Activity
Well Abandonment
Permanent or temporary plugging and abandonment of wells.
Newest 100 Documents
All 129 in search- 202631 Mar
Hazard identification and risk assessment guidance note
Guidance for titleholders on assessing well integrity risks throughout the well lifecycle. It discusses subsurface assessment, independent design review, qualitative and quantitative analysis, FMECA, bow-tie methods and risk registers. Risk profiles inform monitoring and maintenance regimes, anomaly management, change assessment, and planning for well suspension and abandonment.
- 202631 Mar
Planning for proactive decommissioning
This information paper explains lifecycle planning for petroleum decommissioning, including progressive removal, permanent well abandonment and increasingly detailed permissioning submissions. It outlines regulatory expectations, alternative end states, long-lead procurement, continued maintenance and changing risk profiles, alongside environmental monitoring and completion reporting to demonstrate that obligations have been met.
- 202631 Mar
Staged WOMP submission process
NOPSEMA describes its preferred phased submission of well operations management plans, separating lifecycle management processes from construction, production and abandonment detail. The paper explains concept-selection and detailed-design submissions, risk registers, barrier acceptance criteria, change management and regulatory inspections, while allowing titleholders to retain their existing submission structure.
- 202631 Mar
Well integrity control measures and performance standards guidance note
Guidance for developing and implementing well operation management plans addresses selection, assessment and assurance of well-integrity controls throughout the lifecycle. It explains links between risk assessment and measurable performance standards, periodic effectiveness reviews, functional testing, procedural assurance, contingency measures and relief-well planning, with quality checks for documented control performance.
- 202624 Mar
BSEE: Crane incident leads to serious facial injuries
This flash summarises BSEE findings on a lifting pin failure during well abandonment aboard a lift boat, resulting in serious facial injuries. It describes stuck casing, excessive loading, incorrect sling positioning and unsuitable procedures, with recommendations addressing free loads, rigging plans, safe working loads and stop-work authority.
- 20264 Feb
BSEE Safety Alert 512 - Crane Incident During Well Abandonment Operations Injures Worker, Reveals Safety Gaps
A lifting pin failed and struck a worker during crane-assisted casing removal for well abandonment. Findings identify obstructed casing, excessive loading, misplaced sling connections and unsuitable procedures. Recommendations address free loads, correct equipment and rigging, accurate safe working loads, hazard awareness and stop-work authority.
- 2026Jan
Decommissioning
A regulatory checklist for temporary and permanent well abandonment under Subpart Q. Questions cover prior approval, isolation of open-hole zones and perforated intervals, cement plugging, conditional pressure testing, plug integrity, residual fluid density and wellhead removal. It also checks installation of two independent wellbore barriers, including a mechanical barrier.
- 20224 Jul
BSEE/USCG: Dealing with extreme weather events
This flash summarises joint BSEE/USCG findings on a drillship’s unsuccessful escape from Hurricane Ida in the Gulf of Mexico. Delayed temporary abandonment and riser retrieval problems preceded loss of riser equipment and fluid pollution. Recommendations address timely weather decisions, contingency planning, mass evacuation arrangements and training gaps.
- 20228 Jun
Human Factors information paper - Risk migration
Explains how operational trade-offs can gradually erode safety margins, using a well abandonment campaign involving offshore hydrocarbon gas venting. Examines deficient hazard assessment, equipment assurance and modification controls through systems theory, distinguishing possible explanations from verified findings. Introduces guided adaptability to support anticipation, coordinated responses and proactive learning.
- 202216 May
BSEE and USCG Identify Delayed T-Time Execution, Poor Operational Decisions, and Equipment Breakdowns as Contributors to a Drillship’s Unsuccessful Attempt to Avoid Hurricane Ida
Joint BSEE and USCG alert examines a drillship’s failed attempt to evade Hurricane Ida. Delayed temporary abandonment, operational decisions and equipment breakdowns hindered departure and riser recovery. The vessel lost riser joints and its lower marine riser package. Recommendations address realistic T-time calculations, extreme-weather contingencies, evacuation planning and consistent procedures.
- 202225 Feb
Jacking Up Lift Boat During Crane Operations
During well abandonment, a lift boat was raised with crane slings still connected to a wellhead. Suspected snagging on hanger pins preceded sling failure and injury to an operator. BSEE recommends considering interface disconnection, attentive crane operation, elevation-adjustment procedures and job safety analysis addressing interconnected equipment.
- 202017 Sep
Safety Alert 391 - Improper Use of Equipment Results in Shock Loaded Crane and Damaged Tension Packer
During plug and abandonment work, four attempts to set a tension packer using a platform crane ended in shear-ring failure and crane shock loading. The alert identifies repeated loading, unknown equipment tolerances, inadequate hazard analysis and a restrained load, and recommends considering manufacturer specifications, dynamic load charts and job-specific work controls.
