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U.S. D E P A R T M E N T OF H E A L T H A N D H U M A N SERVIC ES
P u b lic H e alth S ervice
C e nte rs fo r Disease C o n tro l
DISCLAIMER
Mention of company names or products does not constitute endorsement
by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
PREFACE
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-596) states
that the purpose of Congress expressed in the Act is "to assure so far as
possible every working m an and woman in the Nation safe and healthful
working
conditions and to preserve our human resources... b y a m o n g other
things,
"providing for research in the field of occupational safety and
health...and by developing innovative methods, techniques, and approaches
for dealing with occupational safety and health problems."
Later in the
Act, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is
charged with carrying out this policy.
One method by which NIOSH responds
to this charge is to publish Technical Guidelines.
Technical
Guidelines
present
the
results
of
comprehensive
systematic
analyses of occupational hazards, and suggestions for preventing injury and
disease
among workers. They are intended to
supplement existing Federal
safety and health standards and may provide background useful in formulating
new standards for development.
In the interest of wide dissemination of
this
information,
NIOSH
distributes
Technical
Guidelines
to
other
appropriate
agencies,
organized
labor,
industry,
and
public
interest
groups.
We
welcome
suggestions
concerning
the
content,
style,
and
distribution of these documents.
This particular document addresses workers engaged in land-based oil and gas
well drilling operations.
It was prepared by the staff of the Division of
Safety Research in conjunction with the Division of Standards Development
and
Technology
Transfer,
NIOSH.
I
am
pleased
to
acknowledge
the
contributions
made
by
consultants
and
reviewers,
in
particular
the
International Association of Drilling
Contractors
(IADC),
the American
Petroleum Institute (API), representatives of other Federal agencies, other
reviewers, and the staff of the Institute.
However, responsibility for the
conclusions
and recommendations belongs
solely
to the
Institute.
All
comments by reviewers, whether or not incorporated into the final version,
are being sent with this document to the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) for consi
iii
ABSTRACT
This report serves as an informative analysis of the safety hazards to which
workers are exposed during the drilling of land-based oil and gas wells.
Comprehensive safety recommendations are presented for the control of worker
exposure to the hazards associated with the performance and/or use of the
tasks, tools, equipment, and work practices in the drilling of land-based
oil and gas wells.
The magnitude of the occupational safety problem in land-based oil and gas
well drilling is defined through the development of data estimating the
injury and illness incidence rates for the industry (SIC 1381).
A detailed
analysis
of
738 accident case histories
from Federal and State OSHA
investigations, as well as workers' compensation injury reports, identifies
which tasks, tools, and equipment are the most hazardous to the worker and
how the worker is injured during well drilling operations.
Recommendations
are
presented
for
engineering
controls
and/or
operational
safe
work
practices to reduce the occupational hazards of drilling operations.
REVIEW CONSULTANTS
Ron Baker
Assistant Coordinator of Training
Petroleum Extension Service
University of Texas at Austin
c/o 4802 Eilers Avenue
Austin, Texas 78751
Howard Cutter
Corporate Safety Director
Alyeska Pipeline Company
1835 South Bragow Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99512
Bill Person
Assistant Safety Director
Rowan Companies, Inc.
1900 Post Oak Tower Building
5051 Westheimer
Houston, Texas 77056
CONTENTS
P R E F A C E ..........................................................
iii
A B S T R A C T ..........................................................
iv
REVIEW CONSULTANTS
...............................................
.................................................
I.
II.
A.
B.
C.
III.
DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM THE HAZARDS OF THE OIL AND GAS WELL DRILLING INDUSTRY . . . .
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
IV.
3
5
17
27
27
27
35
37
44
48
48
52
55
73
95
R E F E R E N C E S ........................................................
101
APPENDIX A.
109
APPENDIX B.
129
141
C.
v ii
55
FIGURES
II-l.
II-2.
II-3.
II-4.
II-5.
II-6.
II-7.
4
7
8
10
12
24
25
TABLES
II-l.
II-2.
II-3.
II-4.
II-5.
III-l.
III-2.
III-3.
III-4.
III-5.
III-6.
viii
18
18
21
23
23
28
30
31
32
33
36
TABLES (CONTINUED)
III-7.
111-14.
111-15.
IV-1.
IV-2.
76
90
B-l.
132
III-8.
III-9.
111-10.
III-ll.
111-12.
111-13.
ix
37
38
39
42
43
44
49
52
52
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This report was developed by the Division of Safety Research (DSR), National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Mr. Ted A. Pettit and Mr.
Peter M. Bochnak, Standards and Consultation Branch, DSR, served as Project
Officer and Criteria Manager respectively.
