Hazardous Area Classification for Surface Well Testing Equipment

Hazardous area classification or zoning is a method of analyzing and classifying the environment in which explosive gas atmospheres may occur to facilitate the proper selection and installation of equipment to be used safely in that environment. In several oil and gas companies, hazardous area classification is carried out as an integral step of the risk assessment exercise to identify areas where controls over ignition sources are required on the rigs. In this paper, one example of such an exercise is presented. The recommendations from the exercise were used in updating the company’s guidelines on zoning and eventually improving the fire safety of its operations.

The paper discusses these factors and their impact on zoning.