- 202015 Sep
Safety Alert 390 - Incorrect Elevator Assembly Injures an Electric Line Helper
A pipe slipped through incorrectly assembled tubular elevators during plug and abandonment operations, injuring an electric line helper’s foot. Investigation identified incorrectly sized dies, an inverted C plate and missed inspections. BSEE recommends considering field verification, equipment compatibility checks, pre-job inspections, shipping-report review and verification of crews’ equipment understanding.
- 201924 Sep
Safety Alert 366 - Dangerous Levels Of H2S Detected At Offshore Facilities
BSEE describes three hydrogen sulphide releases during offshore pipeline flushing and well abandonment, including incidents at non-sour facilities. One worker experienced dizziness and nausea. The alert recommends considering gas monitoring, detector calibration and bump testing, job safety analysis, rescue preparedness and gas-buster safeguards during potentially hazardous operations.
- 201814 May
Safety Alert 335 - Failure to Mitigate Known Hazards Leads to Kick
During well abandonment, trapped pressure beneath a bridge plug forced the plug and drill string 15 ft out of the hole, damaging rig equipment. The alert examines recognised hazards left without mitigation and recommends considering better hazard communication, actionable job safety analyses and methods for safely relieving pressure behind well barriers.
- 201625 Aug
Decommissioning Liability Assessment Workshop (New Orleans, LA)
Workshop slides explain BSEE’s Gulf of Mexico decommissioning liability estimates, assessment at permit rather than plan stage, and expenditure reporting under NTL 2016-N03. They discuss well, platform and pipeline costing methods, frequent liability updates, financial security conditions, and allocation of actual project costs across assets and reporting categories.
- 201610 Aug
Decommissioning Liability Assessment Workshop (Houston, TX)
Workshop slides explain BSEE decommissioning liability valuation and expenditure reporting under NTL 2016-N03. They cover asset-level cost allocation, conductor removal accounting, permit-stage assessment and public liability queries. Proposed estimate changes distinguish well status and water depth, with shallow-water pipeline costs derived from operator-data regression analyses.
- 201625 Jul
Safety Alert 321 - Additional Catastrophic Incident Attributed to Ejection of Traveling Slips
BSEE reviews two well-abandonment incidents involving ejected travelling slips from hydraulic casing jacks. One caused crane-boom collapse; the other killed a supervisor and briefly left a well uncontrolled. Recommendations address reviewing slip-ejection hazards, considering alternatives to straight over-pull where pipe might part, and ensuring loads are free before crane lifting.
- 201620 Apr
Macondo Blowout and Explosion
Volume 3 examines human and organisational factors in the Macondo incident, including temporary abandonment, negative-test interpretation and riser gas handling. It analyses barrier assurance, change management, incident learning, process-safety indicators and corporate governance, contrasting written policies with operational practice and proposing improvements to major accident prevention.
- 2014Oct
guide to the health and safety regulatory regime
Guidance for planners explains HSE’s regulation of shale gas wells and its relationship with planning authorities and environmental regulators. It describes lifecycle well integrity, steel casing and cement, abandonment plugs, advance notifications, weekly reporting and independent well examination, alongside hydraulic fracturing consent requirements and routes for raising site concerns.
- 20145 Jun
Macondo Investigation Overview
Overview of the CSB investigation into the Macondo blowout during temporary well abandonment on Deepwater Horizon. It outlines the multi-volume report’s technical, organisational and regulatory scope, highlighting blowout preventer limitations, safety culture and international regulatory comparisons. It also describes evidence gathering, public hearings and obstacles to the investigation.
- 20145 Jun
Macondo Volume 1 Final Report
Volume 1 examines the Macondo blowout during temporary abandonment aboard Deepwater Horizon. It explains deepwater drilling, cement barriers, drilling-fluid pressure and positive and negative pressure tests. The report describes inadequate barrier assurance, separator overload and drillpipe buckling that inhibited BOP sealing, followed by explosions, fire and fatal injuries.
- 20145 Jun
Macondo Volume 2 Final Report
Volume 2 examines the Deepwater Horizon blowout preventer’s failure to seal the Macondo well, including off-centre drillpipe buckling, miswired solenoid valves and emergency-system assurance gaps. It uses forensic testing and modelling to assess barrier performance, comparing regulatory approaches and recommending lifecycle management and independent verification of safety-critical elements.
- 201419 Mar
Safety Alert 308 - Overloading Leads to Catastrophic Failure of Crane Boom
A platform crane boom failed while pulling a workstring during permanent well abandonment. BSEE identified an incorrect load chart, use of static rather than required dynamic limits, worn pin connections and corrosion as contributing factors. No personnel were injured. Recommendations address inspections, load-chart verification and adherence to lifting procedures.