Technical editing for the report
was provided by Herbert Linn, DSR.
Support was provided under Contract No.
210-80-0040 by Enviro Control Division of Dynamac Corporation, Rockville,
Maryland.
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE
Based on U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
reports, it is estimated that employees in the oil and gas field service
industries (Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 138) were injured at
about twice the rate of general industry employees from 1972 through 1980.
During this study, examination of three separate sources of injury data
(Chapter III) indicated that in the oil and gas well drilling! industry
(SIC 1381) workers (excluding clerical and administrative support personnel)
may have been injured at an even higher rate.
Calculations based on these
sources of injury data have produced yearly injury incidence rates that
range from 11.2 (lost-time injuries only, as computed by the International
Association of Drilling Contractors) to 49.4 (compensable injuries recorded
by the Texas Workers' Compensation State Board of Insurance) incidents per
100
person-years.
The
workers
involved
in
drilling
activities,
the
population at risk in this study, increased in number from approximately
25,000 in 1971 to nearly 80,000 in 1980.
Employees who work on drilling rigs may be injured while performing tasks
and using equipment unique to well drilling operations; furthermore, these
tasks and operations are not specifically addressed by existing Federal
occupational safety and health
standards.
The Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) General Industry Standards (29 CFR 1910) are
applicable to many of the general tasks, equipment, and conditions that are
present at well drilling operations; e.g., welding and cutting, scaffolding,
handtools,
ladders,
hydrogen
sulfide
exposure
levels
and electrical
equipment.
However, many of the tasks, equipment, and conditions present at
well drilling sites are not specifically regulated by existing Federal
safety standards.
Some of these include:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Tongs
Rotary tables and bushings
Catheads and catlines
Elevators and slips
Drill pipe and casing
Derrick operations
Making and breaking drill pipe connections
Well blowout
Hydrogen sulfide monitoring.
as
used
in
this
report
refers
to
(SIC
1381),
and
to
recommend
safe
work
practices
and
technologic
improvements that will reduce worker exposure to the identified hazards.
CHAPTER II
DESCRIPTION OF THE OIL AND GAS WELL DRILLING INDUSTRY
The first section of this chapter briefly describes the oil and gas field
industries that interact in developing an oil or gas well; the next section
describes the technology and processes used by oil and gas well drilling
companies; and the final section assesses the population at risk in the oil
and gas well drilling industry.
This document is specifically directed toward tasks associated with oil and
gas well
drilling and,
concomitantly,
those
industries performing
the
drilling (SIC 1381).
To facilitate an understanding of the development of
an oil well, an overview of all tasks necessary to complete a well is
presented in the following section.
A.
Oil and gas field companies (SIC 138) perform tasks associated with the
construction of oil or gas wells and the subsequent maintenance of a
producing field.
The industry is composed of companies that erect the rig
and drill the hole (SIC 1381); companies that provide ancillary services
such as well completion, casing, and perforating (SIC 1389); and companies
that offer exploratory services (SIC 1382).
The size of the drilling rig, the number of employees, and the duration of
the drilling operation depends on the depth of the well to be drilled, which
may range from a few hundred feet to over 30,000 feet.
Drilling times tend
to increase exponentially with well depth and may vary from a week to more
than 2 years.
As many as 20 different companies may perform their specialized operations
at each well site.
The scope of this document is limited to the tasks and
operations performed in drilling a well.
Figure II-l is a flow chart
showing
the
individual
operations
(underscored
in
the
section
below)
required in the construction and maintenance of a producing well, starting
from the geological survey.
Once a well site has been selected by a geological survey team, the site
preparation will usually be subcontracted to a company specializing in
earthmoving operations.
This contractor will level the site, dig and dike
any required reservoirs, and excavate the cellar.
The "spudding-in" of the
starter hole and running of conductor casing may be subcontracted to a
service company, or the drilling contractor may choose to perform this task
itself after it has erected the derrick.
The surface casing will then be
cemented in place to ensure well integrity and blowout
prevention.
Meanwhile, a trucking company will be transporting the drilling rig and
FIGURE II-l.
i
f
DRAWWORKS
HOIST
MUD
C IR C U LA TIN G
PUMPS
PRIM A RY
POWER
SOURCE
i
f
KELLY
BUSHING
M ASTER
BUSHING
k.
SH A LE
S H A KER
I
1
U_
------------------------
FIGURE II-2.
SW IV EL
-----------------------------------------------------------------------_ >
R O TA R Y
TABLE
MAST
BLO CKS
W IR E LIN E
HOOK
K ELLY
D R IL L
STRING
7+a
Copyright Petroleum Extension Serviof;^ ^ c .
