Regional Safety Alerts

Safety Alerts are tools used by BSEE to inform the offshore oil and gas industry of the circumstances surrounding an incident or a near miss. They also contain recommendations that should help prevent the recurrence of such an incident on the OCS. 

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Arctic Safety Alerts 
Number  Title  Effective Date 

Gulf of Mexico Safety Alerts 
Number  Title  Effective Date 
302 Pressure beneath a Surface Bridge Plug Blows Work String out of Well  07/02/2012
301

Fall/Fatality during P&A/Platform Abandonment: Supervision, Operational, Equipment, and Organization Errors 

04/13/2012
300 Unplanned Emergency Disconnect Sequence (EDS) of the Lower Marine Riser Package  03/09/2012
299 Failure to Properly Bleed Tubing Hanger Void Results in Injury  01/31/2012
298 Electric Line Failure from Corrosion Results in Injury  12/30/2011
297

Potable Water Pressure Tank Bladder Rupture 

09/29/2011
296 Catastropic Failures in Mooring Systems Possibly Put Floating Structures at Risk  05/12/2011
295 Compressor Fire Resulting from Separated Fuel Line Coupling  04/06/2011
294

Blowout Preventer Automatic Mode (Deadman) Activation 

04/14/2011
293

Platform RTU Battery Charger Fire 

03/21/2011
292

Synthetic Base Mud (SBM) Inadvertently Discharged Overboard 

02/22/2011
291 

Cutting into Process Piping Results in Pollution Event 

01/10/2011 
290 

Plugged Flame Arrestor Results in Rupture of Oil Storage Tanks 

10/14/2010 
289 

Failure to Follow Lock-Out/Tag-Out Procedures Results in Gas Release 

09/27/2010 
288 

Pipe Handling Operations Result in Fatality 

07/07/2010 
287 

Hot Bolting Fire 

06/06/2010 
286 

Fire Inside AC Evaporator Enclosure 

12/15/2009 
285 

Compressor Starter Exhaust Flash Fire 

12/15/2009 
284 

Diverter Flow Event 

12/15/2009 
283 

Crane Shock-Loading resulting from Casing Jack’s Hydraulic Hose Fitting Failure 

12/07/2009 
282 

Job Safety Analysis (JSA) 

07/23/2009 
281 

Drilling Rig Air-Operated Hoist Operation Fatality 

07/23/2009 
280 

Worker Fatally Struck by Moving Pipe During Pipelay Operations 

05/13/2009 
279 

Nylon Sling Failure 

04/14/2009 
278 

One Killed when Oil Pollution Pan Falls 

04/07/2009 
277 

Mechanical Motion Equipment Injuries 

03/11/2009 
276 

Job Safety Analysis (JSA) 

02/17/2009 
275 

Wellhead Damage Caused by Hurricane 

01/28/2009 
274 

Wireline BOP and Lubricator Ejection into GOM 

12/08/2008 
273 

Drilling Rig Generator Electrical Equipment Fire 

10/23/2008 
272 

Corroded Ring Gasket Causes Loss of Well Control 

11/12/2008 
271 

Motor Vessel to Platform Boat Landing Transfer Fatality 

10/22/2008 
270 

Dresser-Rand D-VIP Compressor Cylinder Head Replacement for Acorn Nut Part Number TEVM0001 

10/15/2008 
269 

Loss of Well Control from Sustained Casing Pressure 

10/08/2008 
268 

Traveling Block Assembly Strikes Crown Block 

10/02/2008 
267 

Post-Hurricane Recovery, Repair and Construction Efforts 

09/23/2008 
266 

Trouble Shooting Production Platform Upset Problems 

09/23/2008 
265 

Pipeline Ruptures – 870 Barrels of Crude Oil Spilled 

07/09/2008 
264 

Dynamic Pipeline Riser Inspection, Maintenance, and Monitoring Records on OCS Floating Facilities 

07/07/2008 
263 

Pipeline Pump Fire 

05/05/2008 
262 

Sudden Crane Boom Crash Injures One 

04/30/2008 
261 

Manually Operated Drains 

04/30/2008 
260 

Guide Post Fails Catastrophically, Causes Fatality 

04/24/2008 
259 

Catastrophic Failures in Mooring Systems Possibly Put Floating Structures at Risk 

