BOEMRE and USCG Joint
Safety Alert No.
2
April 30, 2010
BOEMRE and USCG Joint Safety
Alert
Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Fire Resulting in
Multiple Fatalities and Release of Oil
On April 20, 2010, a loss of well control occurred and resulted in an
explosion and fire on the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Deepwater
Horizon. Eleven lives were lost in this incident and the MODU
subsequently sank. As of the date of this safety alert the well has not
been secured, and the resulting release of oil has been declared a spill
of national significance with oil threatening sensitive coastlines and
resources in the Gulf of Mexico.
At the time of the accident, the Deepwater Horizon was operating
52 miles from shore in 4,992 feet of water with a subsea BOP stack.
After the Deepwater Horizon sank, ROV’s confirmed that the riser was
bent over and still attached to the BOP and that oil is flowing from
leaks in the riser above the BOP. Numerous attempts to actuate the BOP
have failed. While the exact causes of
this event are now under investigation, the tragic nature of this accident
compels operators and drilling contractors to inspect their drilling
equipment and review their procedures to ensure the safety of personnel and
protection of the environment.
Therefore, BOEMRE and the
USCG
issue the following safety recommendations to operators and drilling
contractors:
- Examine all well
control equipment (both surface and subsea) currently being used to
ensure that it has been properly maintained and is capable of shutting
in the well during emergency operations. Ensure that the ROV hot-stabs
are function-tested and are capable of actuating the BOP.
- Review all rig
drilling/casing/completion practices to ensure that well control
contingencies are not compromised at any point while the BOP is
installed on the wellhead.
- Review all emergency
shutdown and dynamic positioning procedures that interface with
emergency well control operations.
- Inspect lifesaving and
firefighting equipment for compliance with federal requirements.
- Ensure that all crew
members are familiar with emergency/firefighting equipment, as well as
participate in an abandon ship drill. Operators are reminded that the
review of emergency equipment and drills should be conducted after each
crew change out.
- Exercise emergency
power equipment to ensure proper operation.
- Ensure that all
personnel involved in well operations are properly trained and capable
of performing their tasks under both normal drilling and emergency well
control operations.
Both BOEMRE and the USCG are conducting a joint
investigation of the Deepwater Horizon accident. The findings and
lessons learned will be documented in a report that will be made public
as soon as possible.
For additional
information contact Ms. Melinda Mayes (BOEMRE – 703-787-1063) or Mr. Eric
Christensen (USCG – 202-372-1210). For other Safety Alerts issued for
OCS oil and gas activities, go to the BOEMRE web site at
http://www.mms.gov/safetyalerts/. |