The University of Texas at Austin (P E T E X )
Reprinted with special permission by Department of Health and
Human Services 1983. Further reproduction prohibited without
permission of copyright holder.
-*r
-Thsa,.-.-
C IR C U LA T IN G S Y S T E M
1. Mud p it*
2. Mud p um pt
3. Standpipe
4. R otary hoee
5. B u lk mud
comportants storage
6. Mud return line
7. S h a le sh aker
6. Deailter
9. D esand ar
10. D eg assar
11. R eserve pits
R O TATIN G EQ U IPM EN T
12. Swtvel
13. Kelly
14. K e lly bushing
15. Rotary table
H O S T IN G S Y S T E M
16. C row n M ock and
w ater table
17. M onkey board
18. M ast
19. Traveling block
20. Hook
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
Eleva to rs
D raw w o rks
C athead
B ra k e
W eight Indicator
D riller's co nsole
S u b structu re
Drilling line
W E LL-C O N T R O L
EQ U IPM EN T
29. A nn ular blowout preventer
30. R am blowout preventers
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
D rill co lla rs
D rill bit
A nn ulu s
Pipe ra ck s
C a tw a lk
Pip e ramp
Ratho le
M ousehole
To n g s
Tong co unterw eights
M IS C E LLA N E O U S
49. Doghouse
50. W a lkw a ys
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
C e lla r
C a sin g h ead
8ta lrw a ya
H olatlng line
G in pole
U n n aw tv oI T*m I Ausftn
I fft*
Baicon* ftMMrch C ani*
In addition to rotating the drill string and bit, the rotary table
provides for free vertical motion of the drill as the bit
penetrates into the earth.
Torque is transmitted from the rotary
table to the drill by the kelly, which also conveys the drilling
mud that is pumped into it through a swivel connector.
Mud pumps force the mud up a standpipe and through the flex ib le
kelly hose to the swivel, where i t enters the d r i l l string via the
kelly and eventually emerges at the b i t in
the well bore.
Continuous pressure (up to 3,000 psi) forces the mud up the well
annulus and out the mud return pipe, where i t is f i r s t screened of
larger cuttings at a shale shaker and then processed through a
series of desanders and d e s ilte rs prior to recycling (Figure
I I - 5 ) . Cuttings carried by the d r illin g fluid are taken for
analysis to determine the composition of the stratum being d r ille d .
Hazards associated with working
onor around
components of
circulating fluid systems are various. Mixing of the mud exposes
workers to airborne respirable dust and chemical splashes.
Tanks
in which mud is mechanically stirred are hazardous when unguarded,
or when effective lockout procedures are
not followed during
maintenance operations.
Walking surfaces nearby may be slippery,
especially in wet or icy weather.
Pressure surges causing line
rupture are an occasional hazard.
e.
12
13
3.
Directional Drilling
Redrilling
a.
Blowouts
and exploratory d r illin g ; as such, they were not part of the employee
population at risk in the land-based o i l and gas well d r il lin g industry.
TABLE I I - l
PROFILE OF OIL AND GAS WELL DRILLING
COMPANIES IN 1980 (SIC 1381)
No. of Reporting
No. of Rigs
Companies
Owned
183
1
262
2-5
98
6-10
56
11-20
18
>20
Unreported
147
Total
764
Adapted from U.S. Land D rilling Contractors [8].
