Hired robotic cameras hunt for Buncefield damage

Ashtead Technology Rentals has supplied two explosion proof remote control crawler cameras to help inspect drains, pipes and ducting at the Buncefield site near Hemel Hempstead

Ashtead Technology Rentals has supplied two explosion proof remote control crawler cameras to help inspect drains, pipes and ducting at the Buncefield site near Hemel Hempstead.

Buncefield has been the subject of an intensive investigation since the devastating events of 11th December 2005 and these have included a thorough inspection of all possible drainage pathways from the site.

The Buncefield Investigation Board published a progress report on 12th May 2006 indicating that the main facts of the cause of the Buncefield incident are now known with reasonable confidence.

In particular the report describes how overfilling of tank 912 led to an escape of fuel (now known to be unleaded petrol); and how this in turn led to the formation of a cloud of flammable vapour that subsequently ignited.

More work is needed to fully understand the explosion mechanism and how it generated such extreme overpressures, thereby causing so much damage.

Adler and Allan provides a national oil spill response service and has been heavily involved with the Buncefield incident.

The company's subsidiary, IWJS has been responsible for the inspection of drainage systems both within the site and in surrounding areas and Commercial Manager Mike Pirrie says that his teams "operated under very difficult conditions and have worked very hard with tight method statements and risk assessments in place.

In addition to the CCTV equipment hired in from Ashtead Technology Rentals, the jetting, suction and tankering equipment had to be suitable for work within an oil terminal".

IWJS has been inspecting and cleaning drains since 1977 and the experience of the company's engineers made it the logical choice for this important project.

Mike Pirrie says that he is often called in when work is 'difficult or unusual'.

Explosion proof cameras were obligatory in Buncefield's zone 1 areas and Mike Pirrie says that he needed the best equipment he could find.

This included a Pearpoint P600 hired from Ashtead Technology Rentals specifically for the project.

However, in order to speed up the investigation, he also contracted Anglia Video Surveys to provide a second investigation team.

At Anglia, Paul Pinkham says that they also hired a P600 from Ashtead Technology Rentals and that they were delighted with the prompt efficient service that Ashtead were able to provide.

The drains at Buncefield vary in size from 100 mm to 1500 mm so push-rods and the P600 enabled a complete assessment so that IWJS would be in a position to present a comprehensive report.

The Buncefield explosion resulted in one of the largest fires that Europe has seen since the Second World War and has been the subject of intense media and public scrutiny.

As a consequence, the investigation project has been a high priority and Mike Pirrie says "Under such circumstances you have to work with people and equipment that you know and trust.

We have worked alongside Anglia Video Surveys for many years and we know that Ashtead Technology Rentals not only supplies first class equipment but also provides excellent support.

On one occasion we experienced some problems with the remote camera, but Ashtead was able to resolve this very quickly and as a result our inspection team was able to resume work without unnecessary delay".

The inspection work finishes at the end of May 2006, following which a report will be prepared and submitted to the oil companies, the Environment Agency, and the HSE.

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