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    Melinda Mayes

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Gulf of Mexico Region

Pipeline Incidents – 2001 (11 Total)

 28-Feb-2001 - Westport Resources Corporation
(also listed as Collision and Explosion)

Remarks: A M/V was enroute to an offshore location in deep East Cameron. The vessel captain stated that the weather was foggy. He noticed a platform on radar and made a course correction, and then the vessel hit one platform in a complex of four structures (tied together with bridges). The vessel went underneath the “A” platform, between two pilings. A 16 inch pipeline was ruptured causing a flash explosion and the escaping gas burned for about 10-15 minutes. The bridge to the platform quarters was blown overboard (or burned) and fell into the Gulf. The boat backed out from under the structure and picked up the operator personnel from the quarters platform. The boat had extensive damage to the bow and super structure. “A” platform and equipment onboard was totaled, buildings and equipment on the “FVA” platform were totaled, and a helicopter tied down on the quarters building was totaled. The quarters were blackened and the escape capsule was burned. No injuries were reported.  

April 29, 2001 – Texaco Exploration and Production 

Remarks: An incoming 2” gas lift line on well #161 was found ruptured. The break caused damage to the upper work deck, handrails, flowline, and riser. The line appears to have been pulled from the structure prior to the rupture possibly by a shrimp vessel since the line was buried. Personnel with Cardinal wireline were working on an adjacent well when they heard the bleeding gas. They reported the incident to Texaco personnel who immediately shut-off the supply of gas to the line. No injuries or pollution.

May 12, 2001 – Union Oil Company of California 

Remarks:  A hole was located in receiving riser approximately 30 feet above the water line and was due to corrosion.

May 27, 2001 – BP Amoco Corporation 

Remarks:  The pipelay vessel, Oceaneering Intervention II, was installing the Marlin subsea Well #1 riser in approximately 3400' of water.  The riser retaining device holding the riser apparently slipped.  The retaining straps failed causing the entire 7,500' of riser to unspool to the ocean floor.  The 28' diameter spool came loose from its sea fastenings and traveled toward the vessel stern, causing deck equipment damage.  During the unspooling, a crew member entered the water to avoid the riser.  The individual climbed from the water with no injury.  Small fires occurred as a result of the bearings on the spool becoming overheated during the unspooling process.  The fires were immediately extinguished with no injuries.

10-Jun-2001 - Texaco Exploration and Production Inc.

Remarks: Texaco field personnel discovered that the No. 177 unmanned satellite well structure had sustained damage to the handrails, grating, flowline riser, RTU panel, SCSSV panel, solar panel and nav-aid light due to an apparent strike by an unknown shrimp/fishing type M/V. Fishing vessel cable and outrigger materials were found entangled onto the structure. The surface and subsurface safety system activated to shut in Well No. 177 upon impact. There were no injuries to Texaco’s personnel. Also, Well No. 177 is a dry gas well and no pollution occurred as a result of the collision. 

July 5, 2001 – Stone Energy Corporation 

Remarks: The incoming flowline from South Pelto block 23, well C-1 over pressured and ruptured, thus causing a 5 barrel pollution incident. Well C-1 flows to the CA platform in the same block. The two PSH sensors at the well did not shut-in the well and the well was shut-in manually. There were no injuries as a result of this incident.

July 13, 2001 – Freeport-McMoran Sulphur LLC 

Remarks: Pipeline failure was due to internal corrosion. Divers found 5 holes within 400 feet near MP 299 Platform B.

 September 6, 2001 – Devon Energy Production Company 

Remarks: The valve body on a pipeline was leaking 1500 feet from the SS 198 “J” Platform. there were no injuries.

September 10, 2001 – Mobil Oil Exploration & Production 

Remarks: Divers located a pinhole leak in a weld joint due to internal corrosion.

September 21, 2001 – Devon Energy Corporation 

Remarks: While performing repairs to major crude line, a plug was dropped on the line allowing escape of crude.

December 14, 2001 – J. M. Huber Corporation

Remarks:  An 8-inch long crack was discovered in the pipeline.  The crack may have been caused by some kind of external impact. 

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Last Updated: 06/24/08, 03:07 PM