- 201210 Jul
Fall fatality during platform abandonment
This safety flash summarises a BSEE report of a fatal incident during well plugging and abandonment and production-platform decommissioning. At night, a worker at the top of the well was dragged by a load into an exposed deck opening and fell to his death.
- 20122 Jul
Safety Alert 302 - Pressure beneath a Surface Bridge Plug Blows Work String out of Well
During well abandonment, pressure beneath a surface bridge plug expelled 385 feet of work string and the bottom-hole assembly before the BOP sealed the well. Debris struck a diesel tank, releasing approximately five gallons into the Gulf. BSEE recommends reviewing re-entry procedures and accounting for pressure beneath plugs.
- 201213 Apr
Safety Alert 301 - Fall/Fatality during P&A/Platform Abandonment
A roustabout died after stepping or being dragged into a deck opening exposed during a night-time power swivel lift on an offshore platform undergoing abandonment. The alert examines short tag lines, obstructed crane visibility, incomplete hazard discussions and supervision deficiencies, recommending comprehensive JSAs, fall protection and clearer medical evacuation arrangements.
- 2012Apr
2012-001 Investigation of Fatal Fall, West Cameron Block 643, Platform A, Lease OCS-G 02241, 18 April 2011, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region
Investigation of a fatal fall during well abandonment on a Gulf of Mexico platform. Moving a power swivel exposed a deck opening. The report examines tag-line arrangements, obstructed crane visibility, inadequate hazard discussion and fall protection, supervisory oversight and delayed medical evacuation, using interviews, records and an on-platform reenactment.
- 201217 Feb
Report - Montara investigation: Volume one
Volume one of an expert witness investigation into the Montara hydrocarbon release sets out the appointment, factual timeline and assessment framework. It examines well construction and suspension, cement isolation, barrier requirements, regulatory comparators and risk-management methods, introducing WAiT integrity assessment and documenting limitations in the supplied records.
- 201217 Feb
Report - Montara investigation: Volume three
Third volume of an expert witness investigation into the Montara hydrocarbon release. It reconstructs the operational timeline, charts H1-ST1 integrity during construction, suspension and re-entry, and evaluates barrier acceptance and verification. Technical responses examine corrosion caps, annular seals, cement isolation, change management and opportunities for risk assessment.
- 201231 Jan
Safety Alert 299 - Failure to Properly Bleed Tubing Hanger Void Results in Injury
During wellhead dismantling for temporary abandonment, trapped hydraulic pressure ejected a tubing hanger pin and packing nut, striking a worker’s shin. The alert identifies installation defects, unchecked void pressure and shortcomings in supervision and hazard analysis. Recommendations address bleed-down verification, training, personnel positioning and use of a backup wrench.
- 201225 Jan
Dropped object: Injury resulting from failure caused by corrosion
This safety flash summarises a BSEE report of a dropped-object injury during well abandonment operations. A crewman guiding equipment into a wellbore suffered a foot injury. The electric line failed through corrosion and was subsequently found to be brittle, with some strands broken.
- 201130 Dec
Safety Alert 298 - Electric Line Failure from Corrosion Results in Injury
During temporary well abandonment, a corroded electric line parted while positioning a bridge plug assembly, which fell and struck a worker’s foot. The alert examines corrosion-related overload fractures, an unassessed lifting hazard and missing maintenance records, recommending wireline procedures, inspection and maintenance records, and effective implementation of job safety analysis controls.
- 20097 Dec
Safety Alert 283 - Crane Shock-Loading resulting from Casing Jack’s Hydraulic Hose Fitting Failure
During well plugging and abandonment, casing-jack slips damaged a hydraulic hose fitting, releasing pressure and allowing grouted casing to drop several feet. The connected crane suffered shock-loading and auxiliary-line failure. The alert examines inadequate fitting protection and job safety analysis, recommending consideration of guarding and clearer crane-connection instructions.
- 2009Sep
A guide to the well aspects of the Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction etc) Regulations 1996. Guidance on Regulations
Explains the well provisions of DCR 1996, covering life-cycle integrity, subsurface assessment, material suitability, well-control equipment and examination schemes. It addresses operator responsibilities, reporting and competence, including suspension and abandonment, and clarifies interfaces with offshore safety cases and installation verification across offshore and land-based operations.
- 2008Oct
2008-053 Investigation of Blowout, Main Pass Block 91 Platform A, OCS-G14576, August 23, 2007, Gulf of Mexico, Off the Louisiana Coast.
Investigation of a gas blowout at Main Pass Block 91 Platform A, followed by platform subsidence. The report examines sustained casing pressure, poor cement quality, diagnostic testing and procedural communication failures. It describes unsuccessful kill attempts and relief-well abandonment, while leaving the precise casing-failure mechanism unresolved and recommending abandonment of remaining wells.