01/16/2008 
258 

Falling Debris Causes Injury 

01/16/2008 
257 

Three Crane Accidents Caused by Improper Rigging 

01/10/2008 
256 

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning 

01/02/2008 
255 

Compressor Explosion 

11/24/2007 
254 

Failing Drill Pipe  Causes Fatality 

09/26/2007
253 

Plug and Abandonment of Non-producing Wells and Facilities 

08/01/2007
252 

Retrieving Storm Packers 

07/30/2007 
251 

Collapse of Pipe Supporting Coil Tubing Causes Drowning 

07/11/2007 
250 

Plug and Abandonment Operations Lead to Fatality and Brief Loss of Well Control 

06/12/2007 
249 

Training 

02/13/2007 
248 

Stainless Steel Tubing-Related Fires 

12/28/2006 
247 

Fatality on Storm-Damaged Platform 

12/11/2006 
246 Stainless Steel Tubing-Related Fires  12/06/2006
245 

Serious Fire Caused by Methanol Sprayed from Duct-Tape Repaired Hose 

11/09/2006 
244 

Two Injured in Separate Incidents from Lack of Fall Protection and Improper Supervision 

11/07/2006 
243 

Unplanned Riser Disconnect Results in Spill 

09/06/2006 
242 

2006 Fatalities 

08/23/2006 
241 

Shallow-Gas Blowout and Rig Evacuation 

07/06/2006 
240 

Conducting Activities In the Vicinity of Offshore Pipelines 

06/05/2006 
239 

Casing Bleed-down into Plastic Drum Results in Fire on Platform 

03/02/2006 
238 

Floorhand Crushed During a Through-Rotary Man-Riding Operation 

03/01/2006 
237

Post-Hurricane Construction Fatality and Other Incidents 

02/14/2006
236

Fatality Caused by Snagged Stabbing Board 

02/03/2006
235

Multiple Cable Transit Failures 

12/15/2005
234 

Potential Obstructions to Mariners and Offshore Operators(amends Safety Alert No. 233) 

12/09/2005 
233

Potential Obstructions to Mariners and Offshore Operators  

11/30/2005
232

Tropical Storm Preparedness 

06/06/2005
231

Human Engineering Factors Result in Increasing Number of Riser Disconnects 

05/31/2005
230

Equipment Failure on Deepwater Rig While Running Casing in Open Waters 

05/03/2005
229

Inadequate Job Planning Results in Atmospheric Release of Gas  

04/04/2005
228

Vent Gas Migrates Through Cable Entrance Hole, Motor Control Center Explodes 

03/24/2005
227

Explosion and Fire on Platform Caused by Improper Welding and Burning Practice  

03/08/2005
226

Pressure Rise to Surface after Cementing Leads to Burst Casing and Loss of Control 

01/28/2005
225 

Fatality on Rig Caused by Snagged Barricade  

01/14/2005
224 

Erroneous Activation of Dump Valve Causes Loss of 165 bbls of Oil-BasedMud 

12/29/2004
223 

Loss of Well Control 

11/29/2004
222 

Riser Flexible Joints  

07/14/2004
221 

Hanger Failure and Ejection Lead to Well Control Incident 

06/24/2004
220 

Lifting Fatality 

06/17/2004
219 

Loss of Well Control While Drilling Surface Hole 

02/09/2004
218 

Fall Results in Fatality 

01/09/2004
217 

Loss of Control Associated with Setting Surface Casing  

12/04/2003
216 

Loss of Well Control: Annular Flow After Cementing  

10/22/2003
215 

Diving Fatality 

10/06/2003
214 

Flash Fire and Explosion from Inadequately Vented Production Vessel 

07/15/2003
213 

Marine Riser Failure  

06/11/2003
212 

Shallow Gas Blowout and Rig Evacuation  

02/24/2003
211 

Pipeline Safety Joints  

02/24/2003
210 

Blowout After Cementing Surface Casing 

01/08/2003
209 

Crane Accident on the Norwegian OCS  

12/20/2002
208 

Loss of Well Control 

12/19/2002
207 

Rental Crane Bracing Failure Results in Fatality 

12/18/2002
206 

Fall Through V-Door Opening Results in Fatality 

12/09/2002
205 

Blowout Results in Fatality and Injuries  

10/31/2002
204 

Pipe Rack Finger Failure Results in Fatality and Injury  

09/20/2002
203 

Job Safety Analysis (JSA) 

