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Pacific Region

Spills ≥ 50 Barrels (2,100 gallons) – 1994

December 17, 1994 - Pacific Operators, Inc.

Pollution: 50 bbl Crude Oil Operation: Production
Rig: Platform: Platform Hogan
Carpinteria		 Lease: P00166
Area: Block: 6B (Santa Barbara Channel)
5163		 Cause: Human Error: disregarded SOP & negligence
Distance to Shore: 6 Miles Water Depth: 150 Feet

Remarks: Blocked control, disposal tank. The operator overrode the emergency shutdown system pneumatic safety devices in an attempt to correct an apparent leak in the pneumatic control system, he was unsuccessful in detecting the cause of the leak. Believing he had made a "quick fix" to compensate for the original problem, he left the emergency shutdown system override in effect until assistance could arrive in the morning shift. Subsequently, the emulsion shipping pump was electrically shut down due to an apparent pressure imbalance. Emulsion production continued, leading to a series of process upsets that resulted in overflow of emulsion from the surge tank to the settling tank and eventually to the disposal tube. Response: the operator did not respond to process alarms for reasons unknown.

NRC Report: 273597*

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