- 200830 Apr
Safety Alert 262 - Sudden Crane Boom Crash Injures One
A crane boom cable failed during well plugging and abandonment, dropping the boom and injuring a crewman. Investigation identified cable deterioration, inspection and maintenance deficiencies, inaccurate load indication and overloading. The alert recommends equipment inspections, review of lifting procedures, and verification of load charts and indicator performance.
- 200816 Jan
Safety Alert 258 - Falling Debris Causes Injury
During plug and abandonment work, a cut pipe piece lodged below the rotary table was dislodged when casing was lifted. It fell approximately 35 feet and seriously injured a crew member on the Texas Deck. The alert recommends reviewing job safety analyses and periodically checking for loose materials near openings.
- 20071 Aug
Safety Alert 253 - Plug and Abandonment of Non-producing Wells and Facilities
MMS highlights hurricane vulnerability among idle, non-producing Gulf of Mexico platforms and wells. The alert outlines plugging and removal requirements and recommends evaluating future utility and potential environmental and human-safety threats, using API hurricane-assessment guidance. Removal plans should prioritise structures posing the greatest threat.
- 200711 Jul
Safety Alert 251 - Collapse of Pipe Supporting Coil Tubing Causes Drowning
During abandonment work on a hurricane-toppled caisson, production tubing supporting a BOP stack buckled. A technician attached to the stack by a fall protection harness was pulled into the ocean and drowned. The alert identifies planning shortcomings and recommends experienced review, consideration of contractor involvement, and communication across shifts.
- 200712 Jun
Safety Alert 250 - Plug and Abandonment Operations Lead to Fatality and Brief Loss of Well Control
An MMS alert describes a fatal rig-less well abandonment incident in which parted tubing propelled casing-jack slips into an operator representative, briefly compromising well control. Findings address excessive pull, inadequate safety factors, unsuitable equipment, training and supervision. Recommendations emphasise contractor oversight, pre-job coordination, site verification and activity logs.
- 20036 Oct
Safety Alert 215 - Diving Fatality
A diver died in an explosion while torch-cutting casing during well abandonment. MMS attributed ignition to a cinder carried in an air bubble reaching accumulated hydrogen above adaptor vent holes. The alert highlights inaccurate configuration information and absent task-specific JSA, recommending reviews of contractor information transfer and management of unexpected conditions.
- 1998
OCS Report 1998
This report compiles 1998 Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas incidents by region and event type, combining case narratives with graphical analysis. Pacific and Gulf of Mexico data cover well-control events, fires, collisions, fatalities, injuries and pollution. Cases examine equipment failures, work procedures and response measures, retaining uncertainty in reported causes.
- 1997
OCS Report 1997
Compiles 1997 Outer Continental Shelf incidents from Pacific and Gulf of Mexico records, combining performance analysis with case narratives covering fires, blowouts, injuries, collisions and pipeline releases. Examines crane failures and lifting accessories, records incident responses and testing, and includes a separate crane review and historical statistical charts.
- 198812 Feb
Safety Alert 153 - Fire Caused by Cutting Torch Used to Cut Tubing
A flash fire on a lift boat during well abandonment involved condensate trapped below a tubing pack-off assembly igniting while tubing was cut with a torch. The alert identifies torch cutting during tubing removal as contrary to safe-operation requirements and states that this practice should not be used.
- 198522 Aug
Safety Alert 145 - Tubing String Equipment Failure During a Plug and Abandonment Operation
During plug and abandonment, a telescoping swivel sub parted and trapped pressure expelled approximately 500 feet of tubing. Mismatched component designs and buckled internal parts were identified. The well was controlled without injuries. Recommendations address worst-case tool testing and, whenever feasible, killing the well and bleeding trapped pressure before unseating the completion string.
- Undated
Crane Boom Cable Failed and Struck Flagman During Casing Cutting
Investigation of a crane boom cable failure during well abandonment and casing cutting. A falling cable bruised a flagman’s left bicep. Findings address worn and rusted cable, a seized sheave, unreliable load indication, overloading and missing inspections. Recommendations cover defective equipment withdrawal, maintenance intervals and daily operational checks.
- Undated
Riser Adapter Fails During Disconnection and BOP Stack Falls to Seabed
BSEE investigates a riser adapter failure during disconnection following temporary well abandonment. Reduced riser tension allowed the BOP stack to tilt and subsequently fall to the seabed. Finite element analysis supported the failure explanation. Findings identify inadequate procedures and undefined safe operating parameters; the plugged well caused no attributed pollution.
- Undated
Casing Weld Failure During Well Abandonment
Investigation of a casing weld failure during well abandonment. Reverse circulation following bit plugging led to casing rupture at recently welded seams. The report examines pressure testing, unchanged pump safety-device settings, inadequate job safety analysis and unapproved welding in place of cold cutting. No injuries or environmental spills occurred.