08/22/2002
202 

Temporary Crane Support Failure - Fatality 

06/16/2002
201 

Viton "O" - Rings Failure  

06/16/2002
200

Subsea Equipment Failure to Deepwater GOM Pollution  

05/29/2002
199

Blowout and Fire  

11/15/2001
198

Drilling Accident Results in Fatality  

11/08/2001
197

Environmental Design Criteria 

08/03/2001
196

Cranes 

07/23/2001
195

Riser Skate/Casing Handling Carts 

06/01/2001
194

Guardrails 

04/30/2001
193

Fall Results in Fatality 

02/28/2001
192
revised

Water Survival Craft 

01/29/2001
191

Drillship Draw Works Failure 

12/02/2000
190

Fall Results in Fatality 

09/22/2000
189

Guardrails 

07/19/2000
188

Fire with Fatality and Injury 

05/02/2000
187

Coiled Tubing Incidents 

04/10/2000
186

Accidental Disconnect of Marine Drilling Risers 

03/10/2000
185

Installation and Inspection of Concrete Mats  

11/22/99
184

Fire with Fatality and Injuries 

11/19/99
183

Electrical Shock Hazard 

11/16/99
182

Post-Hurricane Startup Procedures Fail to Identify Pipeline Damage Resulting in Oil Spill  

10/19/99
181

Rig Collapse with Fatalities and Injuries  

04/28/99
180

Deepwater Gulf of Mexico OCS Currents 

03/04/99
179

Drilling Accident Results in One Fatality  

02/24/99
178

Trawl Net Snags Pipeline, Resulting in Oil Spill  

02/23/99
177

Casing Blowdown Accident and Fatality  

02/09/99
176

Mud Logging Unit Explosion and Fire 

07/22/98
175

List of Safety Alerts Concerning Crane Accidents  

07/20/98
174

Accumulation of Gas in Living Quarters Results in Explosion, Fire, and Injuries 

11/26/97
173

Pig Launcher Explosion Results in Two Fatalities 

08/28/97
172

Personnel Overexposed to Carbon Monoxide  

08/27/97
171

List of Safety Alerts and Accident Investigation Reports Concerning Blowouts 

08/27/97
170

Stabbing Board Fatality and Injury 

11/06/96
169

Personnel Falls Result in Three Fatalities  

11/04/96
168

Twisted Valve Stem and Ineffective Level Safety High Result in Oil Spill  

08/19/96
167

Retrieval of Back-Pressure Valve Results in Loss of Well Control   

06/17/96
166

Lifting of Personnel by Crane Proves Fatal  

06/11/96
165

Shallow Gas Flows While Cementing Surface Casing  

04/03/95
164

Attempt to Stand Gravel Pack Assembly in Derrick Proves Fatal  

12/16/94
163

Installation of Elevator Links (Bails)  

12/16/94
162

Accidents on the OCS Involving Drilling Rigs, Derrick Barges, Pipeline Lay Barges, and Anchor-handling Vessels 

03/09/94
161

Production Platform Gas Discharge Points 

02/02/93
160

Exposed Subsea Valve Assemblies Create Hazards  

06/18/91
159

Welder Burned in Pipeline Accident 

08/23/90
158

Water-treating Facility Upset Leads to Fire on Production Platform 

08/23/90
157

Wireline Accident Involving the Formation of an Ice Plug in the Lubricator 

07/19/89
156

Fire on the Water Beneath Facilities  

07/06/88
155

Fire on Glycol Reboiler Due to Carry-over and Uninsulated Compressor Exhaust 

06/14/88
154

Flash Fire During Portable Well Testing Operations  

03/18/88
153

Fire Caused by Cutting Torch Used to Cut Tubing  

02/12/88
152

Circulating with Natural Gas Through Coil Tubing  

06/19/87
151

Explosion of Accumulated Gas in the Engine Room of a Supply Vessel Servicing an Offshore Facility 

