Inspection Detail

Inspection: 303702328 - Bp Exploration Alaska Incorporated

Inspection Information - Office: Alaska Department Of Labor Osh Enforcement

Inspection Nr: 303702328

Report ID: 1050210

Date Opened: 08/17/2002

Site Address:
Bp Exploration Alaska Incorporated
A Pad, Oil Well A-22
Prudhoe Bay, AK 99734

Mailing Address:
Dave Mccallister,Bp Health & Safety Mgr,Pob 196612, Anchorage, AK 99519

Union Status: Union

SIC:1311

NAICS: 211111/Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: Y

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Health

Close Conference: 08/20/2002

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 02/25/2003

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	101681294

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	1					1
Current Violations	1					1
Initial Penalty	$6,300	$0	$0	$0	$0	$6,300
Current Penalty	$6,300	$0	$0	$0	$0	$6,300
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event	Note
1.	01001	Serious	18006075 A	01/28/2003	02/10/2003	$6,300	$6,300	$0		-

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 201681228

Event: 08/16/2002

Employee Sustains Burns, Broken Bones in Oil Well Explosion

On August 16, 2002, Employee #1, an oil well operator, was near the wellhouse door of oil well #A-22 when it was restarted after six days of being shut down and cooled down to 40 degrees F. The well had been restarted without bleeding off the high pressure in the outer annulus and, as the well heated back to its normal operating temperature of 120 degrees, the thermal expansion raised the outer annulus pressure to well beyond its 5,380 psi bursting strength. At 7,700 psi, the outer annulus burst and the explosion broke a gas line. This released compressed natural gas at 2,000 psi, which immediately created a fire. Employee #1 sustained broken bones and burns and was flown by air ambulance to Anchorage, AK and then was later transferred to Seattle, WA for medical care.

Keywords: BURN, FRACTURE, DRILL OPERATOR, WORK RULES, FIRE, OIL WELL DRILLING, WELL, EXPLOSION, HIGH PRESSURE, PRESSURE RELEASE

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	303702328			Hospitalized injury	Fracture	Occupation not reported

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