- Undated
Tool-String Ejection During Temporary Well Abandonment
BSEE investigates a tool-string ejection during temporary abandonment of the E-4 well at Ship Shoal 224 E. Firing an electric-line casing cutter released trapped annular pressure beneath a subsea tieback wellhead, damaging deck grating without reported injuries. Findings address unrecognised pressure communication restrictions, absent wireline pressure control and planned procedural changes.
- Undated
02 - 17 - 2016 17:15 G14224 GB 216 Pollution
Investigates a zinc bromide release during permanent well abandonment at Garden Banks Block 216. Hess estimated 22 barrels entered offshore waters. Subsea vent safety valves left open were identified as the probable cause, with incomplete procedures and drawings possible contributors. An ROV required a different tool to close the valves fully.
- Undated
Operator Tripped over Raised Well Can Cover While Barricading Area
An operator tripped over a raised well can cover on an offshore production deck while barricading the area. The cover protruded about two to three inches following casing placement during abandonment operations. Hospital evaluation identified an inflamed sciatic nerve; the injury resulted in four days away from work.
- Undated
Crane Shock Loading During Tension-Packer Setting for Well Abandonment
BSEE investigates crane shock loading during tension-packer setting for well abandonment at Vermilion Block 371 platform A. Shear-ring failure reduced the crane load and stretched its boom cable. Findings address repeated shear-ring use, incorrect rating assumptions, an unsuitable job safety analysis and departure from crane operating requirements.
- Undated
Dropped Lubricator Struck Worker During Plug and Abandonment Work
An investigation records a head injury during plug and abandonment work aboard Liftboat Juan. Failure of the crane’s anti-two-blocking system caused the auxiliary line to part, dropping a lubricator and ball onto the deck. The lubricator struck the worker’s hard hat; the laceration required eight staples and restricted duty followed.
- Undated
Crane-Hoisted Tubular Slipped Through Elevators and Struck Helper
BSEE investigates a foot injury during platform plug-and-abandonment work at South Marsh Island Block 149D. A crane-hoisted tubular slipped through incorrectly sized elevators, bounced off a pipe rack and struck a helper. Findings identify unsuitable dies, an inverted identification plate and inadequate equipment verification; medical evaluation found bruising without fractures.
- Undated
Drill-Pipe Stand Drops During Well Abandonment
BSEE investigates a dropped drill-pipe stand during well abandonment on Thunderhorse PDQ. Elevators opened before the pipe racking system secured the stand. A floor hand was injured while escaping. Findings identify failure to follow tripping instructions and poor communication between the driller and assistant driller.
- Undated
Falling Vee-Door Gate Struck Worker During Well Abandonment
BSEE investigated an injury during permanent well abandonment at East Cameron 346A. An unsecured vee-door gate, removed to lay down recovered casing sections, fell and struck a worker’s knee, requiring medical evacuation. Findings identified absent gate removal and storage procedures and omission of gate removal from the job safety analysis and work instructions.
- Undated
Buoyant Riser Assembly Rose and Damaged Supports During Well Abandonment
Investigation of a riser-cutting incident during well abandonment at Hoover Spar. Positive buoyancy drove the stem/can assembly upwards, breaking deck stopper bolts and damaging support beams and nitrogen lines. Bolt analysis identified corrosion and section loss. Revised procedures removed buoyancy and landed the assembly before cutting; no injuries or pollution occurred.
- Undated
Pipe Dropped During Crane-Assisted Well Abandonment
BSEE investigates a pipe dropped approximately 40 feet during crane-assisted well abandonment at Eugene Island Block 307A. Two workers avoided the falling pipe; equipment was damaged, with no injuries or pollution. Findings identify inadequate blind-lift controls, communication, hazard analysis and supervision, alongside poorly maintained elevators with a weak latch spring.
- Undated
Glycol and Seawater Release Through Subsea Valve During Well Abandonment
BSEE investigates a Gulf of Mexico pollution incident during coiled-tubing well abandonment. Approximately 188 barrels of a 50/50 mono ethylene glycol and seawater mixture escaped through a subsea tree valve. Findings identify unverified valve alignment and inadequate closure-verification procedures; ROV intervention and subsequent pressure testing restored containment.
- Undated
Fingers Trapped Against Deck During Casing Removal
BSEE investigates a hand injury during casing removal at South Timbalier Platform F. A crane lowered casing while a worker installed a supporting pin, trapping his fingers against the deck. Findings address unspecified pinch points, absent banksman designation, misinterpreted movement and departures from the prescribed body position.
- Undated
Shallow Water Flow from Wellhead Cement Port During Riserless Drilling
BSEE investigates shallow water flow from a wellhead cement port during riserless drilling at Garden Banks Block 962. Fluid analysis detected limited hydrocarbons. Logging and ROV monitoring examined cement channelling; investigators identified salt contamination as the probable cause. Shell subsequently decided to temporarily abandon the well.
