Safety Alert
Safety Alert 200 - Subsea Equipment Failure Leads to Deepwater GOM Pollution
Safety Alert 200 - Subsea Equipment Failure Leads to Deepwater GOM Pollution
- BSEE
- Safety Alert
- BSEE Safety Alert 200
- EnvironmentHydrocarbon ReleaseMachinery and Equipment
- Environmental protectionHuman factorsHydrocarbon releaseMechanical failure
- ROV operationsWell intervention
- Operator displays and control interfacesRemotely operated vehicleValve
- Emergency responseHuman-centred designSafety communication
- Upstream oil and gas
- Subsea
Summary
An incorrectly seated replacement choke was expelled during restart of a deepwater subsea oil well, releasing crude oil and gas. The alert examines unsuccessful ROV visual verification, delayed shut-in and confusing monitoring displays. Recommendations address pre-job emergency discussions, visually verifiable intervention equipment and clearer control-room systems with reduced need for safety-system bypasses.
Classifications: Environmental protection; environmental safety; pollution prevention.
Classifications: Human factors; human performance; ergonomics.
Classifications: Hydrocarbon release; hydrocarbon leak; oil and gas release.
Classifications: Mechanical failure; equipment failure.
Classifications: ROV operations; remotely operated vehicle operations.
Classifications: Well intervention; workover; well servicing.
Classifications: Operator displays and control interfaces.
Classifications: Remotely operated vehicle; ROV; underwater robot.
Classifications: Valve; valves.
Classifications: Emergency response; emergency preparedness.
Classifications: Human-centred design.
Classifications: Safety communication; toolbox talk; toolbox talks.
Classifications: Upstream oil and gas; oil and gas extraction; upstream petroleum.
Classifications: Subsea; underwater worksite.
Summary
The alert concerns subsea equipment failure that caused pollution in deepwater Gulf of Mexico operations.
BSEE Safety Alert 200. Themes: environment, hydrocarbon release, machinery and equipment.