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Because serious fires may occur in the oil and gas well properties under
its protection, the Odessa Fire Department has established a new
Research and Development Center for training fire fighters in these
special problems. This Fire Research and Development Center was located
at the Ector County Coliseum where the arena is located. The Training at
the Center was conducted under the direction of Fire Chief Charlie
Meadows and Training Chief E. W.
Parker. Additional training advice was given by representatives of the
cooperating oil, chemical and service companies. Fire Chief Charlie
Meadows, protects municipal and industrial properties in the vicinity of
the Permian Basin, near Odessa. Since 1949, oil companies drilling wells
have used hydraulic fracturing to get the oil products out of the
ground. Fracturing is a process of injecting a sand and oil mixture
under pressure into an oil deposit deep in the earth, thus separating
crude oil from the heavier elements of the deposit, so that it may be
pumped to the surface. The sand and oil are passed through a blender
which is equipped with centrifugal pumps and a proportioner. This
machine adds the desired amount of sand to each gallon of oil.
Blender pumps produce up to 70 barrels per minute and the danger of fire
is greatly intensified when a hose bursts and "live" oil contacts on
ignition source. According to Chief Meadows, several fatalities and
several millions of dollars worth of fire loss have resulted because of
inadequate firefighting facilities and lack of training in fire fighting
techniques.
To provide the proper training, the Fire Research and
Development Center was developed by the Department in cooperation with a
number of oil and gas producing companies. Typical training was
conducted at the training center recently during and intensive five-day
program. Firefighters and service company personnel had opportunity to
take part in practical combat of fires involving natural gas and
flammable liquids under a variety of fire conditions.
The following methods of extinguishment were used:
1. Plain water Fog (low
pressure)
2. Wet water Fog (low
pressure)
3. Dry Chemical
4. Foam - Powder and
Liquid
5. Fog Foam
6. High Pressure Fog
7. Soaps and Detergents
8. Small Hand
Extinguishers
9. Applicators
10. Aerated Wet Water
This well-planned training
center, was of great interest to many members of the fire service.
For a sketch of the layout of the Fire Research and Development Center,
click on this link. There were seven "problems," each of which was
handled in a number of fire attack tests. Accurate measurements were
made of the time required to control each fire.
As the fires varied in size and complexity, fire
fighters learned the application and limitations of various fire
fighting methods and facilities for various kinds of fire. They also
learned how groups of fire fighters are organized in combating large
scale oil fires as a team.
A description of each training problem is located
below.
Problem #1
Featured a "Christmas Tree" into which natural gas is
supplied through a 2 1/2 inch pipe under 100 to 160 pounds of pressure.
The gas escapes through loose flanges and open ends and is allowed to
"pre-burn" for approximately 45 seconds; then the trainees begin their
fire attack. Altogether, six methods of extinguishment were used on this
particular problem.
Problem #2
This circular pit, 75 feet in diameter, contained 9,000
gallons of crude oil with "no water cushion" Test fires were allowed to
"pre-burn" for 60 seconds.
Problem #3
This consisted of a series of fires in a 15 by 35 foot
pit using good, live crude oil. Test fires were allowed to "pre-burn"
45 seconds.
Problem #4
Pit fires are created in an 18 by 40 foot pit with 1600
gallons of live crude oil. Test fires were allowed to "pre-burn" 45
seconds.
Problem #5
This is a 500 barrel tank in a 36 foot diameter pit
with oil spilling from the tank. Test fires were allowed to "pre-burn"
60 seconds.
Problem #6
A typical "fracture" is created in an oval pit 60 feet
in length and 45 feet in width. Usually six or seven old automobiles and
a 100 barrel fracture oil tank is involved. A 2 inch pipe with 10
perforations runs through the cars at the center of the pit. A "rupture"
is created, allowing 144 gpm to escape under 150 pounds pressure. The
oil sprayed on the cars and the tank, with the pressure supplied by a
pump truck located at a safe distance. Two types of test are conducted:
stopping pressures from the pump truck as soon as the fire began, then
allowed 30 seconds "pre-burn". In the second test, the oil is pumped
continuously and a 60 second "pre-burn" was allowed.
Problem #7
This was a irregularly shaped ditch, approximately 66
feet in overall length. Fire was created with natural gas escaping from
a 2 inch pipe under 160 pounds pressure.
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