Saudi Aramco

Drilling & Workover Organization

Hydraulic leak led to fire

October 2017
The Alerts are provided to all Drilling and Workover Operations Foremen and Liaisonmen so that we all learn from the
experiences of others. The knowledge of this incident could prevent similar ones from happening in the future.
Saudi Aramco policy requires the information in this Alert to be communicated to all crew members and documented on
morning reports.

What happened?
A hydraulic leak (fine oil mist) onto the engine of the port crane ignited and
caused severe damage to the engine, electronics, and hydraulic system.

Consequences:
• Property damage.
• Unplanned repair and downtime.
Why did it happened?
• Hose not maintained per OEM recommendations.
• External hose defects were overlooked.
What should be done to prevent recurrence?
• Inspect and maintain hoses per OEM recommendations or per company
maintenance instructions.
• Inspect and retighten the fuel and oil system on the engine and oil transferring
system.
• It is recommended to implement the spray shield on the flange/screwed joints
of pipes containing flammable oils.
• Verify ignition sources such as: improper insulation of engine exhaust
manifold and electrical power cable. Implement proper insulation on the
engine exhaust system and power cables.

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use