Hi guys,
This has turned into a very interesting post.
I think I speak for all concerned when I say that the views expressed on this forum are not us non-oilfield workers taking "pot shots" at the work practices of oilfield workers.
I think it is more about understanding how and why things are allowed to be done that way and who is ultimately responsible.
Crane operators sue after high-pressure gas well explosion
3/29/2010 9:49 AM By Michelle Massey, East Texas Bureau
MARSHALL- After a blow out at a wellhead injured one man and killed another, the survivors have filed a suit against the well owners.
Subcontracted to help Innovate Wellsite Systems change out pins on high-pressure gas wellheads, crane truck operators James Dennis and James Siler were in the path of a violent explosion when a wellhead blew out. Silers was severely injured while Dennis suffered fatal injuries. The incident occurred Nov. 18, 2009, in DeSoto Parish, La.
Barbara Dennis, individually and as representative of the estate of James Dennis, Jill Dennis, Lauren Dennis and James Siler filed suit against Chesapeake Energy Corp. on March 19, in the Marshall division of the Eastern District of Texas.
The families of the workers claim Chesapeake Energy is liable for the men's injuries for failing to "kill the well." According to the lawsuit, Innovate employees requested that a down hole packer be used to keep the pressure of the well downhole away from the wellhead where the work was being preformed.
"Chesapeake refused to take the time to do so and wanted Innovative to continue the work with the lubricator which was set," the lawsuit states.
You can be sure that Chesapeake Energy will be doing everything it can to prove that either Innovative or the actual employees were in fact at fault.Have a look at this court case - read right to the end. The finger pointing is amazing and even someones obesity is called into question.
http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/ebriefs/09/09103001.pdfCasing landing practice varies widely. When asked how a failed string of casing was landed an Oklahoma consulting engineer responded, "It was hung according to the API standard. We slacked off one third the weight". Many operators and/or their field supervisor shave no policy regarding hanging casing-they leave casing hanging to the tool pusher. One company hung no weight to save the cost of a wellhead. The casing lasted four days before it failed.
Tool pushers generally learn from another tool pusher. They have been known to hang from 25% to 125% of the as cemented weight. It is rare that they have any rational reason for the practice they follow.
The last sentence is a bit scary.I knew of a welder on an oil rig in New Zealand who was directed to weld two pieces of 1" wire rope together by the Toolpusher. It was not to pull anything, purely to retrieve the rope but as you are well aware wire rope can have a mind of it's own and the welder refused. He was on the next helicopter back to shore.
Was looking through Google yesterday and there were numerous Wellhead Installation companies listing certified or qualified welders. Only one out of twenty listed the actual qualification - "All our welders are certified to AWS D1.1" - ????.
A rig-welder or company may get called up by Company A to weld a well head in the middle of nowhere based on the fact he/they have advertised himself / themselves as qualified / certified. Who at this rig (miles from anywhere) is capable of reviewing a WPS or Welder Qualification to ensure it is appropriate ? No one of course.
Everything is welded, tested and off he goes. No problem.
What if something goes wrong and someone is injured or killed ? Company A is going to hire the biggest bunch of lawyers and they will go straight for the throat.
Everything that happened from the time you arrived to the time you left will be scrutinised and picked apart.
Ultimately, it is Company A's responsibility to ensure the welder is suitably qualified to perform the work as required but if the welder was supposedly certified to AWS D1.1 and was welding pressure piping he better find a pretty deep hole to hide in.
Ultimately, who is responsible for quality control on oil field work ? - it appears no one.
If something happens and it ends up in court the winner will be the company with the biggest pockets - and we know that won't be the poor old welder.
It seems strange that after the BP disaster that the industry hasn't cracked down on everything to do with oil exploration quality and safety.
Hope this hasn't seemed like a rant,
Regards,
Shane