Inspection Detail
Inspection: 100026525 - Veco Drilling, Inc.
Inspection Information - Office: Denver Area Office
Site Address:
Veco Drilling, Inc.
East Of Wcr Rd. 29, & Hwy 85
Gilcrest, CO 80623
Mailing Address:
785 22 Rd., Grand Junction, CO 81502
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:1381
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 01/17/1992
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 03/06/1992
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 360367650 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $4,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $4,500 |
| Current Penalty | $2,250 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $2,250 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001A | Serious | 5A0001 | 01/28/1992 | 02/28/1992 | $2,250 | $4,500 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 2. | 01001B | Serious | 5A0001 | 01/28/1992 | 02/28/1992 | $0 | $0 | $0 | - | ||
| 3. | 02001 | Other | 19101200 E01 | 01/28/1992 | 02/28/1992 | $0 | $0 | $0 | - |
Investigation Summary
Employees #1 through #5 were members of a rig crew that had just come out of the hole to add a section of pipe when they experienced a kick. Natural gas began spewing from the well and up through the rig floor. When they attempted to close in the well using the provided Hydril blowout prevention, the unit failed to close fully and gas continued to accumulate in the area and eventually ignited. The resulting flash fire caused serious burns to Employees #1, #2, #3, and #5. The employees had not had blowout protection classes and had not been trained in appropriate inspection, maintenance, and testing procedures for the Hydril. The Hydril was not tested either upon installation on the well or upon the occurrence of a round trip the previous day.
Keywords: EQUIPMENT FAILURE, INEXPERIENCE, BLOWOUT--OIL WELL, GAS WELL DRILLING, UNTRAINED, BURN, FLAMMABLE LIQUID, FIRE, NATURAL GAS
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100026525 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported | ||
| 2 | 100026525 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported | ||
| 3 | 100026525 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported | ||
| 4 | 100026525 | Non Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported | ||
| 5 | 100026525 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported |
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