Expert Witness Forensic Engineer Industrial Controls Automation New Orleans
Arthur Zatarain
Project Profile
Industrial Accident: Flash Fire in Pneumatic Control
Panel Operated by Natural Gas

Industrial Accident:  A flash fire occured in a natural gas (methane) operated pneumatic control panel. The incident occurred on a normally unmanned offshore oil and gas platform during a routine maintenance procedure.

Forensic engineering included analysis of the control panel design and fabrication, maintenance service procedures, and static buildup on plastic tubing used in a pneumatic control circuit. The forensic analysis was used to evaluate the likely ignition source that caused a flash fire fueled by natural gas released by pneumatic control devices.



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