Other
Weather, flooding 8%
3%
Structural damage
8%
Capsizing
8%Collision
9%
Fire / explosion
27%Blowout
37%Figure 1.24: Distribution of initiating events for failures of fixed rigs (Bertrand and Escoffier (1987)).
Failures of Pipelines
Failures of pipelines may lead to spillage of chemical combustions, which may be dangerous
to the environment and the people exposed. Furthermore, such events will also have economic
consequences due to potential production losses and costs of cleaning up the spillage.
Typically, pipeline failures occur due to mechanical failures, operating errors, deterioration
(corrosion, fatigue, wear, etc.), natural hazards and the third-party actions.
In Figure 1.25 the distribution of initiating events for pipeline failures is illustrated based on
Anderson and Misund (1983).
Mechanical failure
11%Operational error
27%Third-party damage
2 7%Corrosion
29%Natural hazard
6%Figure 1.25: Distribution of initiating events for failures of pipelines (Anderson and Misund (1983)).
From Figure 1.25 it is seen that deterioration, operation and third-party actions constitute the
most important contributions to pipeline failures.
Failures in Nuclear Power Plants
For nuclear power plants failure is normally defined as a release of radioactive material
beyond the boundary of the plant, typically set to one mile from the plant. Such releases imply
consequences to the surroundings in terms of health hazards, injuries, fatalities but also
consequences such as inhabitability of the affected area and significant cleaning costs.
Furthermore, rather intangible consequences may occur such as changes to the genetic
material of humans and fauna.