Oil & Gas

Gexcon specializes in industrial explosion risk, including for the oil and gas sector. For over 40 years, we have performed dedicated experimental research in the field of explosion safety, which has led to the development of the world-leading CFD-software FLACS-CFD for explosion and dispersion modelling.

We offer highly qualified products and services in the area of offshore and onshore dispersion, explosion and explosion safety for upstream, midstream and downstream segments, which include:

advanced engineering software for consequence and risk assessments
incident investigations
explosion and fire risk and safety studies
ventilation and dispersion studies
advanced concept & FEED phase design
explosion and jet fire testing for mechanical equipment
research and development
process safety and risk management courses, including gas explosion, hazardous area classifications, and many more

Contact us for more information on our solutions for the Oil and Gas sector

Learn more about safety and risk management in the Oil & Gas sector

blog

9th March 2022

How to simulate the tank overfilling phenomenon

This blog explains explain how a tank overfilling phenomenon can lead to the generation of a very flammable vapour cloud, and how this phenomenon can be simulated in Gexcon’s consequence modelling software EFFECTS.

News

22nd February 2022

Gexcon to present at the 2022 Spring Meeting and 18th Global Congress on Process Safety

Gexcon is pleased to announce that we will be presenting and exhibiting at this year’s AIChE Spring Meeting and 18th GCPS.

Event Uncategorized Global

blog

5th January 2022

How to do a Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA)

This article discusses the main steps required to perform a QRA to evaluate all potential loss of containment scenarios involving the release of dangerous chemical substances in process, chemical and petrochemical facilities.

blog

24th November 2021

Fire and explosion hazards: What to expect if there is a leak

This article will explain the importance of assessing the consequences of a potential release of a hazardous chemical substance and introduce you to the different dangerous phenomena that can occur upon such a loss of containment scenario.

blog

17th November 2021

How to simulate tank pit fires in EFFECTS

Heat radiation from a pool fire causes a heat flux with the potential to cause damage to objects in the surrounding area.

That is why it is highly relevant to assess the consequences of such a scenario to help safety professionals devise prevention and mitigation measures so that accidental releases can either be prevented or their consequences minimized.

blog

25th February 2021

Learnings from the Buncefield oil storage depot explosion: The third key question

To mark the 15th anniversary of the Buncefield Storage Oil Storage Depot explosion which injured 40 people in 2005, we reflect on the third of three key questions raised by the Health and Safety Executive at the time of the criminal prosecution.

blog

18th February 2021

Learnings from the Buncefield oil storage depot explosion: The second key question

On the 15th anniversary of the Buncefield Oil Storage Depot Explosion, we reflect on the second of three key questions raised by the Health and Safety Executive at the time of the criminal prosecution.

blog

16th February 2021

Learnings from the Buncefield oil storage depot explosion: The first key question

As we reflect on the 15th anniversary of the Buncefield Oil Storage Depot explosion which injured 40 people in 2005, we look at the first of three key questions raised by the Health and Safety Executive at the time of the criminal prosecution.

Course

Explosion Science

Gexcon has developed a unique training course for obtaining a full understanding of the phenomenon of explosions, including consequences, prevention techniques and current regulatory requirements for a safe and compliant working environment. The course covers gas and dust explosion theory, DSEAR (Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations) and ATEX regulations, ignition theory, hazardous area classification, risk assessment and protection concepts….

Course

Gas Explosion Hazards Course

Gas explosions are unfortunately still common in the process industry and can lead to injuries, fatalities, property damage, business interruption and environmental pollution. In fact, gas explosions are the biggest contributor to losses in the hydrocarbon industry. It is therefore of paramount importance to reduce the risks when handling flammable gases and vapours. This course is looking into gas…

Course

Hazardous Area Classification

Hazardous area classification is an important first step towards reducing the likelihood of ignition of clouds of flammable gas, vapour, and/ or dust. Mechanical and electrical equipment used inside a classified area shall be approved for use in that area. The classification concerns areas both inside and outside process equipment and is closely related to release and dispersion phenomena. Ventilation…

Course

Self-Declaration of Mechanical Equipment to be Used in Flammable Atmospheres

The ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU demands that electrical and mechanical equipment to be used in potentially explosive areas is approved for that purpose. This approval can be performed by the manufacturers themselves if the equipment is to be used in zone 2 and 22 for electrical and mechanical equipment, and in zone 1 and 2 and 21 and 22 considering mechanical

Course

Process Safety Management

In this training course, participants will learn the fundamentals of Process Safety Management, and the main standard frameworks for it.

Case Study

Toxic and flammable gas cloud detectors layout optimization using CFD

The quantity and positioning of hydrocarbon and toxic gas detectors is a crucial factor for the effectiveness of the detection process.

The total number and placement of detectors should be optimized for maximum effectiveness.

News

9th March 2020

Gexcon to Present at the 2020 AIChE Spring Meeting and 16th Global Conference on Process Safety

Important Notice Due to the ongoing global public health concerns (COVID-19), we received a notification that the AIChE Spring Meeting & 16th Global Congress on Process Safety (GCPS) will be rescheduled to August 16 – 20, 2020, at the Hilton Americas and

Event Uncategorized Global US

Our services that support the Oil & Gas sector

Process Hazard Analysis (PHA)

Most industries work with potentially hazardous materials, either they are in the form of gases, liquids, or dust. Knowing how these materials are potentially harmful, it is an obligation for companies working with such materials to identify and evaluate the dangers involved.