TABLE II-2
NUMBER OF WELL DRILLING FACILITIES
AND EMPLOYEES (SIC 1381)1
Total
No. of
F a c ilitie s
No. of
Employees
2,614
685
390
193
162
33
14
4,0912
7,904
8,332
11,456
12,621
23,097
11,076
13,630
88,1163
No. of Employees
a t Each F ac ility
1-7
8-19
20-49
50-99
100-249
250-499
>500
18
TABLE I1-3
CENSUS OF ACTIVE DRILLING RIGS
State
Alabama
Alaska
Arkansas
Arizona
California
Inland
Offshore
Colorado
Florida
Idaho
I llin o is
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
North
Inland Waters
South
Offshore
Maryland
Michigan
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
New York
North Dakota
Ohio
1980
1979
1978
1977
10.8
13.8
26.8
1.0
120.2
104.7
15.5
61.1
4.1
2.6
25.4
0.1
120.2
1.7
427.4
54.9
76.6
156.4
139.4
0.2
30.7
57.6
49.2
14.3
4.6
117.6
7.0
83.4
73.7
12.6
13.5
10.4
0.0
95.6
85.7
9.9
40.2
5.3
1.8
13.1
0.3
66.0
0.4
347.0
34.5
62.1
112.3
138.1
0.5
25.1
40.2
32.9
9.2
4.1
87.5
8.7
56.5
46.3
12.5
15.5
13.9
0.4
94.1
86.3
7.8
41.1
6.3
3.2
28.4
4.4
75.5
3.3
338.3
39.8
62.5
113.9
122.1
0.7
24.0
44.5
30.1
9.6
2.9
75.5
7.0
39.1
45.6
13
15
15
1
89
81
8
45
6
1
16
3
67
2
292
45
57
81
109
0
24
42
27
9
3
70
6
24
33
1973
1972
1971
12
9
18
1
72
70
2
45
7
0
7
1
44
2
203
29
58
49
67
0
24
29
24
7
1
79
7
12
30
13
5
15
2
51
49
2
42
9
0
6
0
28
1
205
23
55
56
71
0
20
29
19
5
0
62
1
10
36
15
5
15
1
46
45
1
35
19
0
14
1
24
2
214
19
54
59
82
0
17
37
20
6
0
55
0
7
22
8
5
15
1
46
40
6
30
11
0
13
1
29
2
194
16
50
54
74
1
12
39
17
5
1
47
1
9
17
17
14
15
1
89
85
4
38
5
1
22
2
51
1
231
34
49
65
83
1
24
32
28
8
2
54
9
19
26
14
14
14
0
80
77
3
42
9
0
19
2
57
1
227
31
55
64
77
0
28
25
27
9
0
71
8
17
21
TABLE I 1-3
CENSUS OF ACTIVE DRILLING RIGS (Concluded)
State
1980
1979
1978
Oklahoma
246.7
258.2
397.3
Pennsylvania
29.0
25.2
28.9
Rhode Island
4.3
Offshore
2.1
4.0
1.4
South Dakota
1.9
2.3
Texas
987.7
770.2
855.0
Gulf Coast
210.5
141.3
197.0
Offshore
72.1
50.3
46.9
North
147.2
122.4
153.2
50.8
Panhandle
48.1
60.4
East
119.8
107.0
116.6
West Central 140.4
109.4
117.2
West
247.1
191.7
163.7
Utah
32.1
42.4
28.9
West Virginia 37.8
29.8
27.1
Wyoming
147.2
155.5
136.4
Others
3.3
2.9
2.0
Total1
2,910.3 2,177.2 2,258.8
Total Land-based
Rigs2
2, 604.6 1,912.8 2,015.2
^Total rig census
Journal [11].
2Total land-based
inland water rig
count.
Adapted from the
ill].
1977
233
15
1
3
779
175
42
142
42
73
136
169
30
17
118
2
2,001
1,784
177
10
0
1
637
142
21
107
41
47
100
179
26
10
107
7
1,660
1,504
146
14
0
1
508
128
21
67
35
45
62
150
42
16
107
3
1,471
1,323
1973
1972
1971
115
11
0
1
376
109
9
22
23
30
82
101
38
20
70
3
1,194
1,057
90
8
0
1
338
95
6
16
22
26
78
95
34
16
60
4
1,107
964
90
9
0
1
291
79
5
15
16
23
76
77
17
17
45
2
976
841
1975
Activity by Year
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
Total No.
of Wells
32,450 37,614 37,648 44,870 46,974 48,738 63,337
Completed
Total
Footage
(1,000 ft) 150,310 170,722 170,406 199,951 218,454 231,818 282,488
Average
Well
Depth (ft)
4,632 4,539 4,526 4,456 4,651 4,756 4,460
Average No.
of Active Land
Rotary Rigs
1,323 1,504 1,486 1,784 2,015 1,913 2,605
Compiled from the Oil and Gas Journal and Table II-3 [11, 15, 16-19]
23
Year
FIGURE I 1-6. TEN-YEAR GROWTH OF THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF ACTIVE U.S. LAND RIGS (1971-80)
Compiled from the Oil and Gas Journal's "Rotary-rig Activity by States" [11]
(See Table II-3 ).
340
320
300
280
260
240
220
200
180
160'
140
120
100
l72
1--------1
--------1
--------1
--------1
--------1
-------1979*
-1--------r
1974
1975
1976
1977*
1978
1980
1973
* D a t a n ot
available
CHAPTER I I I
DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEMTHE HAZARDS OF
THE OIL AND GAS WELL DRILLING INDUSTRY
This chapter is divided into two major areas of emphasis: the development
of data pertaining to the injury incidence rates of the o i l and gas well
d r il lin g industry, and an id e n tific a tio n of the tasks performed in well
d r illin g operations that are most hazardous to the population at risk . Also
included is a discussion of training and the new employee, as well as a
discussion of the costs of in ju rie s to the industry.
