Fires - 1996
 

Date: 02-JAN-96 Operator: Enserch Exploration, Inc.
Investigation: Complete Activity: Development
Lease: G07486 Event(s): Fire / Pollution (2.0 bbls)
Area: Garden Banks Operation: Drilling
Block: 388 Cause: Equipment Failure / Weather
Rig/Platform: Enserch Cooper / A (Cooper) Water Depth: 2097'

Remarks: While tripping the drill string out of the hole, the block motion compensator fluid fill hose snagged on the traveling block guide rail and parted the fluid fill hose, two air hoses, and the control line for the Olmsted valves on the motion compensator. Approximately two barrels of fluid were released from the hose. The wind sprayed fluid onto the flash gas compressor exhaust system and manifold piping in two uninsulated surfaces resulting in ignition and a flash fire. The drill floor was secured, and production was shut in by manual activation of the ESD system. The fire was extinguished within minutes, and no injuries resulted from this incident.
 

Date: 03-JAN-1996 Operator: Entre Energy Corporation
Investigation: None Activity: Development
Lease: G05740 Event(s): Fire
Area: Chandeleur Operation: Production
Block: 29 Cause: Equipment Failure
Rig/Platform: A Water Depth: 40'

Remarks: A fire occurred when glycol from the glycol reboiler leaked onto the insulation. The fire was extinguished using a 30# dry chemical extinguisher.
 

Date: 05-JAN-1996 Operator: DelMar Operating, Inc.
Investigation: Complete Activity: Development
Lease: G00437 Event(s): Fire / Injury(1)
Area: Eugene Island Operation: Production
Block: 199 Cause: Equipment Failure
Rig/Platform: A-QRTS Water Depth: 101'

Remarks: The platform operator was warming up (idling) the gas compressor engine when the final discharge piping exploded causing a small flash fire. The flash fire extinguished itself immediately. One operator was passing near the compressor piping when the explosion occurred, resulting in minor injuries to his eyes and face and ringing in the ears.
 

Date: 11-JAN-1996 Operator: Conoco, Inc.
Investigation: None Activity: Development
Lease: G00175 Event(s): Fire
Area: Grand Isle Operation: Production
Block: 43 Cause: Equipment Failure
Rig/Platform: AA-QRTS AQ#1 Water Depth: 110'

Remarks: A fire occurred when glycol soaked insulation began to smolder. The insulation became soaked due to a leaking flange on the glycol reboiler. The small flame was extinguished using a 30# dry chemical extinguisher.
 

Date: 18-JAN-1996 Operator: ORYX Energy Company
Investigation: None Activity: Development
Lease: G04268 Event(s): Fire
Area: West Cameron Operation: Production
Block: 648 Cause: Equipment Failure
Rig/Platform: A Water Depth: 395'

Remarks: The oil line on a diesel generator broke, and motor oil blew onto the exhaust pipe. The fire was extinguished with a handheld extinguisher. There was no damage.
 

Date: 24-JAN-1996 Operator: ORYX Energy Company
Investigation: Complete Activity: Development
Lease: G02327 Event(s): Fire / Blowout
Area: Eugene Island Operation: Completion
Block: 380 Cause: Human Error
Rig/Platform: Sundowner 15A Water Depth: 338'

Remarks: Oryx was in the process of completing the upper sand. The perforating guns were pulled from the well and a packer plug retrieving tool was made up to the bottom of the workstring/tubing. The packer plug was then pulled. A gravel pack assembly and gravel pack screen were then run in the well. Completion fluid started to flow out the top of the workstring/tubing as it was being worked in the well. The crew was not able to connect the top drive unit to the workstring/tubing. The blind rams were closed but the flow out the workstring/tubing did not change. Additional rams and the annular preventer were closed. Gas flowing out the workstring/tubing ignited. Forty-five personnel were evacuated from the rig by two vessels without incident. Within 2 hours after the fire ignited, the top drive fell to the rig floor. Shortly afterwards, the derrick toppled. The fire extinguished itself about midnight on January 28, 1996, and the well was killed on February 7, 1996.
 

Date: 27-JAN-1996 Operator: Chevron USA, Inc.
Investigation: Complete Activity: Development
Lease: G01146 Event(s): Fire
Area: Vermillion Operation: Production
Block: 245 Cause: Equipment Failure
Rig/Platform: C Water Depth: 124'

Remarks: An operations specialist observed a small flame on No. 1 generator exhaust and manually activated the ESD system to shut in the platform. The fire was extinguished using carbon dioxide extinguishers. No injuries or pollution resulted from this incident. The activated ESD system operated properly and shut in the platform. Cracks in the exhaust piping and flanges resulted in an exhaust residue build-up between the generator exhaust piping and the generator insulation blanket.
 

