Fire Protection for Offshore Oil Drilling Rigs & Platforms

It’s easy to take crude oil and the chemical products made from it for granted, but for anyone who owns or works on an oil drilling rig, the hazards of finding and collecting oil every day are very real. The potential for a fire is just one of the many dangers found on a complex piece of machinery used to dig through the earth’s crust.

You can’t prevent an unexpected blaze from breaking out on your oil drilling rig, but you can have the proper fire suppression systems in place to put out the fire quickly, saving lives and minimizing damage to machinery in the process. Here are the top fire suppression options for offshore oil drilling rigs and platforms.

3M Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid

Novec 1230 is an advanced, next generation fire suppression agent used in many oil and gas operations today, including those located on land and offshore. With the ability to protect occupied spaces and critical equipment, Novec 1230 is often installed in electrical control rooms, communication centers, engine rooms, pilot houses, pump rooms, storage areas and generator rooms.

This clean agent is the perfect replacement for environmentally damaging halon and CO2 systems. In fact, Novec 1230 is the first halocarbon halon replacement to offer viable, long-term applications for fire protection in the oil and gas industry. It has proven its ability to extinguish fires quickly and efficiently, before the blaze has a chance to spread to Class B hazards commonly found on oil drilling rigs, including gasoline, oil and oil-based products.

Benefits of Novec 1230 Fluid

Zero ozone depletion potential
Global warming potential of 1 – about the same as naturally occurring carbon dioxide
Low acute toxicity
High extinguishing efficiency
Widest margin of safety of any chemical clean agent or CO2 fire suppression system
Ideal for occupied spaces where personnel may be exposed to the extinguishing agent
Compact and lightweight
No shipping restrictions, whether by air, sea or truck
Local refill possible

HI-FOG

Another option is HI-FOG, a safe and efficient fire suppression system for offshore oil drilling rigs and platforms. This environmentally friendly high-pressure water mist system is effective against a variety of fire risks present on oil drilling rigs. It poses no health risks to people and doesn’t harm the environment. HI-FOG has been tested and approved for many types of spaces, including rooms that house equipment, rooms occupied by people, ductwork and kitchens with deep fat fryers.

There are four types of HI-FOG suppression systems. These include wet pipe, dry pipe, deluge and pre-action suppression systems. Working with a fire protection specialist is the best way to determine which option is right for your drilling rig.

Benefits of HI-FOG

No air-tight spaces required, allowing the system to deliver excellent performance time and again
Low water usage required to put out fires
Compact and high-quality components
Minimal weight added when installed in offshore oil drilling rigs

Kauffman Co. for Oil Drilling Rig Fire Protection

Kauffman Co. has experience supplying oil drilling rigs with adequate fire protection systems. The most recent project was for the Shell Mars B permanent offshore drilling platform. Kauffman Co. designed and installed a fire sprinkler system for the newest living quarters built on the Mars B in 2012.

Protecting your workers and assets with proper fire protection is essential. Contact Kauffman Co. online or call us at (713) 893-1090 today for guidance in choosing the best fire suppression system for your offshore oil drilling rig or platform.