Establishing the Barrier Management System for South Pars Offshore Platforms

The correct functionality of safety systems along with updating and fixing the safety barriers for offshore platforms are the most important components of safe and sustainable production in the offshore industry. Due to considerable development of process industry, specifically South Pars offshore platforms which have an important role in the economy of Iran, a thorough and comprehensive review of all defects and problems of the protective systems and fixing them are very important.
This applied study has been done at 19 South Pars platforms in 2017. To check the status of the protective, a matrix containing 16 systems and safety equipment in two main operating and HSE groups were designed. . The status of platforms were determined (critical, undesirable and safety of barriers) considering the protective systems. Colors have also been used to better illustrate the barrier status.
For instance, the protective barrier status of the ESD at one of platforms in the maintenance department of the operational unit shows that the protective barrier status is including 6safety barriers, 13 undesirable barriers, and one critical barrier. The total status of the platforms during one year has been 12 critical cases, 103 undesirable cases and 45 safety cases at the operational unit.
This study was based on extensive studies of barrier management focusing on systems and the safety equipment of offshore platforms. This study, with emphasis on identifying and tracking deficiencies in protective systems, has been implemented to increase the reliability of performance, in order to examine the status of safety systems and, if necessary, take measures to address critical and undesirable defects.