Date: 04-FEB-1996 Operator: Phillips Oil Company
Investigation: None Activity: Development
Lease: G02372 Event(s): Fire / Pollution (.7 bbls)
Area: High Island Operation: Production
Block: 489 Cause: Equipment Failure
Rig/Platform: A Water Depth: 250'

Remarks: Upset in the flare scrubber resulted in oil being spilled onto a compressor and starting a fire. The fire was put out quickly.
 

Date: 02-MAR-1996 Operator: Texaco Exploration & Production, Inc.
Investigation: None Activity: Development
Lease: G02388 Event(s): Fire
Area: High Island Operation: Production
Block: A563 Cause: Human Error
Rig/Platform: B Water Depth: 305'

Remarks: An investigation team was inspecting a compressor, which they shut down and closed the suction and discharge manual block valves. There was a slight amount of gas escaping through the valves, which ignited causing a flash fire. The ESD was initiated and a 125# dry chemical unit was used to extinguish the fire.
 

Date: 04-MAR-1996 Operator: Exxon Corporation
Investigation: None Activity: Development
Lease: G03091 Event(s): Fire
Area: Marsh Island Operation: Production
Block: 632 Cause: Equipment Failure
Rig/Platform: Ensco 90 / A Water Depth: 69'

Remarks: The #1 generator was being put back in service when the generator panel shorted out, resulting in a fire. The fire was quickly extinguished using a 20# CO2 extinguisher. Fire damages include replacement of the generator and associated wiring.
 

Date: 08-MAR-1996 Operator: Conoco, Inc.
Investigation: Complete Activity: Development
Lease: G03289 Event(s): Fire
Area: East Cameron Operation: Production
Block: 57 Cause: Equipment Failure
Rig/Platform: JB Water Depth: 52'

Remarks: A pipeline riser rupture and flash fire occurred on the 6-in departing bulk gas pipeline. Analysis of the pipe determined that the failure was due to tensile overload consistent with creep failure. Failure was due to gradual thinning of the pipe wall from corrosion due to breaches in the pipe coating. Fire damage was limited to a charred floatation life ring and a charred section of the CLX electrical cable. The PSL sensor actuated and isolated the JB-3 well and shut off flow.
 

Date: 11-MAR-1996 Operator: Shell Offshore Inc.
Investigation: Complete Activity: Development
Lease: G04131 Event(s): Fire / Pollution (.3 bbls)
Area: GC Operation: Production
Block: 19 Cause: Equipment Failure
Rig/Platform: A Water Depth: 750'

Remarks: The Glycol contactor, which dumps to the glycol still column, received oil from the gas outlet of the high-pressure separator. The oil in the still column went out the vent, which is located above No. 1 and No. 2 generator exhaust, the probable ignition sources. The fire tripped the platform fusible plug system, shutting in all production and closing all pipeline shut-down valves. The fusible plug system shut-in the generator, therefore, the electrically powered firewater system would not work. The fire was extinguished using dry chemical.
 

Date: 15-MAR-1996 Operator: Texaco Exploration & Production, Inc.
Investigation: Complete Activity: Development
Lease: G02868 Event(s): Fire
Area: Vermillion Operation: Production
Block: 31 Cause: Equipment Failure
Rig/Platform: A Water Depth: 15'

Remarks: A small flash fire on the exhaust manifold of the No. 1 compressor was the result of a high liquid level in the vapor recovery system (VRS) activating the LSH and shutting in the Nos. 1 and 2 compressors. Liquid was drained from the VRS and the LSH was cleared. The platform operator noticed a flash fire around the exhaust manifold while he was attempting to restart the compressor. The fire was quickly extinguished with a hand-held extinguisher. After a second attempt to start the compressor, it began to backfire and smoke. The inspector found a small crack in an expansion joint on the compressor. A new expansion joint was installed.
 

