NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-020

NTSB safety recommendation P-80-020.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHELL OIL COMPANY: REVISE THE MAPS, SKETCHES, OR DIAGRAMS ACCOMPANYING THE PROGNOSIS PROVIDED TO PERSONNEL OPERATING CONTRACT MOBILE DRILLING RIGS IN THE VICINITY OF SUBMARINE PIPELINES AND OTHER KNOWN HAZARDS TO SHOW PRECISELY THEIR LOCATION AND DISTANCE FROM THE RIG.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1980-03-13

Adopted Date: 1980-02-21

Overall Date Closed: 1988-07-25

Synopsis: ON JULY 15, 1979, 95 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF (OCS) IN SHELL OIL COMPANY'S (SHELL) SOUTH PASS, BLOCK 62, FIELD, A 14-INCH SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY TRANSMISSION LINE OPERATING AT A PRESSURE OF 900 PSIG WAS SNAGGED AND RUPTURED BY A GRAPPLING HOOK FROM THE ANCHOR-HANDLING VESSEL PETE TIDE II, WHILE THE VESSEL WAS GRAPPLING FOR AN ANCHOR PENDANT FROM THE SEMI SUBMERSIBLE DRILLING RIG OCEAN QUEEN. THE RESULTING EXPLOSION AND FIRE CAUSED THE DEATH OF TWO PERSONS AND INJURIES TO FOUR OTHERS. DAMAGE TOTALED OVER $1,500,000.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA79MP023

Report Number: PAR-80-01

Addressee Name: Shell Oil Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-07-25

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: SHELL OIL COMPANY LETTER: SHELL OFFSHORE, INC. (SOI) PROVIDES THE CONTRACTOR, DRILLING RIG, ANCHOR HANDLING VESSELS, AND B CONDUCTING OPERATIONS IN THE AREA WITH COPIES OF A SCALE PLAT DEPICTING LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED ACTIVITY AND ALL ASSOCIATED ANCHOR, EXISTING PIPELINE, AND OTHER HAZARDS.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-05-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE CONCERNS RAISED IN SAFETY RECOMMENDATION P-80-20 DEALT WITH THE QUALITY OF MAPS FURNISHED TO PERSONNEL AT THE WORK SITE. WE REQUIRE THAT COPIES OF A SCALE PLAT OR FLOWLINE MAP (MINIMUM SCALE 1" = 2000') WITH THE PROPOSED WORK LOCATION, EXISTING PIPELINES, AND KNOWN HAZARDS ACCURATELY PLOTTED ON THEM BE FURNISHED TO THE CONTRACTOR, THE DRILLING RIG, AND ALL VESSELS AND BARGES CONDUCTING OPERATIONS WHICH COULD INVOLVE THE IDENTIFIED HAZARDS. THE QUALITY OF THESE PLATS OR MAPS IS VERY GOOD AND THEY SHOW THE LOCATION AND DISTANCE OF KNOWN HAZARDS FROM THE RIG ACCURATELY. ENCLOSED IS A SAMPLE OF A TYPICAL FLOWLINE MAP WHICH MAY BE USED IN THE FIELD TO SHOW THE LOCATION OF PIPELINES NEAR A DRILLING SITE. WE FEEL THAT OUR CURRENT POLICIES SATISFY THE INTENT OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS. WE THEREFORE ASK THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER RECLASSIFYING THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-04-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-07-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence