TranslateInspection Detail
Inspection: 315178491 - Patterson-Uti Drilling Co., Llc
Inspection Information - Office: Corpus Christi
Site Address:
Patterson-Uti Drilling Co., Llc
8.2 Mi West Of Cotulla
Cotulla, TX 78014
Mailing Address:
450 Gears Road, Ste. 500, Houston, TX 77067
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:1381
NAICS: 213111/Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Complete
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 05/06/2011
Emphasis: L:Oilgas, S:Struck-By
Case Closed: 05/17/2013
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 100213768 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||
| Current Violations | 3 | 3 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $14,000 | $0 | $38,500 | $0 | $0 | $52,500 |
| Current Penalty | $21,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $21,000 |
| 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 | Serious | 19100179 N03 VI | 05/06/2011 | 05/25/2011 | $7,000 | $7,000 | $0 | 05/11/2011 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 2. | 01002 | Serious | 19100023 A07 | 05/06/2011 | 05/12/2011 | $7,000 | $7,000 | $0 | 05/11/2011 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 3. | 02001 | Serious | 19100023 C01 | 05/06/2011 | 05/12/2011 | $7,000 | $38,500 | $0 | 05/11/2011 | F - Formal Settlement |
Investigation Summary
On November 27, 2010, employees of a drilling crew were assembling and installing a Varco Top Drive track system for the overhead top drive electric drilling rig. A crane was used to hoist four sections of track/guide beams, one at a time, through the v-door, and to the rig floor. When the track/guide beams were at the drilling rig floor, employees got on both sides of the track/guide beam and connected the hook pin saddle at the end of the one beam around the hook pin at the end of the other beam. One of the employees then disconnected the top tugger line. The track/guide beam was then hoisted up by the traveling block and lowered through the rotary table opening, so that the final joint, retainer, and lynch pins could be inserted into place to secure the guide beam. This procedure was repeated until the guide beam installation was complete. During the installation of the last section of track/guide beam, the hook pin saddle and hook pin were connected, and the track/guide beam was then raised up to approximately 20 feet. The beam was almost vertical, when the welds on the hook pin broke or failed. The track, which weighed approximately 2,500 pounds, fell and struck Employee #1, a floor hand who was standing adjacent to the air hoist on the driller side of the rig floor. Employee #1 was killed.
Keywords:beam, installing, oil well drilling, broken weld, hoist, struck by, falling object, gas well drilling, crane
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree | Nature | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 315178491 | Fatality | Fracture | Laborers, except construction |