Date: 26-MAR-1996 Operator: Chevron USA, Inc.
Investigation: Complete Activity: Development
Lease: G02047 Event(s): Fire
Area: East Cameron Operation: Production
Block: 272 Cause: Weather
Rig/Platform: D Water Depth: 182'

Remarks: The platform operator responded to a platform fire loop system (TSE) alarm, which resulted from a direct lightning strike to the flash gas venting from the arrestor of the oil tank's vent line. He immediately extinguished the fire with a dry chemical extinguisher. The only damage was to a fusible plug that had been burned and melted. The fusible plug was replaced, the fire loop system was recharged, and the platform returned to production.
 

Date: 03-APR-1996 Operator: Midcon Offshore, Inc.
Investigation: Complete Activity: Development
Lease: G03323 Event(s): Fire / Injury (1)
Area: East Cameron Operation: Production
Block: 220 Cause: Equipment Failure
Rig/Platform: A Water Depth: 99'

Remarks: Platform operator 1 was cleaning sand and BS&W from the flare scrubber by removing the flange to flange piping and drain valve from the vessel. Operators 2 and 3 were simultaneously initiating production and pressuring up the production separator. The pressure relief valve relieved prematurely through the valve and piping. This pressure surge generated static electricity and ignition. Operator 1 was in the immediate vicinity of the escaping gas and fire and received burns to his face, neck, and arms. The fire scorched the flare scrubber and contact tower, melted the electrical wiring tray, and activated the fire loop system by burning through a TSE, which properly resulted in total platform shut down.
 

Date: 06-APR-1996 Operator: Norcen Explorer, Inc.
Investigation: Complete Activity: Development
Lease: G02600 Event(s): Fire / Injury (1)
Area: South Marsh Island Operation: Other - Crane Operation
Block: 281 Cause: Equipment Failure
Rig/Platform: C Water Depth: 30'

Remarks: The platform operator was attempting to start the platform diesel crane engine whose starter is propelled by 140 psi supply gas pressure. The operator sprayed ether into the engine air intake and walked around the side to signal another operator to open the gas start valve. When the first operator checked to see if the engine started, he heard an explosion, and a brief flash fire occurred, inflicting first and second degree burns on his face. The operator was transferred to a quarters facility and treated by a medic. The burns were considered minor, and the operator declined further medical evaluation at a land-based facility.
 

Date: 09-APR-1996 Operator: Marathon Oil Company
Investigation: None Activity: Development
Lease: G02934 Event(s): Fire
Area: West Delta Operation: Other - Welding
Block: 86 Cause: Human Error
Rig/Platform: A Water Depth: 150'

Remarks: While performing welding operations, a tarpaulin shielding welding slag caught on fire.

Date: 09-APR-1996 Operator: Conoco, Inc.
Investigation: None Activity: Development
Lease: G00128 Event(s): Fire
Area: West Delta Operation: Other - Production
Block: 70 Cause: Human Error
Rig/Platform: A Water Depth: 130'

Remarks: The operator was removing the orifice plate when gas from the meter migrated into the insulation of the compressor engine exhaust. The gas ignited blistering paint on the piping and engine.
 

Date: 11-APR-1996 Operator: Texaco Exploration & Production, Inc.
Investigation: None Activity: Development
Lease: G02384 Event(s): Fire
Area: High Island Operation: Production
Block: A555 Cause: Equipment Failure
Rig/Platform: A Water Depth: 260'

Remarks: Flames 3-4' high were discovered coming from the glycol regenerator filler cap area. After closing the fuel valve to the fire tube burner, the fire was fully extinguished after a few reflashes. The platform was shut in, and the insulation around the filler cap area was cooled with water. There was no significant damage.
 

Date: 11-APR-1996 Operator: Phillips Petroleum Company
Investigation: None Activity: Development
Lease: G02421 Event(s): Fire
Area: Matagorda Island Operation: Production
Block: 330 Cause: Equipment Failure
Rig/Platform: A Water Depth: 265'

Remarks: During a platform check, a 2-ft flame emitting from the Glycol reboiler was observed. The reboiler and the platform were shut in and the alarm was sounded. A hand-held 30# fire extinguisher was used to extinguish the flames, and fire water was utilized to cool down the unit. The reboiler had previously been shut down for repairs and re-piping. The unit was then placed back into operation. An investigation revealed that the insulation was saturated with condensate, apparently when the release valve activated.
 

Date: 13-APR-1996 Operator: Texaco Exploration & Production Company
Investigation: None Activity: Development
Lease: G02388 Event(s): Fire
Area: High Island Operation: Drilling
Block: A 563 Cause: Human Error
Rig/Platform: Rowan Fort Worth / B Water Depth: 305'