GRIFFIN VENTURE GAS TURBINE FAILURE 1997

Abstract

On 10 November 1997 the BHP Petroleum-operated Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) crude oil facility the Griffin Venture suffered an unprecedented mechanical failure of a gas turbine engine. The power turbine casing was breached resulting in an explosion and fire within the engine room space. The incident was safely controlled without personnel injury in what was a world class emergency response effort.

The engine failure was caused by an unusual form of crack propagation known as stress assisted grain boundary oxidation (SAGBO) of the engine's high pressure power turbine disc. The incident also identified a number of safety system improvements, many of which could be applicable to other facilities. These included smoke impairment of the accommodation (designated temporary safe refuge) because of leaking fire doors, failure to release the engine package fire extinguishing system and failure of the fire detection system due to short circuit intolerance nine minutes after the incident commenced.

The facility was repaired in Singapore by Sembawang Shipyard where new engine cores were fitted and many of the safety systems were upgraded. Production resumed in March 1998 since when the Griffin Venture has produced above target oil volumes and record gas volumes.