A. General Hazard Assessment of the Oil and Gas Field Services Industry
For the o i l and gas fie ld services industry (SIC 138), the BLS reported that
between 1972 and 1980 the average yearly injury and illn e s s incidence rate
was about 19.5 cases per 100 full-tim e workers (Table I I I - l ) . For these
same years, the average injury incidence rata for heavy construction, not
including highway, was 18.3; for bituminous coal mining, about 12.1; and for
the private sector manufacturers of durable goods, about 14.9 (Table
I I I - l ) . Although the tasks performed by the o i l and gas well fie ld services
industry are not e n tire ly equatable to coal mining or heavy construction,
they are a ll high-hazard industries (as evidenced by th e ir injury
s t a t i s t i c s ) and can be used for comparative purposes. The severity rate for
the o il and gas field services industry (SIC 138) averaged 211.8; i . e . , for
every 100 employees there were 211.8 lo s t workdays (Table I I I - l ) . The
average severity rates for heavy construction, bituminous coal mining, and
the durable goods industries for the same years were 116.5, 158.4, and 82.5,
respectively (Table I I I - l ) .
B. Hazard Assessment of the D rilling Industry
National injury s t a t i s t i c s compiled by the BLS are not available for the
specific four-digit c la s s ific a tio n s of the industries that comprise SIC 138;
i . e . , d r il lin g , 1381; exploration, 1382; and o il fie ld services, 1389.
Consequently, three techniques using d iffe re n t data bases were used to
estimate injury incidence rates for the d r il lin g industry: injury
s t a t i s t i c s tabulated by the Texas Workers' Compensation State Board of
Insurance (TWC), injury data developed by the International Association of
D rilling Contractors (IADC), and s ta te injury s t a t i s t i c s compiled by the
Department of Labor's Supplementary Data System (SDS). The injury incidence
rates calculated in th is section are not d ire c tly comparable to BLS rates
since the population at ris k is limited to the workers a t risk at the
d r il lin g operations and does not include the e n tire worker population for
d r illin g companies ( i . e . , support s t a f f , c le r i c a l, and sales personnel in
addition to those workers at risk in d r il lin g operations).
27
TABLE I I I - l
AVERAGE OCCUPATIONAL INJURY AND ILLNESS INCIDENCE RATES FOR
SELECTED INDUSTRIES, 1972-1980
Industry
All
Heavy Construction
(Exc. Highway)
(SIC 162)
Bituminous Coal
(SIC 12)
Manufacturing:
Durable Goods
Oil and Gas
(SIC 138)
1 Estimated
2 Number of
3 Number of
Reported by
Note: Data
Only
Avg. Annual
Employment
(Thousands)
Total
Cases1
(Thousands)
67,245.4
5,641.0
9.7
58.9
34,481.4
511.9
210.1
11,673.2
192.4
92.3
24.8
1,735.8
37.7
18.3
12.1
14.9
19.5
116.5
158.4
82.5
211.8
597.5
344.2
9,666.2
414.0
Incidence
Rate2
Severity
Rate3
Lost
Workdays
(Thousands)
by multiplying the number of employees by the reported incident rate >anddividing by 100.
to ta l recordable in juries and illnesses/100 full-tim e workers.
lost workdays/100 full-tim e workers.
the Bureau of Labor S ta tis tic s [20 - 28].
for 1972 were not reported for SIC 12, and data for 1977 were not reported for SIC 138.
data for the years reported were used to calculate averages.
TABLE II1-2
ESTIMATED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES INJURED AND INJURY INCIDENCE RATES FOR OIL AND GAS WELL
DRILLING OPERATIONS BASED ON LAND-BASED WELLS DRILLED IN TEXAS
Wells Drilled
Year in Texas1
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
Tot./
Avg.
8,422
9,645
12,309
12,514
14,421
14,747
72,058
31.7
30.2
32.3
30.9
31.9
31.1
31.4
4,499
5,533
6,360
6,340
8,625
6,820
38,177
14,192
18,321
19,690
20,518
27,038
21,929
121,688
1 From the American Petroleum In s titu te Quarterly Review of D rilling S ta tis tic s [29-34].
2 Calculated by dividing the number of wells d rille d in Texas by the number of wells d r ille d
nationwide and multiplying by 100.
3 Reported by the Texas Workers' Compensation State Board of Insurance [35] (Adjusted to r e f le c t
land-based in ju rie s).
