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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 302100979 - J & R Valley Oilfield Services, Inc.
Inspection Information - Office: Corpus Christi Area Office
Site Address:
J & R Valley Oilfield Services, Inc.
Garcia Lease Well #5, 3.5 Mi W Of Fm 2221 & 7mi Rd
Edinburg, TX 78539
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 311, Mission, TX 78573
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:1389
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Complete
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 04/27/1999
Planning Guide: Safety-Manufacturing
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 06/27/2000
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 100210632 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 5 | 1 | 6 | |||
| Current Violations | 2 | 4 | 6 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $10,000 | $0 | $0 | $2,500 | $0 | $12,500 |
| Current Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $2,000 | $6,000 | $8,000 |
| 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. | 01001 | Unclass | 5A0001 | 08/02/1999 | 08/12/1999 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $0 | 08/24/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 2. | 01002 | Unclass | 5A0001 | 08/02/1999 | 08/06/1999 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $0 | 08/24/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 3. | 01003 | Unclass | 5A0001 | 08/02/1999 | 08/20/1999 | $1,000 | $1,250 | $0 | 08/24/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 4. | 01004 | Unclass | 19100219 D01 | 08/02/1999 | 08/06/1999 | $1,000 | $1,250 | $0 | 08/24/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 5. | 01005 | Other | 19101200 E01 II | 08/02/1999 | 08/06/1999 | $1,250 | $2,500 | $0 | 08/24/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 6. | 02001 | Other | 19040008 A | 08/02/1999 | 08/05/1999 | $750 | $2,500 | $0 | 08/24/1999 | F - Formal Settlement |
Investigation Summary
Employee #1, a truck operator and mechanic, arrived at the oil well workover site in a vacuum truck with a 130 barrel cargo tank. The well had been bled down, and the gas lift supply had been shut off. He was directed by the rig supervisor to hook up the cargo tank directly to the casing side of the wellhead using a 15 ft suction hose. The intent was to catch the small overflow of light crude oil/condensate that had been spilling into the work area. Once a good seal was made at the suction hose connection, the hand valve on the casing side was cracked open by a floor hand, and a small flow (less than 3 barrels) was transferred to the rear of the truck tank through the rubber hose. The hose was made for transferring crude oil and field brine. A damaged bonding cable on the truck was apparent, but no bonding was made and the suction hose was non-conductive. After a short time, an explosion occurred inside the tank truck. The overpressure caused ruptures at the tank sides where the truck baffles had previously been welded, and this caused the top dome hatch and the back manway cover to blow off with explosive force. Employee #1 was standing between 2 and 4 ft from the rear of the truck and was struck by the flying manway cover. He suffered massive trauma and was killed instantly. The manway cover landed 20 ft away and the top hatch cover landed 150 ft away. Subsequent investigation revealed the absence of set procedures concerning bonding and truck venting. There was also no safety inspection program for the vacuum truck.
Keywords: TANK TRUCK, COVER, WORK RULES, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, EXPLOSION, HIGH PRESSURE, OIL WELL SERVICING, STRUCK BY, FLYING OBJECT, PRESSURE RELEASE
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 302100979 | Fatality | Concussion | Industrial truck and tractor equipment operators |