By Kathryn Stone 2015-06-12 11:53:28
Petrobras has completed its investigation of a FPSO explosion earlier this year that claimed the lives of nine people.
The explosion occurred following a natural gas leak aboard the Cidade de São Mateus February 11 while the ship was anchored in the Camarupim oil field in the Espirito Santo Basin about 75 kilometers (46.5 miles) northeast of Vitoria, Brasil.
Nine people died in the accident and 26 others were injured. The event was the most serious oil and gas incident to happen in Brazil in the past 14 years.
The report announced today reveals that the deadly incident was caused by series of technical failures and poor decision making. Specifically, it cited a failure to follow proper fluid pumping procedures as well as the installation of an incompatible piece of equipment as the main causes of the explosion. Workers were also sent to the pump house after the alarm was triggered without prior procedural training.
The Petrobras report is intended to improve industry safety standards and avoid incidents of the same nature in the future. The completed analysis was submitted to several governmental agencies that have collaborated with Petrobras over the course of the investigation, including the National Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANP), the Federal Police and the Civil Police. BW Offshore, the operator of the Ciudade de São Mateus has begun sharing the report with others in the energy industry.
Petrobras has gone on to deny any prior knowledge of the failings laid out in today’s report.
This post was sourced from Maritime Executive: View original article here.
