Near miss: unplanned deployment of PLET outrigger

What happened?

As a pipeline end termination (PLET) passed through the firing line, a rigger incorrectly cut a webbed ratchet strap (instead of a 6mm rope lanyard) which was restraining the aft PLET outriggers/stabilizer legs in the upright position. After cutting the ratchet strap, the starboard stabilizer leg deployed to approximately 35 degrees from vertical, coming to rest on the pipeline induction heat (PIH), injection moulded poly propylene (IMPP) unit. The port side outrigger released (approximately 60 degrees from vertical) until it came to rest on a nearby handrail.

What went wrong? What were the causes?

• Engineering design: there was no integral mechanical means to lock or hold the outriggers in the vertical position;
• Management of change (MoC): original drawings indicated a wire rope sling arrangement which was later changed to a flat ratchet strap;
• A risk assessment did not identify the potential stored energy hazard posed by the outriggers;
• Communication: a decision was made to introduce 6mm rope to the ratchet strap to allow for easy retrieval subsea with an ROV. This decision was made informally and intermittently conveyed between teams (field engineers and rigging), which introduced a new risk.

What actions were taken? What lessons were learned?

• Reviewed risk management process for the design of subsea structures to make the process more robust and to allow the project team to analyse structure designs and address all failure points during the design phase;
• Ensure changes to designs as supplied by a customer are managed robustly with justification documented for any engineered changes in rigging arrangements – a more robust MoC;
• Thorough review of risk management processes, particularly between teams and in the ‘interface’ between teams; in this case, between the fabrication and project teams;
• Reinforced the importance of clear communication during critical operations, to ensure the message/work scope is delivered in a clear manner and that any risks are fully understood by the crews.