Ultra Large Fire Fighting Installations In North Sea Emergency Support

Abstract

ABSTRACT As a result of the oil exploration activities in the North Sea, a number of new oil fields have gone into production. To protect these installations, new, heavier and more complicated fire fighting equipment and systems have been developed. This paper describes briefly various design criterias for Fire Fighting Vessels seth forth by Det norske Veritas and other public agencies and the solutions developed to comply with these requirements. One section is devoted to a theoretical study of a supply vessel hull movements in various sea states to establish a set of monitor control design parameters. Practical experience and recommendations are listed and a summery of present and future development is given. INTRODUCTION Recent years have shown a spectacular increase in fire fighting equipment for the protection of North Sea Oil field installations. Not only have the size of the equipment grown but the fire fighting systems have also become far more complex and requires more advanced engineering to give optimum performance. The fire protection systems may be divided in two major groups:–Platform self protection fire fighting systems–Emergency Support Vessel based Rlatform Fire Protection Systems This last group is the subject of this paper. We would like to emphasize however at this early stage that the Ultra Large Fire Fighting Systems are not designed for extinguish hydrocarbon fires, but to cool platform structures and prevent them from collapsing. We have for some time felt the need for a classification of system requirements and engineering specifications in this field. The following is a summery of the experience we have gained from developing various equipment and systems for North Sea Fire Fighting Vessels. It is not our intention to answer all questions. There is undoubtly room for improvement in existing equipment, especially concerning monitor hydrodynamics, jet performance and system controls. But we would like to establish a basis for further development and to point OUX some of the most common problems encountered in designing fire fighting systems for todays North Sea ESVs. THEORY & DEFINITIONS FIRE FIGHTING PROBLEMS Offshore fire fighting problems may be divided into 5 major categories.Platform Fire ExtinguishingPlatform Structure Self ProtectionPlatform Crew Rescue OperationsPlatform Cooling by Emergency Support VesselsEmergency Support Vessel's Self Protection The subject of this paper is category D with some references to category E. It should be remembered however that this is only one part of the fire fighting problems and that the intentions with the equipment and systems described herein are not to extinguish hydrocarbon fire, but to cool the platform structures to keep them from collapsing in a fire.