^ Extrapolated from the percentage of d r illin g a c tiv ity and the number of in juries in Texas.
Person-years (from Table II- 4 .)
^ Injuries per 100 person-years. Calculated by dividing the estimated number of in ju rie s
nationwide by the estimated population a t risk and multiplying by 100.
^ Calculated by dividing the to ta l estimated number of in juries nationwide by the to ta l
estimated population at risk and multiplying by 100.
43.8
45.2
42.7
45.0
49.4
35.5
43.37
TABLE III-3
ESTIMATED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES INJURED AND INJURY INCIDENCE RATES FOR OIL AND GAS WELL
DRILLING OPERATIONS BASED ON LAND-BASED ACTIVE RIGS IN TEXAS
Active Rigs
Active Rigs
Texas as a %
Year
in Texas1
Nationwide1
of Nationwide2
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
367
487
616
617
737
808
3,632
Tot./
Avg.
1,057
1,323
1,504
1,486
1,784
2,015
9,169
34.7
36.8
41.0
41.5
41.3
40.1
39.6
Injuries
in Texas3
4,428
5,394
6,237
6,099
8,351
6,572
37,081
Est. Injuries
Nationwide^
12,761
14,658
15,212
14,696
20,220
16,389
93,936
32,408
40,563
46,113
45,561
54,697
61,780
281,122
Rate6
39.4
36.1
33.0
32.3
37.0
26.5
33.47
TABLE II1-4
ESTIMATED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES INJURED AND INJURY INCIDENCE RATES FOR OIL AND GAS WELL
DRILLING OPERATIONS BASED ON LAND-BASED WELL FOOTAGE IN TEXAS
Year
Weil Footage
in Texas^
(Thousands)
1973 44,654
1974 49,677
1975 61,484
1976 63,743
1977 75,346
1978 78,516
Tot./
Avg. 373,420
Well Footage
Nationwide^
Texas as a % Injuries Est. Injuries
(Thousands) of Nationwide2 in Texas-^ Nationwide^
129,175
144,990
170,041
176,871
204,040
221,401
1,046,518
34.6
34.3
36.2
36.0
36.9
35.5
35.7
4,473
5,480
6,293
6,263
8,483
6,743
37,735
12,928
15,977
17,384
17,397
22,989
18,994
105,669
39.9
39.4
37.7
38.2
42.0
30.7
37.67
1 From the American Petroleum I n s titu te Quarterly Review of D rilling S ta tis tic s [29-34].
2 Calculated by dividing the number of well footage in Texas by the number of well footage nationwide
and multiplying by 100.
^ Reported by the Texas Workers' Compensation State Board of Insurance [35] (adjusted to re fle c t
land-based in ju rie s).
^ Extrapolated from the percentage of d r illin g a c tiv ity and the number of in ju ries in Texas.
^ Person-years (from Table II-4)
6 Injuries per 100 person-years. Calculated by dividing the estimated number of in juries nationwide
by the estimated population at risk and multiplying by 100.
7 Calculated by dividing the to ta l estimated number of in juries nationwide by the to ta l estimated
population at risk and multiplying by 100.
Total
Personhours1
Lost-time
(Thousands) I n ju r ie s 1
Lost-time Injury
E st.
Incidence Rate^
Person- (per 100 personyears2
years )
57
92
92
116
113
131
59.1
56.2
59.8
63.7
58.1
57.8
24,337
35,961
41,466
54,646
54,181
74,972
1,439
2,020
2,480
3,478
3,147
4,330
12,169
17,981
20,733
27,323
27,091
37,486
11.8
11.2
12.0
12.7
11.6
11.6
601
59.1
285,563
16,894
142,783
11.84
The SDS data were analyzed to determine the injury incidence ra te for
the states reporting to SDS. Table III-6 summarizes the analysis and
shows the average injury incidence rate in these s ta te s to be 21.8.
4. Summary of Injury Incidence Rates for Oil and Gas Well D rilling
Because national injury incidence figures have not been compiled and
reported, three data sources and three techniques have been used to
estimate the injury incidence rates for o i l and gas well d r il lin g
in ju rie s. Two estimating techniques used the actual numbers of paid
injury claims (medical and/or indemnity) reported to the TWC and the SDS.
The f i r s t estimating technique used actual workers' compensation injury
claims for employees of o i l and gas well d r il lin g contractors th at were
paid in the State of Texas. The percentage of nationwide d r il lin g
a c tiv ity which Texas represented was determined u t ili z i n g three
technology variables. Extrapolating injury figures to a l l d r illin g
a c t iv it ie s shows that the average incidence rate of compensable in ju ries
requiring medical treatment was 38.1 (Tables III-2 , -3, -4).
