Case Studies

The real-life fire and explosion incidents that make up these case studies were provided voluntarily by members of the Canadian upstream oil and gas industry. Collection of them began in 2003. If you have an example or near miss to contribute, please go to the Submit an Incident section of this site.

Drilling and Completions

• Incident # 01 - Explosion While Completing Hydrocarbon Frac with Snubbing Unit
• Incident # 02 - Explosion While Installing Tubing with Snubbing Unit
• Incident # 03 - Explosion While Installing Tubing with Snubbing Unit
• Incident # 04 - Worker’s Clothing Lit on Fire during Well Testing Operations
• Incident # 05 - Explosion during Well Flow Back Operations
• Incident # 06 - Explosion During Well Flow Back of Hydrocarbon Frac
• Incident # 07 - Explosion While Rigging Out Flow Testers
• Incident # 08 - Explosion While Hot Oiling Well
• Incident # 09 - Explosion While Transferring Fuel
• Incident # 10 - Explosion Following Swabbing Operations
• Incident # 34 - Explosion While Cleaning Frac Blender
• Incident # 35 - Subsurface Explosion Following Swabbing Operations
• Incident # 40 - Fire Inside Drilling Mud Tank

Operations

• Incident # 11 - Fire While Thawing Rig Tank Valve with Propane Torch
• Incident # 12 - Explosion While Completing Compressor Maintenance
• Incident # 13 - Fire While Thawing Pipe with Tiger Torch
• Incident # 14 - Explosion While Cleaning Separator
• Incident # 15 - Fire While Completing Flare Piping Modifications
• Incident # 16 - Explosion During Booster Compressor Start-up
• Incident # 17 - Explosion While Cleaning Slop Tank
• Incident # 18 - Flash Fire As Worker Entered Building
• Incident # 19 - Explosion When Vessel Overpressured and Released Vapours Ignited
• Incident # 20 – Explosion When Leaking Propane Ignited
• Incident # 31 - Explosion in Produced Water Injection Building
• Incident # 32 - Fire While Completing Compressor Piping Modifications
• Incident # 33 - Explosion While Cleaning Separator Vessel
• Incident # 36 - Explosion While Cleaning Treater #1
• Incident # 37 - Explosion While Cleaning Treater #2
• Incident # 38 - Fire While Thawing Storage Tank Valve with Propane Torch

Trucking

• Incident # 21 - Explosion While Pumping Water Down Well
• Incident # 22 - Explosion When Tank Truck Overflowed
• Incident # 23 - Methanol Spill Ignited While Preparing to Repair Tank Truck Leak
• Incident # 24 Vacuum Truck Exploded While Thawing Valve with Propane Torch
• Incident # 25 - Storage Tank Explosion When Pyrophoric Iron Sulphides Ignited
• Incident # 26 - Explosion When Fuel Tank Overpressured and Released Vapours Ignited
• Incident # 27 - Tank Truck Exploded While Loading Oil/Water Emulsion
• Incident # 28 - Fuel Tank Exploded While Completing Repairs
• Incident # 29 - Tank Truck Exploded While Completing Repairs
• Incident # 30 - Tank Truck Exploded While Completing Modifications
• Incident # 39 - Fire When Trucker Failed to Disconnect Loading Hose

Related information:
Case Studies | Analysis of Case Studies