning onto its side);
b.
the tank carrying the dangerous substance is seriously

damaged;
c.
there is an uncontrolled release or escape of the dangerous

substance being carried or;
d.
there is a fire involving the dangerous substance being

carried.
2.
In this paragraph "carriage", "dangerous substance", "road

tanker" and "tank container" have the same meanings as in
regulation 2(1) of the Road Traffic (Carriage of Dangerous
Substances in Road Tankers and Tank Containers) Regulations
1992(a).
1.
(Any incident involving a vehicle used for the carriage of a

dangerous substance, other than a vehicle to which paragraph 16
applies, where there is
2.
73
Any incident involving a road tanker or tank container used for

the carriage of a dangerous substance in which
a.
an uncontrolled release or escape of the dangerous

substance being carried in such a quantity as to have the
potential to cause the death of, or major injury to, any
person; or
b.
a fire which involves the dangerous substance being carried,
In this paragraph, "carriage" and "dangerous substance" have the

same meaning as in regulation 2(1) of the Road Traffic (Carriage
of Dangerous Substance in Packages etc) Regulations 1992(b).
Any unintentional release of petroleum hydrocarbon on or from an

offshore installation which
a.
results in
i.
ii.
b.
a fire or explosion; or
the taking of action to prevent or limit the consequences
of a potential fire or explosion; or
has the potential to cause death or major injury to any person.
74
FIRE OFFSHORE
Any fire or explosion at an offshore installation, other than one to

which paragraph 73 above applies, which results in the stoppage of
plant or the suspension of normal work.
75
RELEASE OFFSHORE
The uncontrolled or unintentional release or escape of any substance

(other than petroleum hydrocarbon) on or from an offshore
installation which has the potential to cause the death or, major injury
to or damage to the health of any person.
76
COLLAPSE OFFSHORE
Any unintended collapse of any offshore installation or any

unintended collapse of any part thereof or any plant thereon which
jeopardises the overall structural integrity of the installation.
A-5

77
FAILURE OFFSHORE
Description
Any of the following occurrences having the potential to cause death
or major injury
a.
the failure of equipment required to maintain a floating offshore

installation on station;
b.
the dropping of any object on an offshore installation or on an

attendant vessel or into the water adjacent to an installation or
vessel; or
c.
damage to or on an offshore installation caused by adverse

weather conditions.
78
COLLISION OFFSHORE
Any collision between a vessel or aircraft and an offshore installation

which results in damage to the installation, the vessel or the aircraft.
79
POSS COLLISION
OFFSHORE
Any occurrence with the potential for a collision between a vessel

and an offshore installation where. had a collision occurred, it would
have been liable to jeopardise the overall structural integrity of the
offshore installation.
80
COLLAPSE SEABED
Any subsidence or local collapse of the seabed likely to affect the

foundations of an offshore installation or the overall structural
integrity of an offshore installation.
81
LOSS OF BUYANCY
Any incident involving loss or stability or buoyancy of a floating

offshore installation.
82
EVACUATE OFFSHORE
Any evacuation (other than one arising out of an incident reportable

under any other provision of these Regulations) of an offshore
installation, in whole or part, in the interests of safety.
83
FALL OFFSHORE
Any case of a person falling more than 2 metres

(6.56 ft) into
water (unless the fall results in death or injury required to be reported
under sub-paragraphs (a) - (d) or regulation 3(1)).
Printed and published by the Health and Safety Executive

C1.25 06/03
ISBN 0-7176-2211-8
RR 096
15.00
9 78071 7 6221 1 5
Accident statistics for fixed offshore units on the UK Continental Shelf 1980 - 2001
HSE BOOKS

Offshore Fixed Rig Risk

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HSE

Health & Safety

Accident statistics for fixed offshore

RESEARCH REPORT 096

Health & Safety

Accident statistics for fixed offshore

Crown copyright 2003

reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in

any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical,

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................... 1

OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF WORK.................................................................... 9

Dangerous occurrence type codes

Broad incident type codes

Event classification and coding principles

All fixed units

All fixed units

ACCIDENT STATISTICS ........................................................................................ 65

Occurrence frequencies, ORION&WOAD

Appendix A HSE ORION; DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE TYPE CODES

This report is part 1 of the published data.

Part 2 is the associated spreadsheet listing

individually the coding and text for each incident.

checks to be undertaken on the different databases to prevent double counting of an incident or

1.3 Objectives, results and conclusions

Table 1 Fixed Units (I). UKCS, 1980-2001.

Table 2 Fixed Units (II). UKCS, 1980-2001.

All fixed, (I) & (II)

Slight increase in event frequencies when merging the databases together

3 OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF WORK

Type of unit description

Drilling platforms whose sole purpose is to drill

Traditional (manned) production platforms, steel jackets or

Wellhead platforms (normally unmanned) with no

Gas compression platforms

Water or gas injection and riser platforms

Table 3 Fixed Units (I). UKCS, 1980-2001.

Table 4 Fixed Units (II). UKCS. 1980-2001. Number of unit-years

All fixed, (I) & (II)

5.1 Available data

< Installation name >

Broad incident type Lifting / crane operations

5.1.1 Incident category codes

Over 3 day Injury

5.1.2 Dangerous occurrence type codes

5.1.3 Broad incident type codes

Slips / trips / falls

Handling goods / materials

Lifting / crane operations

Use of hand tools

Exposure to harmful substances

5.2 Event classification and coding principles

Table 5 Event classification, WOAD

Problems with anchor/anchor lines, mooring devices, winching

An uncontrolled flow of gas, oil or other fluids from the

Loss of stability resulting in overturn of unit, capsizing, or

Accidental contact between offshore unit and/or passing marine

Collisions/accidental contacts between vessels engaged in the

Any event caused by or involving cranes, derrick and draw

Falling load/dropped objects from crane, drill derrick, or any