The second estimating method is based on the annual safety awards
competition held by the IADC. P articipatin g companies, representing
about 47% of the employment figures and 17% of the member companies in
1980, report only disabling (lost-tim e) in ju rie s and compute the
incidence rates based on to ta l employment figures (population a t risk
plus support s t a f f ) . The IADC disabling (lost-tim e) injury incidence
rate for o il and gas well d rillin g averaged about 11.8 between 1975 and
1980 (Table I I I - 5 ) .
The third method is based on the 1976-1980 SDS injury data base which
includes accident information from a 17-state sample representing only
18.4% of the d r illin g nationwide (Table I I- 3 ) . I t was estimated that
the injury incidence rate in these states was 21.8 (Table I I I - 6 ) .
It is the conclusion of th is study that regardless of which data source
and estimating method are used, workers in the o i l and gas well d r il lin g
industry are injured at an unacceptably high ra te .
C. F atality S ta tis tic s
The number of active o il and gas well d r il lin g rig s in the State of Texas
between 1973 and 1978 accounted for approximately 39.6% of the d r il lin g in
the United States (Table I I I - 3 ) . Table III-7 presents data for these years
on the number of worker f a t a l i t i e s , reported by the TWC, in the o il and gas
well d r illin g industry [35]. There were 148 deaths in the Texas d r illin g
industry during these 6 yearsan average of approximately 25 deaths per
year. Since Texas represents approximately 39.6% of the national d r il lin g
a c tiv ity , based on active rig s , an average of 63 f a t a l i t i e s per year of
workers in the o il and gas well d r il lin g industry may be estimated by
extrapolating the average number of deaths per year in Texas to the e n tire
industry.
35
TABLE II1-6
ESTIMATED AVERAGE INJURY INCIDENCE RATES FOR OIL AND GAS WELL DRILLING (SIC 1381)
IN SDS REPORTING STATES BASED ON SDS INJURY STATISTICS FOR 1976-1980
State
No.Years
Injuries
Reported
ALASKA
ARIZONA
ARKANSAS
COLORADO
IDAHO
INDIANA
KENTUCKY
MARYLAND
MICHIGAN
MISSISSIPPI
MONTANA
NEBRASKA
N.MEXICO
NEW YORK
OHIO
S.DAKOTA
UTAH
TOT./AVG.
1
2
^
^
5
1
4
5
5
4
5
5
5
1
5
5
3
3
2
4
5
No. Reported
Injuries
1976-19801
Adjusted No.
Injuries
1976-19802
Reported No.
Active Rigs
1976-19803
1236
2
89
1236
106
22
434
8
836
258
2280
359
698
106
806
34
743
9253
1236
10
111
1236
106
28
434
8
836
1290
2280
359
1163
177
2015
43
743
12075
71.8
3.4
81.1
225.4
9.6
9.8
8.4
2.4
127.8
216.3
167.2
50.1
404.6
37.7
224.6
10.6
152.4
1803.2
Est. Pop.
at Risk^
Incidence
(Person-years) Rate^
2201.4
104.2
2486.5
6910.8
294.3
300.5
257.5
73.6
3918.3
6631.8
5126.4
1536.1
12405.0
1155.9
6886.2
325.0
4672.6
55286.1
56.1
9.6
4.5
17.9
36.0
9.3
168.5
10.9
21.3
19.5
44.5
23.4
9.4
15.3
29.3
13.2
15.9
21.86
Reported by the Bureau of Labor S ta tis tic s , Supplementary Data System [45],
Adjusted to re fle c t to ta l in juries for states reporting for less than five years.
Total rig activ ity for SDS reporting sta te s [11] (Table II-3 ).
Calculated by multiplying the number of employees per rig (7) by the number of sh ifts
per day (3) by the number of hours per s h if t (8) by the number of days per year (365) by
the average number of rigs and dividing the resu lt by 2,000 (the number of hours worked by
an individual in a year).
^ Injuries per 100 person-years. Calculated by dividing adjusted injuries for SIC 1381 by
the estimated population at risk , m ultiplied by 100.
6 Calculated by dividing to ta l adjusted in ju rie s for SIC 1381 by the to ta l estimated population
at risk, multiplied by 100.
367
487
616
617
737
808
605
1,057
1,323
1,504
1,486
1,784
2,015
1,528
34.7
36.8
41.0
41.5
41.3
40.1
39.6
27
26
17
20
32
26
25
78
71
41
48
77
65
63
[11].
