Approaches to Extinguish Gas Blowout Fires: World Experience and Potential for Development

Abstract

Aim: Fires caused by a gas blowout are complex man made emergencies. Attempts to extinguish such fires attracts considerable effort and resources. Such incidents culminate in significant financial losses, damage to the environment and, sometimes, human sacrifice. Firefighters from different countries extinguish gas blowout fires in different ways. The purpose of this article is to analyse global experiences with such incidents, identify challenges and the potential for further development of firefighting techniques. Methods: The main approach involves analysis and synthesis. During the analysis stage, the following sources were accessed for information: periodicals and technical publications from different countries, workshop, symposium and scientific conference materials, public information from the internet and patent databases from various countries. Additionally, the authors applied personal knowledge and experience, and other practitioners knowledge of extinguishing gas blowout fires. Results: Extinguishing methods were categorised into five groups: dousing with the aid of a continuous stream delivery of an extinguishing agent, firing a volley of impulses with the aid of appliances: SPT-200, Impulse-Storm, Fire Commander, use of explosives to disrupt and extinguish a “burning torch”, use of preventers and drilling of directional wells without the use of extinguishing agents, and a combination of afore mentioned approaches. For each approach an in depth analysis was performed on firefighting equipment used, identifying relevant features and process for extinguishing flames and determining relative advantages and disadvantages. Conclusion: From this research the authors identified a development path for optimization of resources in the process of quenching fires, by increasing the effective suppression range and reduction in the quantity of extinguishing agents used, thus enhancing the protection of personnel from exposure to fire hazards and minimization of damage to the environment. It was determined that