EXTERNAL PUBLICATIONS

SUMMARY

This report describes a study of pipeline accident reports from international sources. Its purpose was to allow a comparison of the results of calculations carried out by the HSE program MISHAP98 and the actual consequences of pipeline failures. It was found that the fireball model in MISHAP98 generally over-predicts the consequences of a pipeline rupture, but the jet-fire model invariably under-predicts the consequences. The reason for this is the method of modelling jet-fires used in the program. The assumed flame shape is probably correct for holes in the pipelines, but does not reflect the flames emerging from a pipeline rupture in a crater. The main recommendation from the report is that the jet-fire model for ruptures should be improved. In order to do this, the general shape and emissive power of the flames needs to be determined. It is recommend that all the pipeline incident reports that are available from the USA and Canada should be obtained for further study. It is further recommended that scaled experimental work should be undertaken, perhaps by HSL Buxton, in order to determine the behaviour of ignited releases from ruptured pipelines in a crater.

This report and the work it describes were funded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE policy