02/12/87
150

Fire Occurs During Cutting Operation to Install Casing Head 

07/24/86
149

Compressor Blowdown Leads to Fire  

05/13/86
148

Pipe Nipple Fatigue and Inadequate Insulation Cause Compressor Fire  

03/27/86
147

Fire from Generator Engine Exhaust Leak Igniting Fiberglass Panel  

03/17/86
146

Fire During Production Equipment Dismantling Operations  

02/21/86
145

Tubing String Equipment Failure During a Plug and Abandonment Operation 

08/22/85
144

Uncontrolled Shallow Gas Flow 

01/23/86
143

Compressor Fire During Maintenance Operation  

08/15/85
142

Pollution Because of Failure of Level Safety High Sensor and Level Controller  

06/20/85
141

Fire in Rental Generator on Production Platform 

06/20/85
140

Uncontrolled Well Flow and Pollution During Workover Operations 

06/18/85
139

Pollution from Production Operations Due to Rupture Disc Failure 

05/29/85
138

Fire and Injury During Welding Operations in Derrick  

05/29/85
137

Personal Injury During Well Test  

03/21/85
136

Air Volume Tank Explosion 

02/11/85
135

Pollution from Diesel Fuel Tank Transfer 

02/13/85
134

Pipeline Pump Fire 

02/08/85
133

Degreaser Fire 

02/13/85
132

Supply Gas Fire 

02/13/85
131

Pollution 

07/20/84
130

Fire 

07/06/84
129

Welding Explosion and Injury 

06/15/84
128

Platform Fire 

07/31/84
127

Injury While Retesting Blowout Preventers  

06/15/84
126

Welding/Burning Accidents 

03/27/84
125

Crane Accidents 

03/27/84
124

Pedestal Crane Boom Wire Rope Failure 

03/27/84
123

Shallow Gas Blowout  

01/05/84
122

Injury Due to Failure to Coordinate Activities 

12/15/83
121

Injury During Cementing Operations 

11/28/83
120

Fire During Turbine Compressor Start-up  

10/03/83
119

Successful Diverter System Operation to Control Shallow Gas Flow  

10/03/83
118

Prohibited Use of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)  

10/03/83
117

Fatality While Testing Gas Turbine Meter 

10/03/83
116

Fire While Starting Diesel Engine with Gas-driven Engine  

08/08/83
115

Fire  

07/18/83
114

Fire 

07/18/83
113

Fire 

07/18/83
112

Fire 

05/16/83
111

Blowout and Fire 

05/13/83
110

Fire 

03/24/83
109

Fire  

03/24/83
108

Explosion and Fire  

12/17/82
107

Fire 

06/08/82
106

Blowout  

08/28/81
105

Welding Accident 

07/28/81
104

Crane Accident 

07/28/81
103

Blowout 

06/30/81
102

Fire 

06/08/81
101

Explosion  

06/08/81
100

Explosion -- Fire 

03/30/81
99

Construction Accident -- Fatality 

03/05/81
98

Flash Fire  

06/20/80
97

Welding -- Fire 

06/22/80
96

Crane Accident  

06/20/80
95

Crane Accident -- Fatality 

01/22/80
94

Pig Trap Ruptures 

01/18/80
93

Flowline Parts -- Injury 

12/29/79
92

Testing of Subsurface Safety Valves 

12/26/79
91

Fall -- Fatality 

12/10/79
90

Hose Ruptures -- Fatality 

12/05/79
89

Blowout and Fire -- 8 Fatalities  

11/15/79
88

Fire -- Men Burned 

09/10/79
87

Oil Spill 

07/26/79
86

Fatality  

07/25/79
85

Fire -- Two Fatalities 

05/23/79
84

Fatality 

03/16/79
83

Fire -- Oil Sprays from Valve 

03/09/79
82

Compressor Fires 

12/15/78
81

Blowout 

12/01/78
80

Gas Fire -- Extensive Platform Damage  

11/17/78
79

Fatality and Injury -- Crane Accident 

11/08/78
78

Explosion and Fire 

10/27/78
77

Fire -- Generator Building  

10/18/78
76

Injury -- Glass Liquid Level Gauge Ruptures  

10/06/78
75

Helicopter Crashes -- 17 Fatalities  

09/20/78
74

Oil Spill -- Transfer Hose (A Reissuance)  

