Accident Lesson Card · Sonat Exploration Catastrophic Vessel Overpressurization

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CSB Investigation Report No. 1998-002-I-LA 1998 Safety Safety

Sonat Exploration Catastrophic Vessel Overpressurization

Sonat Exploration Co., Temple 22-1 Common Point Separation Facility, Pitkin, Louisiana

4Fatalities

0Injuries

Overpressure ruptureMechanism code STD

⌗Failure Mode · ISO 14224 Mapping

Damage mechanism (recorded in KB)

Overpressure ruptureSTD

ISO functional code (as recorded)

ISO 14224:2016 functional failure code

STD · Structural failure

ISO STD — Structural failure.

1What Happened

Oil-gas separation vessel without overpressure protection (relief isolated/missing); hydraulic overpressure during startup caused catastrophic rupture

2Root Cause

Vessel lacked effective overpressure protection and startup procedure was deficient; liquid overfill overpressurized and ruptured the vessel — 4 nearby workers killed instantly

3Reliability Lessons (from investigation root cause)

The 'Root Cause' above is the core lesson of this accident; not split further.

4Associated Failure Mechanisms (Keywords)

separator overpressure rupture missing relief protection startup oil-gas separation

About the Failure-Mode Code (click to expand)

The recorded code STD is an ISO 14224:2016 functional failure code (describes what the equipment failed to do). The damage mechanism (how it failed) is shown in the Mapping block above. The two are distinct dimensions in ISO 14224.

5Evidence Source (transparent)

Authority：U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB)
Official Report：www.csb.gov ↗
Data Verification：verified_url_csb_case_page_curl200

↗Related Failure Modes · Traceability

Filter-element Blockage -> Pressure-drop Increase fmFilter Element Rupture -> Filtration Failure fm_2Demister Failure -> Droplet Penetration fm_3Internal Corrosion fm_4Quick-opening Blind Flange Seal Failure fm_5Valve Blockage / Internal Leak fm_6Impulse Line Blockage fm_7Sensor Drift fm_8Filter-element Blockage -> Pressure-drop Increase fmFilter Element Rupture -> Filtration Failure fm_2Demister Failure -> Droplet Penetration fm_3Internal Corrosion fm_4Quick-opening Blind Flange Seal Failure fm_5Valve Blockage / Internal Leak fm_6Impulse Line Blockage fm_7Sensor Drift fm_8

Report No. 1998-002-I-LA · Data from CSB public investigation conclusions, compiled by Reliability AI, for reliability demonstration purposes only. This case is derived from public incident investigation reports for learning purposes only. AIM does not endorse or guarantee its accuracy.