PAC Injuries, 2000

MMS Investigation Report:	Completed	Activity:	Development/Production
Lease:	P00240	Event(s):	Injury(1)
Area:	6B	Operation:	Workover
Block:	5164	Cause:	Human Error
Rig/Platform:	Hillhouse/Sun Rig B	Water Depth:	189 feet

Remarks: During well workover operations, the operator sustained serious physical damage to this knee, hip, and left arm as he was struck by an electrical submersible pump cable spool. While tubing was being hoisted, there was a loud popping sound from the bails and the tubing elevators fell towards the rig floor. As the tubing unspooled, it fell into the well pulling the attached chemical line with it and subsequently jerked the spool from its base. The loose spool spun across the rig floor and struck the crane operator. Investigation findings showed that the spool that the chemical line was being spooled onto did not have caps and bolts in place to secure the spool to the cradle. Also, bolts were not in place to secure the elevator. All employees had not read or followed the Job Safety Analysis (JSA) for this well workover operation. The MMS made the following recommendations: (1) Employees should always read and follow the procedures outlined in the JSA for the task. (2) Retainer caps should always be put in place and properly tightened to prevent the spool from jumping out of the spooler base. (3) The driller should always confirm that the bolts on the elevators are inserted and tightened before pulling the well. The operator was issued INC G-110 (30 CFR 250.120(a)) for unsafe operations.

MMS Investigation Report:	Completed	Activity:	Development/Production
Lease:	P00182	Event(s):	Injury(1)
Area:	6A	Operation:	Other—Pre-drill operations
Block:	5277	Cause:	Human Error/Other—Lack of equipment maintenance
Rig/Platform:	Heritage	Water Depth:	1,075

Remarks: The Schlumberger slickline operator completed running plugs in existing wells in proximity of the well to be spudded and was using an air tugger to rig tow the lubricator assembly. The operator was on board adjacent to the air tugger when he stumbled forward, placing his right hand on the wire rope drum while his left hand inadvertently actuated the control lever, causing the air tugger to reel in. His right hand was caught between the wire rope and the drum of the air tugger crushed and severed portions of his middle and index fingers. The investigation showed that there were no guards on the wire rope drum and the control lever was not maintained, which caused it to stay in the reel-in position. Also contributing to the incident was the fact that the air tugger also had not been properly maintained and was positioned on the deck about knee-level to the operator. It was recommended that (1) only properly maintained equipment with all appropriate guards in place be operated and (2) that whenever possible, equipment should be positioned relative to the operator according to ergonomic considerations. The operator was found to be in violation of 30 CFR 250.107—failure to maintain equipment in a safe condition—and was issued INC No. G-111, component shut-in.