Regulatory Compliance

While the primary focus of any process safety plan should be to drive the risk to a level which is ‘As Low As Reasonably Practicable’ (ALARP) to protect people, the environment and business there are several regulatory requirements that must also be met to drive continual improvement.

Incident investigation and litigation support

Gexcon can help with all aspects of incident investigations, from coordinating the investigation to conducting root cause analysis, providing recommendations, implementing strategies to prevent further incidents from occurring, and acting as expert witnesses in ongoing investigations.

Consequence and risk modelling studies

Companies handling flammable and/or toxic materials are exposed to hazards during storage, transporting, and processing. As such, it is crucial to understand the consequences of a potential loss of containment of a hazardous event when performing a risk assessment.

Process safety and risk management

Process safety and risk management in process facilities involve the systematic identification, assessment, and mitigation of risks associated with the operation of industrial processes.

Expert training

One of our core objectives is to improve the knowledge of others to ensure that lessons are learned from such incidents. Gexcon provides training across all levels to raise the competence of your staff from basic awareness training through to in-depth courses.

Testing Facilities

Gexcon conducts tailored chemical properties and equipment material testing at our fire and explosion testing facilities. These facilities are categorised according to the size of the testing: small, medium and large-scale testing facilities. Small-scale testing facilities Most small-scale and laboratory-scale tests are performed at Gexcon’s test laboratory facilities at Fantoft near Bergen, Norway. A wide range of gas and dust…

Testing of Passive Fire Protection

The manufacturers of PFP products need to ensure their products fulfil the required fire-resistant performance. Therefore, PFP products need to be verified through fire testing and certified by a third-party inspector.

Gas, Vapour and Liquid Explosion Properties Testing

The handling of gases, liquids and selected substances may constitute risks for explosions. Knowing the properties related to the risk of these materials, such as the ignition and explosion characteristics, is therefore essential. By being aware of the properties of materials handled in your plant or used in your products, it allows the necessary safety precautions to be taken to…

Explosion Mitigation System Testing

Equipment and protective systems to be used in potentially explosive atmospheres must fulfill the essential health and safety requirements as described in the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU.

Ignition Hazard Assessment for mechanical equipment and protective systems

Equipment and protective systems used in explosive atmospheres shall be assessed according to their ability to prevent them from becoming ignition sources and their ability to protect against the consequence of an explosion.

Testing for Obtaining Transportation Classification

During the transportation of certain materials, several hazardous situations can occur. One of them is gas development due to the fact that transported goods may come into contact with water.

Research Projects

Gexcon has participated in various research projects throughout the years. Our expertise is particularly relevant in estimating and mitigating the consequences of major industrial accidents. Recent initiatives have focused on hazards associated with emerging technologies for conventional and renewable energy production, including hydrogen safety, biofuels, solar panel production, vapour cloud explosions (VCE), rapid phase transitions (RPT), production, storage and use…

Software that is used within the Oil & Gas sector

FLACS-CFD

Our powerful, computational fluid dynamics software simulates the dispersion of hazardous materials, fire and explosion with precise accuracy for in-depth safety studies.

With exceptional near field modelling, it accounts for local geometrical effects of real scenarios via a user-friendly and flexible interface.

FLACS-CFD represents more than 40 years of modelling and validation work and is the number one software modelling tool for complex, high hazard environments….

EFFECTS

A cost-effective, advanced modelling tool to analyse the effects and consequences of the accidental release of dangerous chemicals.

EFFECTS is a user-friendly tool that supports both occasional and expert users to deliver exceptional, far field analysis.

Based on the Yellow Book and continuously expanded over the last 35 years, it provides safety professionals with accurate results in seconds.

RISKCURVES

Our comprehensive QRA tool takes multiple accident scenarios and quantifies the total risk to human life and vital assets.

It is used for the evaluation of high risk activities, urban planning and to comply with regulatory and corporate criteria.

Providing an open and flexible QRA environment, RISKCURVES is based on the Purple Book and can be used in conjunction with Gexcon’s consequence modelling tools….

Shell FRED

Shell FRED is a fire, release, explosion and dispersion consequence modelling tool developed by Shell and available exclusively through Gexcon.

As an owner-operator tool, it has been developed by engineers who understand at first-hand the need for accurate results and actionable outputs. It answers the questions that operators need to design, develop and maintain safe operations.

Shell Shepherd

Shell Shepherd is Shell’s Quantitative Risk Assessment tool for onshore facilities and operations.

It allows fast and reliable predictions of risks related to incidents such as the release of flammable or toxic fluid, fires, and explosions. It provides users with an at-a-glance overview of the risk picture for the facility, activity or project.

Shell PIPA

Shell PIPA quickly and easily provides fire chiefs, response teams, and plant operators with hazard consequence assessment information, to assist them in the development of emergency response plans and the specification of fire protection requirements.

Easy and simple to use, the software has a variety of outputs from simple graphs to full emergency response plans.

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