UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Abstract: Between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m. on May 29, 1990, 2 3/8 in. tubing was being pulled from the well due to a downhole problem; tools belonging to a wireline service company had been lost downhole the day before. Uncontrolled hydrocarbon gases flowed to the surface of the 16,700 ft deep R & H Travis #3 oil and gas well near Heidelberg, MS, and were ignited. Employees #1 through #5 were severely burned. Employee #1 died at the well site and Employees #2, #3, and #4 died at a medical center's burn unit. Employee #5 sustained second- and third-degree burns over 40 percent of his body and survived. The uncontrolled flow of gases was most likely ignited by a spark created when Employees #2 and #4 attempted to jump start the workover rig's diesel engine with battery cables connected to the battery of the crew's pickup truck. There was no continuous air monitoring system with alarms on location to detect the presence of explosive quantities of flammable/combustible/toxic gases which were escaping from the well.