Safety Alert
Pressure Release After Ice Plug Removal Results in Injury
Pressure Release After Ice Plug Removal Results in Injury
- IADC
- Safety Alert
- IADC Alert 14-13
- Line of FirePressure Systems
- Hydrocarbon releaseLine of firePressure systemsWell control
- Well intervention
- Valve
- Evacuation, escape and rescueEnergy and process isolation
- Upstream oil and gas
Summary
A snubbing operator removed ice from a production casing valve using a steel chisel after methanol proved unsuccessful. Although the valve was assumed closed, removal released high-pressure wellbore gas and fluid. The crew evacuated, retrieved the supervisor from the wellhead area and controlled the well by fully closing the valve.
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 intervention; workover; well servicing.
Classifications: Valve; valves.
Classifications: Evacuation, escape and rescue; EER; escape and rescue.
Classifications: Energy and process isolation; isolation; energy isolation.
Classifications: Upstream oil and gas; oil and gas extraction; upstream petroleum.
IADC Alert 14-13. Themes: line of fire, pressure systems.