- Undated
Tubing Dropped Downhole During Well Abandonment
Investigation of tubing dropped downhole during well abandonment aboard the Ocean BlackLion drillship. Findings examine hook-load assessment, hydraulic elevator opening, incorrect relief-valve settings and insulator residue that may have impaired insert engagement. No injuries or environmental impacts were reported. BSEE recommends considering devices restricting loaded equipment opening and a pipe clamp.
- Undated
Drill Pipe and Bottom Hole Assembly Dropped During Well Abandonment
Investigation of drill pipe and a bottom hole assembly dropped during well abandonment from the Helix Q-4000. Weight-indicator records placed separation on 31 March, before discovery on 1 April 2022. The report identifies inadequate connection torque, describes ROV surveys and ultrasonic inspection, and reports no subsea infrastructure damage.
- Undated
Falling Hammer-Union Pump Connection Struck Worker During Well Abandonment
BSEE investigated a falling hammer-union pump connection during well abandonment at West Cameron 61A. The connection struck and injured a worker. A secured reenactment examined sling interaction with the rotating tubing joint. Findings identified inadequate securing, inaccurate shift handover information, deficient supervision and job safety analysis, and unused stop-work authority.
- Undated
Acetylene Cutting Ignited Tarpaulin and Stock Tank Hydrocarbons During Well Abandonment
An MMS investigation examines a fire during well abandonment when acetylene cutting ignited a tarpaulin and hydrocarbons in a nearby stock tank. Findings identify inadequate separation of flammables before hot-work authorisation and absence of a welding JSA. Water and foam extinguished the fire in approximately 30 minutes, without injuries or pollution.
- Undated
Spinner Hawk Struck Worker During Well Abandonment
An investigation into a fractured hip during well abandonment on Hercules Rig 214 at Eugene Island Block 107. An unsecured spinner hawk swung when actuated and struck an employee. Findings identify failure to anchor its snubbing line and an omission in the job safety analysis; recommendations address training and pre-tour hazard reminders.
- Undated
Drillship Drift and Emergency Disconnection Released Calcium Bromide
An investigation examines the Discoverer Inspiration drillship’s drift during well abandonment in strong frontal weather. Emergency disconnection released a reported 513 barrels of calcium bromide from the riser. Reduced thruster output remained unexplained; the disconnect system performed as intended, with no injuries or equipment damage. BSEE made no recommendations.
- Undated
Loss of Well Control During Plug and Abandonment
BSEE investigates a well-control loss during plug and abandonment at West Delta 90 B. An estimated 20 barrels of well fluids escaped, followed by uncontrolled gas and evacuation. Findings identify a spooling-head breach, tubing communication and deficient use of historical well information; the precise origin of the tubing failure remains unresolved.
- Undated
Crane Wire Parts and Lifting Gear Falls During Casing Lowering
An investigation of a crane incident during well abandonment describes casing being lowered after an off-centre jack was identified. Insufficient slack in the crane fast line led to wire parting and falling lifting gear. A worker suffered a broken arm. The report records two non-compliance findings and equipment inspection details.
- Undated
Hand Injury While Repositioning Deck Plate During Well Abandonment
Investigation of a severe hand injury during well abandonment at West Cameron 498B. Removed gussets allowed wave-induced casing movement to displace a deck plate. A worker attempting to reposition it encountered a pinch point. The report examines missing barricades, gaps in the job safety analysis and medical evacuation.
- Undated
Slick-Line Lubricator Dropped onto Worker’s Foot During Well Abandonment
This investigation examines a fractured foot during permanent well abandonment at VR-214. A manually moved slick-line lubricator rolled out of its stand and was dropped onto a worker’s foot. Findings identify unsupported manual movement and a job safety analysis that failed to recognise manual-handling hazards.
- Undated
Work String and Bottom Hole Assembly Ejected During Well Abandonment
Investigation of a well-control incident during abandonment work on 15 May 2012. Pressure below a cast iron bridge plug ejected the work string and bottom hole assembly, damaging equipment and a diesel tank. Blowout preventers sealed the wellbore; no injuries occurred. The report considers alternative plug-removal techniques and improved zonal isolation.
- Undated
Flash Fire During Casing Welding in Well Abandonment
An investigation of a flash fire during well abandonment describes three workers suffering burns while pad eyes were welded inside casing. Burning slag ignited gas in the wellbore. Findings address incomplete permits, inadequate hazard analysis, gas testing and supervision, including failure to reassess risk when the welding arrangement changed.
- Undated
Subsea Gas Release During Hot Tapping for Well Abandonment
Investigates a subsea gas release during hot tapping for abandonment of a hurricane-toppled well. A diver inadvertently cut production tubing with a hydraulic hole-saw after concerns about cutting depth were overridden. The report examines supervision and stop-work failures, describes subsequent well-killing operations, and records no injuries or liquid hydrocarbon discharges.
