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 Content:

   Joanne McCammon


 
Pagemasters:
   OMM Web Team

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  OCS Civil/Criminal Penalties Program

The goal of the MMS OCS Civil/Criminal Penalties Program is to assure safe and clean operations on the OCS. Through the pursuit, assessment, and collection of civil penalties and referrals for the consideration of criminal penalties, the program is designed to encourage compliance with OCS statutes and regulations.

2008 Civil/Criminal Penalties Summary
Penalties Paid in the 1st Quarter of 2008
(1/1/2008 - 3/31/2008)

Operator Name
and Case No.

Violation
and
Date(s)

Penalty Paid and
Date Paid

Regulation(s) Violated
30 CFR)

Pogo Producing Co.

G-2007-009

 

During the investigation of a Ύ mile by 16 mile oil slick on November 29, 2006 the MMS Inspector discovered that operators had bypassed basically the entire platform safety system including the ESD to keep production online.  Further investigation revealed a second pollution incident on November 21, 2006 in which oil was blown out of the flare boom leaving the platform covered with oil and causing pollution.

29-NOV-2006 – 29-NOV-2006
29-NOV-2006 – 29-NOV-2006
29-NOV-2006 – 29-NOV-2006
29-NOV-2006 – 29-NOV-2006
29-NOV-2006 – 29-NOV-2006
21-NOV-2006 – 21-NOV-2006
21-NOV-2006 – 21-NOV-2006
29-NOV-2006 – 29-NOV-2006
29-NOV-2006 – 29-NOV-2006
29-NOV-2006 – 29-NOV-2006
21-NOV-2006 – 29-NOV-2006

$505,000

2/8/2008

CFR 250.803(c)
CFR 250.803(c)
CFR 250.803(c)
CFR 250.803(c)
CFR 250.803(c)
CFR 250.300(a)
CFR 250.300(a)
CFR 250.1004
CFR 250.1004
CFR 250.1004
CFR 250.107

SPN Resources, LLC

G-2007-012

MMS Inspectors found the accumulator with no air supply connected to it.  The remote BOP control station was also found with no operating pressure on it. The Inspection also revealed that there was not a full opening work-string safety valve or TIW wrench located on the rig floor.  Personnel were witnessed working greater than 6 feet above the deck with no fall protection.  The Inspector also found stairs to the BOP and pipe rack to be in an unsafe location which required personnel to climb over the handrails.

01-SEP-2006 – 01-SEP-2006
01-SEP-2006 – 01-SEP-2006
01-SEP-2006 – 01-SEP-2006
01-SEP-2006 – 01-SEP-2006
01-SEP-2006 – 01-SEP-2006
01-SEP-2006 – 01-SEP-2006

$100,000

1/18/08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CFR 250.107(a)
CFR 250.515(d)
CFR 250.515(d)
CFR 250.515(c)
CFR 250.515(c)
CFR 250.401

W&T Offshore, Inc.

G-2007-016

Operator failed to properly barricade the 4' X 4' opening and a 7'10" X 16" opening during workover operations.

04-APR-2007 – 16-APR-2007

$130,000

3/12/2008

CFR 250.107

Helis Oil & Gas Company, LLC

(Hercules Offshore Drilling)

G-2007-021

The operator failed to supply sufficient accumulator fluid capacity required to close and hold closed the 30 inch Shaffer NL annular installed on the diverter system.

06-MAY-2007 – 07-MAY-2007

$40,000

1/17/2008

CFR 250.430

Remington Oil and Gas Corp.

G-2007-025

Failure to properly secure grating led to an accident with injury.

24-APR-2007 – 24-APR-2007

 $45,000

1/09/2008

 

 

CFR 250.107

Pogo Producing Co.

G-2007-029

There was an excessive number of safety devices bypassed while bringing the platform online.  With only one person watching the computer it was impossible to safely monitor all of the bypassed devices. During these start-up operations Operators overflowed the float cell pouring a hydrocarbon/water mixture onto the deck. Once the platform was shut in the operators received an alarm on the PSH for the fuel gas scrubber and there was no action taken in response to the alarm. The AFFF unit which was protecting the wet/dry oil tanks was found to be empty.

