Boat Collides with Well
Effective Date: 11/27/1974
 | Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region |
Notice No. 012
November 27, 1974
OCS Operations Safety Alert
Boat Collides with Well
A very serious accident occurred recently when an offshore workboat collidedwith a well satellite structure.
The boat struck the well jacket during the night, at which time there were noaids to navigation in operation on the structure. The structure and wellequipment sustained severe damage and moderate damage was incurred by the boat.The wellhead was broken below the lower master valve and the subsurface safetyvalve actuated, shutting in the well and preventing pollution.
The aids to navigation had been rendered inoperable by Hurricane Carmen twoweeks earlier and the service contractor had been unable to make repairs becauseof the extensive damage in the area.
The operator installed temporary NAVAIDS shortly after the workboatcollision, and Coast Guard approval was granted until supplies were availablefor repair of the permanent equipment.
In order to prevent recurrence of this accident, when aids to navigation arelost from service on a structure, the operator plans to install as quickly aspossible temporary NAVAID equipment for use in the interim until repairs topermanent equipment can be made.
[signature] D.W. Solanas
Oil and Gas Supervisor
Field Operations
Gulf of Mexico Area