- Undated
Finger Loss After Descending Topdrive Struck Hand During Abandonment Operations
An investigation describes a floorhand losing two fingers during abandonment operations at South Pass 77C. While repositioning a self-retracting lifeline cable, he lost his footing and grabbed the topdrive torque tube; the descending topdrive struck his hand. Findings identify cable positioning, its crown attachment and a slippery stabbing-board surface.
- Undated
Crane Fast Line Parts During Power Swivel Lowering
During well abandonment at MI A-5, a crane fast line parted as the operator lowered a power swivel without sufficient slack, dropping the ball onto the deck. Nobody was injured. The investigation identified absent weight indicators as a contributing factor and documented reattachment testing and inspection before return to service.
- Undated
Work Platform Caught Hydraulic Umbilical During Riser Removal
An investigation examines equipment damage during riser removal for plug and abandonment. Reduced buoyancy support preceded falling studs and a work platform catching an adjacent well’s hydraulic umbilical, interrupting production. Findings identify torque-related hazard-analysis omissions, inadequate lifting arrangements, procedural gaps and inaccessible studs after installation.
- Undated
Loss of Well Control During Temporary Abandonment
Investigation of lost well control during temporary abandonment of the B002 well at Ship Shoal 225. Pulling a plug without checking pressure beneath it preceded hydrocarbon escape through leaking tubing and casings. The report examines deficient records review, testing, procedure changes, site-specific hazard analysis and supervision, and recommends stronger abandonment controls.
- Undated
Platform Crane Collapsed During Casing Removal for Well Abandonment
Investigation of a platform crane collapse during casing removal for plug and abandonment work. Possible swing gear bolt failure from exceeding load capacity was identified as the probable cause. Findings address missed ring-bearing inspections, operator experience, unavailable load information and missing JSA documentation. No injuries or pollution were reported.
- Undated
Failed Casing Lifting Pin Strikes Worker During Well Abandonment
BSEE investigates a casing lifting pin failure during well abandonment at the VR-38M platform. The pin struck a worker while a crane pulled stuck casing. Analysis examines incompatible spool and seal-ring dimensions, sling positioning, exceeded lifting limits and deficient planning, supported by comparative pull tests and subsequent casing retrieval.
- Undated
Oil and Gas Release During Well Plug-and-Abandonment Work
Investigation of an oil and gas release during plug-and-abandonment work on well SS 204 A-13. The report attributes casing-patch failure to cyclic loading and excessive system weight, and describes a well kick with gas escaping through corrosion holes. Non-essential personnel were evacuated; no regional recommendations were made.
- Undated
Diver’s Fingers Trapped by Casing During Underwater Well Abandonment
BSEE investigates a diver’s finger injuries during underwater well abandonment at Ship Shoal 114. Two cranes positioned casing over a damaged well; the diver slipped and grasped its lip before movement trapped his fingers. The report describes decompression, medical evacuation and subsequent plans considering an ROV or fabricated handhold.
- Undated
Rigger’s Fingers Injured Guiding Crane Block During Casing Cutter Recovery
A rigger sustained finger injuries while guiding a crane block during casing cutter recovery at Ship Shoal 224 D. The investigation identified hand guidance instead of push poles, inadequate job safety analyses and unenforced handling procedures. Revised rigging avoided lowering the block through the deck opening.
- Undated
Platform Crane Boom Failure During Well Abandonment
Investigation of a platform crane boom failure during well abandonment at VR 340A. Findings identify worn pin-connection bores, an incorrect load chart and use of static rather than dynamic limits. Corrosion, weight-indicator adjustment and unaccounted load-block weights are also discussed. No personnel were injured; inspection and procedural improvements are recommended.
- Undated
Casing Rupture Released Hydrocarbons During Abandonment Remediation
BSEE investigates a casing rupture during abandonment remediation at Ship Shoal Block 114. Liftboat cranes and a hydraulic Vibro Hammer were used to straighten a damaged well. An estimated 56 gallons of hydrocarbons escaped into the Gulf of Mexico. The report describes personnel mustering, subsequent well stabilisation and installation of a pollution dome.
- Undated
Operator’s Hand Trapped During Crane-Assisted Mechanical Casing Cutter Handling
Investigates a hand injury during crane-assisted handling of a mechanical casing cutter on South Pass 49 C platform. A grease-locked casing jack bowl separated as the cutter changed orientation, trapping an operator’s hand. Findings examine unsecured components, ineffective implementation of a no-hands policy, missing handling aids and inadequate task-specific hazard assessment.
