Identification of Buffer Zone Based on Consequence Analysis in H₂S Removal Unit

Abstract The oil and gas industry has high risks, especially related to process accidents such as gas releases, fires, and explosions. The consequences of these accidents can include death, injury, environmental damage, property damage, loss of company reputation, and financial loss. The H 2 S removal unit is one that has a high potential for process accidents. Therefore, prevention and mitigation measures, such as the implementation of buffer zones, are needed to improve safety. The purpose of this study is to identify buffer zones based on the consequence analysis of gas release, fire, and explosion in the H 2 S removal unit and establish areas that are considered safe from the hazards of gas release, fire, and explosion. This research uses the buffer zone identification method by reviewing the risks in the H 2 S removal unit, identifying the most likely and fatal accident scenarios, and analyzing the consequences of gas release, fire, and explosion using Shell FRED software. The variables of this study include independent variables in the form of actual operating conditions and feed composition data on the H 2 S removal unit and meteorological data. The dependent variable is the radius or range of the buffer zone. This analysis resulted in the identification of four hazard zones based on consequences: red zone for gas release (H 2 S dispersion), orange zone for explosion (vapor cloud explosion), yellow zone for flash fire, and green zone for jet fire. The buffer zone for gas release (H 2 S dispersion) is above 17.1 m, for explosion (vapor cloud explosion) above 17.8 m, for flash fire above 40.84 m, and jet fire above 60.79 m. The establishment of this buffer zone is expected to be a hazard mitigation when there is a gas release, fire, and explosion in the H 2 S removal unit.