ACCIDENTAL GENERATION OF GAS CLOUDS ON OFFSHORE PROCESS INSTALLATIONS

This paper considers the dispersion of gas releases within congested s emi-confined volumes, such as offshore process installations. The indi vidual phenomena that influence the dispersion, namely the background ventilation rate, the rate of release of gas, the near-field jet behav iour and the interaction of jets with solid surfaces such as walls, ar e considered separately. Topics requiring more work are identified. Th e composite problem of dispersion in a semi-confined obstructed volume is then addressed. A range of approaches are discussed and examples a re given of calculations made using one approach. These highlight some of the more important features which control the dispersion of gas. T he paper ends with a discussion indicating the need for more experimen tal data at a larger scale.