- Undated
Casing Drop and Crane Line Failure During Well Abandonment
During well abandonment, casing-jack slips damaged a hydraulic fitting, releasing pressure and allowing casing to drop several feet. The attached crane auxiliary line broke, dropping its headache ball onto the deck. The investigation identifies inadequate fitting protection and crane-connection timing, with no injuries or pollution reported.
- Undated
Worker Sustained Facial Flash Burn During Well Abandonment Torch Cutting
Investigates a worker’s facial flash burn during torch cutting for well abandonment at Eugene Island Block 325A. Apache attributed the flash fire to slag reacting with biogenic gas inside casing. Findings address deviation from the agreed cutting method, absent written procedures and atmospheric testing that failed to detect explosive vapours.
- Undated
Residual Acetylene Ignited During Conductor-Casing Cutting
An investigation into a welder’s injury during conductor-casing cutting in abandonment and platform removal operations records residual acetylene ignition and momentary unconsciousness. Medical evaluation identified a slight left-wrist sprain. The report discusses hydrocarbon gas checks and a job safety analysis that omitted confined-space hazards, with no district recommendations.
- Undated
Finger Trapped by Bolt During BOP Installation
An investigation examines a finger fracture during BOP installation for well abandonment at ST. 26-D. While the crane lowered the assembly, a misaligned bolt moved upwards and trapped the worker’s finger. The report identifies hazardous hand placement and discusses slippery gloves and simultaneous alignment of twelve bolts as possible contributors.
- Undated
Floorhand Sustains Thumb Injury While Relatching Manual Rig Tongs
BSEE investigates a floorhand’s thumb injury while relatching manual rig tongs on a jack-up rig at Eugene Island Block 182. The crew had substituted tongs for a broken iron roughneck. Findings identify improper hand placement and inadequate assessment and communication of handling hazards; the worker required evacuation and subsequently restricted duties.
- Undated
Drilling Vessel Lost Riser and LMRP During Hurricane Ida
BSEE investigates the Noble Globetrotter II’s unsuccessful attempt to evade Hurricane Ida during temporary well abandonment. The report examines weather planning, evacuation timelines, crew-change delays and hydraulic torque wrench failures. It records riser and LMRP loss, oil pollution, vessel damage and a lost-time injury, identifying inadequate planning and delayed riser recovery as contributing factors.
- Undated
Bridge-Plug Assembly Falls During Temporary Well Abandonment and Injures Worker
Investigation of an electric-line wire-rope failure during temporary well abandonment at Apache WC 102-2. A bridge-plug assembly fell and injured a worker’s foot. Laboratory examinations confirmed corrosion-related shear/overload fractures. Findings address departure from the approved workstring method, incomplete job safety analysis and missing maintenance records.
- Undated
Hydraulic Casing Jack Damaged During Well Abandonment
An investigation examines hydraulic casing jack damage during well abandonment at the SMI-147A platform. Support beams shifted during attempts to free grouted casing strings. The report attributes the accident to unsecured beams and failure to follow pulling procedures, with excessive pull and perceived schedule pressure contributing. No injuries or platform structural damage occurred.
- Undated
Worker’s Hand Pulled into Snatch Block During Sala Block Replacement
Investigation of a finger-crushing injury during Sala block replacement on Spartan 208 during permanent well abandonment. A worker guiding a moving hoist cable had his hand pulled into a snatch block. Findings identify blocked operator visibility and omission of pinch-point and moving-part hazards from the job safety analysis.
- Undated
Flash Fire During Well Abandonment Cutting Operations
Investigation of a flash fire during well abandonment on Eugene Island Platform F. Gas and condensate travelled through shared pressure-relief piping to an unblinded flowline and ignited at a cutting torch, injuring a welder. Findings address a leaking wing valve, inadequate isolation and joint job safety analysis.
- Undated
Gas Release and Surface Casing Collapse During Well Abandonment
BSEE investigates a gas release during well abandonment on South Marsh Island Block 281C. Corrosion and loss of conductor casing led to surface casing collapse at Well C-11, damaging valves and decking. The report describes evacuation, well securing and subsequent abandonment, and records noncompliance with immediate incident-notification requirements.
- Undated
Unsecured Wellhead Rolled onto Supervisor During Well Abandonment
BSEE investigates a leg injury during permanent well abandonment at Eugene Island 158JB. An unsecured wellhead rolled onto a supervisor on a lift boat’s deck. The report examines inadequate storage, stability checks and job safety analysis, describes crane-assisted rescue and medical evacuation, and records Apache’s corrective action to provide a scrap basket.
- Undated
Broken Pipe Stop Arm Struck Worker During Well Abandonment
Investigation of a pipe stop arm failure during well abandonment on the SS 241 platform. A broken section fell 24 feet and struck a worker’s right arm. Metallurgical analysis identified incomplete weld penetration and lack of fusion; design documentation omitted complete joint penetration requirements. The worker returned to full duty the following day.