The history
Studies into offshore LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) production have been conducted since the early 1970s, but it was only in the mid 1990s that significant research backed by experimental development began.
In 1997, Mobil developed a FLNG (Floating Liquified Natural Gas) production concept based on a large, square structure with a moon-pool, commonly known as “The Doughnut”. In 1999, a major study was commissioned as a joint project by Chevron Corporation and several other oil and gas companies. This was closely followed by the so-called ‘Azure’ research project, conducted by the European Union and several oil and gas companies.
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Working in confined spaces is difficult at the best of times. Operators often have to wear full PPE (personal protective equipment), they’re usually harnessed and may be carrying tools and equipment to complete the task in hand (e.g. welding). The last thing a worker in this environment needs to worry about is his or her gas detector. It should be designed specifically for confined space entry (CSE) applications, be unobtrusive and have a clear display that is easy to see at a glance.
When Crowcon carried out intensive market research to find out what features should be included in an ‘ideal’ CSE gas detector, the following five features came up time and again:
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As part of the BBC’s landmark ‘Human Planet’ series where a BBC film crew explores mankind’s relationship with nature in the world today; an episode on volcanoes featured a Crowcon Tetra 3 portable gas detector. Filming sulphur miners in the crater of an active volcano in Indonesia, they used the Tetra 3 to warn them of dangerous levels of hydrogen sulphide (H2S).
Sulphur is used in making lots of things we use in everyday life like matches and white sugar. On this particular volcano, the sulphur is collected by hand where the miners’ only protective equipment is a damp cloth to cover their mouth and nose, offering no protection from the poisonous clouds of hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide that bellows from the volcano. These gases are so poisonous and concentrated that over 70 men have been killed in the last 40 years; while many others still bare the scars of poisoned lungs, burnt eyes and throats, burnt skin and even dissolving teeth.
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The consumption of wine and beer across the world has risen in recent years meaning the technologies and methods used in the production processes are now developing and evolving to keep up with the growing demand.
Both industries have a greater awareness of the hazards that can be present when utilising the technologies and methods used in wine and beer production, which can pose unique problems to workers who require protection from dangerous atmospheres. With this in mind, there is an increasing recognition for the need of reliable gas detection and monitoring of gas concentrations due to the volume and number of gases involved.
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