Snubbing Operations Fire -- Man Burned
Effective Date: 4/15/1977
 | Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region |
Notice No. 062
April 15, 1977
OCS Operations Safety Alert
Snubbing Operations Fire -- Man Burned
A fire recently occurred on an offshore production platform during workover snubbing operations on a producible well when gas from the well flowed into an open circulating tank and ignited.
One inch tubing was being pulled from the well when it was decided, because of well conditions, that the well should be circulated. The necessary connections were made for circulating and the pump return line valve was opened. A choke on this line was fully opened and allowed a large volume of gas from the well to blow into the circulating tank. The escaping gas ignited, probably by the power units or exhaust stacks near the circulating tank. The flames were extinguished in 15 minutes and the pump return line was closed. A wireline supervisor received third degree burns on the arms, neck, and chin.
In order to prevent a recurrence of this accident the operator is taking the following actions:
1. Workover operators and supervisors will be notified by the operators' personnel in charge of workover that wells will be bled down into separators and not into an open-storage tank.
2. All adjustable chokes are to be closed unless actually in use.
3. Any plugged chokes will be cleared and not bypassed to continue operations.
[signed] D.J. Bourgeois
for D.W. Solanas
Oil and Gas Supervisor
Field Operations
Gulf of Mexico Area