Abstract
Offshore oil and gas production platforms operate in complex and inherently hazardous environments, where process deviations may arise not only from equipment failures or operational errors, but also from emergency conditions induced by external events. This study applies Recursive Operability Analysis (ROA) to an offshore separator, providing a probability assessment of critical events with particular emphasis on emergency operating conditions. Moving beyond traditional HazOp, the analysis evaluates both standard operations and degraded states triggered by emergencies, such as Natural Hazard Triggering Technological Disasters (NaTech) related to power loss. From the analysis, critical top events such as separator overpressure, flooding, and hydrocarbon release were identified, as well as the assessment of the contribution of emergency conditions to their probability of occurrence. Considering emergency-induced deviations significantly enhances hazard identification for offshore separators. This methodology supports improved decision-making for risk mitigation and offers a framework for safety assessments of critical process equipment exposed to extreme external events.
