Enhancing Safety: A Review of Fire & Gas Detection Technologies and Mapping Methods, Southern North Sea – Shell UK

Company Details

Shell’s Southern North Sea business focuses on producing natural gas from offshore fields under the UK and Dutch North Sea. These fields send gas through pipelines to the Bacton Terminal onshore, where it’s processed for use in UK homes, power stations, and businesses. Shell has operated a network of platforms and pipelines for decades, helping provide about 5% of the UK’s gas supply. Recently, Shell southern north seas core work has been safely running offshore platforms, maintaining equipment, and delivering reliable energy to the UK and Europe.

Project Overview

Shell’s work involves handling oil and gas, which means there are real risks like fires or gas leaks. Shell aims for “Goal Zero” — no harm to people and no leaks. Your project supports this by helping the company understand where fire and gas detectors should be placed or moved to so they can spot dangers early and protect workers, equipment, and the environment.

Good Fire & Gas mapping matters because detectors only work if they are in the right place, and poor placement can lead to dangerous leaks going unnoticed. By improving this, the project directly strengthens Shell’s ability to keep everyone safe.

Project Aim

To review existing Fire & Gas detector coverage at the Bacton Gas Plant, identify gaps or areas for improvement, compare current detector technology with modern alternatives, and develop practical recommendations to support future safety investment decisions.

Why This Project Is Valuable

This project supports Shell’s “Goal Zero” commitment: no harm to people and no leaks. Fire & Gas detectors are only effective if they are correctly placed and use suitable technology. By reviewing detector types, locations, and coverage, this project helps ensure risks are detected early, protecting people, equipment, and the environment while reducing the chance of undetected incidents.

What You Will Do

• Work with the maintenance team to understand how Fire & Gas detectors operate

• Learn about existing Fire & Gas detection technology in use at the site

• Use specialist software to model detector coverage and analyse system performance

• Handle physical detection devices to understand installation and testing

• Review technical specifications with engineering teams

• Study site layouts to understand detector positioning

• Identify gaps in coverage and opportunities for improvement

• Compare current detector technology with modern alternatives

• Support the development of recommendations for improving safety and efficiency

• Help prepare visuals and materials for stakeholder presentations

Science, Engineering and Technical Understanding

• Learning how Fire & Gas detection systems work in industrial environments

• Understanding how detector placement affects safety and performance

• Using software tools to model coverage and analyse system effectiveness

• Reviewing engineering specifications and site layouts

• Applying analytical thinking to identify and reduce safety risks

Planning and Organisation

• Plan tasks related to data gathering, analysis, and modelling

• Organise technical information and findings clearly

• Work with multiple teams including maintenance and engineering

• Track progress against project aims

• Contribute to structured recommendations and reports

Skills Developed

• Project management

• Engineering

• Research

• Self-motivation

Final Outputs

• A technical report reviewing current Fire & Gas detector types, locations, and coverage gaps

• A technology review comparing existing detectors with modern alternatives

• Recommendations for relocating or adding detectors in a selected area of the Bacton Gas Plant

• Estimated benefits such as improved safety, reduced false alarms, or lower maintenance

• A stakeholder-ready presentation outlining findings and recommended next steps

Reflection and Evaluation

Your report can include:

• What you learned about Fire & Gas detection systems

• How detector technology and placement affect safety

• Key gaps or risks identified

• How confident you are in the recommendations and why

• What further work would be required before implementation

https://www.shell.co.uk/about-us/what-we-do/oil-and-gas/bacton-gas-plant.html

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