Unearthing the Origins: A Comprehensive Analysis of Root Causes Behind Major Accidents in India’s Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Sector

Oil and gas industries being hazardous are prone to accidents, fire and explosion. Compared with other sectors, the management of the Oil and Gas industries is usually more concerned about safety. Several initiatives like introducing advanced technologies, structured training of the workforce, and preparation of safe operating procedures are being undertaken. Still, then, accidents do occur endangering life and property. Therefore, careful study of accidents’ root causes would definitely help in preventing possible unsafe conditions. If we can avoid unsafe conditions and introduce suitable mitigation measures, most of the accidents can be prevented and even if accidents occur, their impact can be minimized. Hence, the objective of the present chapter is to study the major accidents that occurred in India's midstream and downstream petroleum sectors and their root cause(s) and other contributing factors. It also categorizes the accident root causes and analyses the most frequent causes of accidents which can be prevented or its risk can be mitigated.