03-APR-2007 – 03-APR-2007
03-APR-2007 – 03-APR-2007
29-MAR-2007 – 08-MAY-2007

$80,000

2/08/2008

CFR 250.107(a)
CFR 250.803(c)
CFR 250.107

Exxon Mobil Corp.

G-2007-030

The actuator for the compressor suction shut down valve (SDV) had been removed.

13-MAY-2007 – 21-MAY-2007

$35,000

1/14/2008

CFR 250.803

Pogo Producing Co.

G-2007-031

The Inspectors noticed that the block valve for the pressure safety valve (PSV) located on the test separator had been left in the closed position. The Inspectors witnessed personnel working with no fall protection at a height greater than 6 feet above the deck. The Inspectors found that the AFFF unit which was protecting the wet/dry oil tanks contained an empty bottle; and additionally, that the valve handles had been removed from the fire monitors, which were the secondary form of protection for the wet/dry oil tanks.

It was also discovered that the operator had "failed to correct" the location of the LSH for the sump.

29-MAR-2007 – 30-MAR-2007
30-MAR-2007 – 30-MAR-2007
30-MAR-2007 – 30-MAR-2007
30-MAR-2007 – 30-MAR-2007
30-MAR-2007 – 30-MAR-2007

$150,250

2/08/2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CFR 250.803(c)
CFR 250.107
CFR 250.107
CFR 250.107
CFR 250.107

Pogo Producing Co.

G-2007-033

TSE on the rental generator was found with the block valve closed on the supply line, rendering the TSE inoperable.

17-MAY-2007 – 17-MAY-2007

$25,000

2/11/2008

CFR 250.803

Pogo Producing Co.

G-2007-034

Gas-lift line was open ended with 1000 psi on the down stream side of the check valve and the gas-lift header was found with 700 psi on it and all flanges associated with the header had missing bolts.

17-MAY-2007 – 17-MAY-2007
17-MAY-2007 – 17-MAY-2007

$40,000

2/11/2008

CFR 250.107
CFR 250.107

Palm Energy Offshore, LLC

G-2007-037

The top block valve on the LSH fluid chamber was found closed.

10-JUL-2007 – 10-JUL-2007

$15,000

2/11/2008

CFR 250.803

Energy XXI GOM, LLC

G-2007-039

There was a closed block valve upstream of the PSV on the First Stage Suction Scrubber which rendered the PSV inoperable.  Also, the SCSSV was found with pressure trapped on the control line which locked open the SCSSV.

11-JUL-2007 – 11-JUL-2007
11-JUL-2007 – 11-JUL-2007

$15,000

1/17/2008

CFR 250.803(c)
CFR 250.803(c)

Dos Cuadras Offshore Resources

P-2006-003

Five INCs were issued following a 7/27/06 incident that resulted in significant damage to the unit crane during an operation to remove stuck progressive cavity pump rods.

27-JUL-2006 – 27-JUL-2006
27-JUL-2006 – 27-JUL-2006
27-JUL-2006 – 27-JUL-2006
27-JUL-2006 – 27-JUL-2006

$35,000

1/30/2008

CFR 250.108
CFR 250.108
CFR 250.108
CFR 250.606

Total Penalties Paid: 1/107 - 3/31/07

13 Cases: $1,215,250

The following acronyms are used in this table:

ESD

Emergency Shutdown Device

INC

Incident of Non-Compliance

LSH

Level Safety High

BOP

Blow out Preventer

MBD

Thousands of Barrels per day

PSH

Pressure Safety High

SDV

Shut down valve

PSV

Pressure Safety valve

SCSSV

Subsurface Safety valve


The purpose of publishing the penalties summary is to provide information to the public on violations of special concern in OCS operations and to provide an additional incentive for safe and environmentally sound operations.


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Last Updated: 04/30/2008/11:36 AM

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