09/05/78
73

Gas Leak from Subsea BOP Stack While Circulating Out Kick  

09/05/78
72

Explosion -- Fire 

08/21/78
71

Fire -- Boiler Ignited  

08/02/78
70

Blowout During Workover  

06/12/78
69

Blowout -- Platform Loss 

12/06/77
68

Explosion 

11/09/77
67

Fatality 

10/26/77
66

Blowouts from Surface Casing -- Conductor Casing Annulus 

09/26/77
65

Fatality -- Crane Accident  

06/13/77
64

Uncontrolled Gas Flow 

05/05/77
63

Oil Spill -- Fuel Transfer Hose Broke  

05/04/77
62

Snubbing Operations Fire -- Man Burned 

04/15/77
61

Explosion -- Fire 

04/12/77
60

Gas Starter Fire -- Man Burned  

03/21/77
59

Compressor Explosion  

03/11/77
58

Fatality -- Stabbing Board Falls 

03/11/77
57

Fatality -- Crane Accident 

03/11/77
56

Fire -- Glycol Ignited 

02/10/77
55

Oil Spill --Safety Equipment Failure 

01/21/77
54

Welding Fire 

01/13/77
53

Compressor Explosion 

01/13/77
52

Fire -- Fuel Hose Ruptured  

11/16/76
51

Fatality -- Falling Object 

11/05/76
50

Flash Fire -- Man Burned  

11/05/76
49

Oil Spill -- Safety Equipment Failure 

09/01/76
48

Flash Fire -- Men Burned 

07/09/76
47

Fatality -- Man Struck by Falling Object  

07/09/76
46

Fire -- Lube Oil on Engine Exhaust 

07/09/76
45

Tubing Blows Out of Well -- Men Injured 

06/23/76
44

Man Falls -- Fatality 

06/21/76
43

Shallow Gas Blowout  

06/21/76
42

Hydraulic Pump Reservoir Ruptures -- Minor Injury 

05/25/76
41

Fatality  

05/03/76
40

Beam Falls -- Man Injured 

04/20/76
39

Fire -- Hydraulic Hose Ruptures 

03/23/76
38

Fatality -- Man Knocked Overboard 

02/26/76
37

Man Falls -- Serious Injury  

02/26/76
36

Fatality 

02/02/76
35

Fire -- Choke Cap Blows Off 

02/02/76
34

Fire -- Leaking Glass Sight Gage 

01/14/76
33

Flash Fire -- Men Burned 

01/14/76
32

Welding Operation Ignites Condensate 

11/14/75
31

Oil Spill -- Loading Diesel Fuel  

11/14/75
30

Fire in Generator Turbine 

11/03/75
29

Heater Explodes -- Man Injured 

10/14/75
28

Weld Fails -- Derrick Collapses 

08/18/75
27

Gas in Generator Room Explodes 

07/21/75
26

Crown Block on Workover Rig Fails -- Fatality 

07/09/75
25

Man Falls from Derrick Ladder -- Fatality 

07/09/75
24

Shallow Gas Blowouts -- One Rig Lost 

06/02/75
23

Sump Tank Fire -- Man Burned 

05/06/75
22

Cap Blows off of Choke Body -- Man Burned 

04/30/75
21

Traveling Block Falls -- Fatality  

04/16/75
20

Crane Accident -- Fatality  

02/24/75
19

Safety System Failure -- Oil Spill  

02/13/75
18

Men Drowned 

02/13/75
17

Fire -- Men Burned 

11/27/74
16

Fatality  

11/26/74
15

Fatality -- Lubricator Fails 

11/27/74
14

Fire -- Capsized Barge Ruptures Gas Line  

11/27/74
13

Fire -- Chlorine Gas 

11/20/74
12

Boat Collides with Well 

11/27/74
11

Heater-Treater Fire 

10/17/74
10

Stem Blowout of Grove B-4 Ball Valves 

08/15/74
9

Series of Accidents 

08/01/74
8

Catalytic Gas Heaters 

11/19/73
7

Lack of Adequate Supervision by Lease Operator of Contract Personnel 

11/16/73
6

Barrels of Deadly Poisonous Cyanide Adrift in the Gulf 

09/17/73
5

Flash Fires/Explosions 

06/15/73
4

Flash Fire -- Cutting and Welding 

01/09/73
3

Flash Fire -- Glycol Gas Dehydrator Unit 

01/03/73
2

Shallow Drilling Hazards 

12/13/72
1

Flash Fire from Liquid Phase Heat Transfer Unit 

09/22/72

Pacific Safety Alerts 
Number  Title  Effective Date 
6 Pipeline Damaged by Grappling Hook  05/15/91
5 Stabbing Board Struck By Travelling Block  06/20/86
4 Welding - Fire  01/29/81
3 Drill Ship Damage by Liquid Nitrogen Spill  01/29/81
2 Fatality  02/23/78
1 Well Kick Due to Swabbing - Man Breaks Leg  05/01/78