Safety Alert
Safety Alert 302 - Pressure beneath a Surface Bridge Plug Blows Work String out of Well
Safety Alert 302 - Pressure beneath a Surface Bridge Plug Blows Work String out of Well
- BSEE
- Safety Alert
- BSEE Safety Alert 302
- Line of FirePressure SystemsProcess Safety
- Hydrocarbon releaseLine of firePressure systemsWell control
- Well abandonment
- Blowout preventerStorage tanks
- Emergency responseOperating and work proceduresRisk assessment
- Upstream oil and gas
- Offshore installation
Summary
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.
Classifications: Hydrocarbon release; hydrocarbon leak; oil and gas release.
Classifications: Line of fire; struck-by hazards.
Classifications: Pressure systems; stored pressure; pressurised systems; pressurized systems.
Classifications: Well control; kick control; loss of well control.
Classifications: Well abandonment; plug and abandonment; P&A.
Classifications: Blowout preventer; BOP; blow-out preventer.
Classifications: Storage tanks; atmospheric tanks.
Classifications: Emergency response; emergency preparedness.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Risk assessment; hazard assessment.
Classifications: Upstream oil and gas; oil and gas extraction; upstream petroleum.
Classifications: Offshore installation; offshore platform; offshore rig.
Summary
The alert addresses trapped pressure that expelled a work string from a well.
BSEE Safety Alert 302. Themes: line of fire, pressure systems, process safety.