[35]
[35]
TABLE I II -8
DRILLING OPERATIONS AND INJURY DISTRIBUTION
Falls Falls Mud
Pump
D rilling Hand- from
on
Tank Inspection and
A ctiv ities tools Ladders Stairway Tasks Maintenance Burns Other
No. of
Reported
Injuries
603
32
12
Percentage
of Total
14
63
1.9
1.0 8.5
0.3
1.6
0.7
4.3
81.7
Compiled from 738 accident reports of OSHA in vestig ations, company accident
reports, workers' compensation reports, and published case h is to r ie s (Tables
III-9 and 111-10) [10, 46-49].
After further refinement of the 603 f a t a l ity and injury reports (Table
III-9 ) a ttrib u ta b le sp ec ific ally to well d r il lin g a c t i v i t i e s , the major
a c t iv it ie s (tasks, tools, and equipment) contributing to o il and gas well
d r il lin g accidents were found to be as follows:
o Handling of d r i l l pipes, c o lla rs, and casings resulted in 22.2% of the
accidents and 16% of the reported f a t a l i t i e s .
o Tong operations resulted in 15.3% of the accidents and 10% of the
reported f a t a l i t i e s .
o Derrick operations resulted in 8.3% of the accidents and 31% of the
reported f a t a l i t i e s .
o Cables and chains were involved in 8.0% of the accidents and 6% of the
reported f a t a l i t i e s .
o Elevator operations resulted in 6.3% of the accidents and 4% of the
reported f a t a l i t i e s .
Table III-9 presents a detailed analysis of accident reports sp ecific to
d r il lin g a c t iv it ie s , and Table 111-10 presents an analysis of accidents that
occurred while tasks typical of other in dustries were being performed. Case
h is to r ie s representative of these accidents are presented in Appendix A.
The IADC, in i t s "Charlie Report for 1980", c la s s if ie s to ta l in ju rie s
associated with rig a c tiv ity or equipment (Table I I I - l l ) [43]. In 1977
through 1979 the IADC also reported major categories (Table 111-12) [40-42],
which are similar to those used by the SDS for reporting s ta te injury data;
e .g ., caught in or between, struck by or against, f a l l s of personnel,
overexertion, fallin g objects, flying objects, and temperature extremes.
Further examination of Table I I I - l l shows that approximately 48% of the
38
TABLE II1-9
TYPES AND CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS SUSTAINED DURING TASKS
UNIQUE TO WELL DRILLING OPERATIONS1
Type of Accident
Tool/equipment
Foreign Fall to
Associated with Struck by/ Caught in/ Overexer- Substance Working Fall to NonclasAccident
against
between t i o n ( l i f t ) in Eye Surface Below sifia b le
Tongs
53
35
3
1
D rill pipes,
co llars, casing
51
62
2
3
13
3
Elevators
12
21
1
4
Slips
3
11
9
Catheads, catlines
4
5
1
Kelly
4
3
3
Spinning chains
1
1
5
Cables, Chains,
Ropes, Lines
23
8
1
3
3
5
5
Traveling blocks
14
2
Rotary table
4
4
2
Hose, Pipe,
Flow line
16
5
2
1
1
2
T0TAL(%) Fatal
92(15.3) 10
134(22.2)
38 (6.3)
23 (3.8)
10 (1.6)
10 (1.6)
7 (1.2)
17
4
48 (8.0)
16 (2.7)
10 (1.6)
6
4
2
27 (4.5)
1 Seven hundred th irty -e ig h t accident reports have been compiled from OSHA investigations, company
accident reports, workers' compensation reports, and published case h is to rie s [10, 46-49]; 603 of the
accident reports re la te d ire ctly to well d r illin g a c tiv itie s (Table III-8 ) and are analyzed in this
table. An analysis of the remaining 135 accident reports is presented in Table 111-10.
TABLE II1-9
TYPES AND CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS SUSTAINED DURING TASKS
UNIQUE TO WELL DRILLING OPERATIONS (Continued)
Tool/equipment
Associated with
Accident
Pipe rack
Swivel
Snubs
Jets
Boards
D rill bits
Brakes
BOP
Derrick
Rig floor
Substructure
Mousehole,
Rathole
Type of Accident
Foreign Fall to
Struck by/ Caught in/ Overexer- Substance Working F all to Nonclasbetween t i o n ( l i f t ) in Eye Surface Below sifia b le
against
4
3
1
1
3
2
3
2
3
2
4
1
3
1
5
2
1
9
7
41
1
1
5
3
2
TOTAL(%) Fatal
4 (0.7)
1
4 (0.7)
9 (1.5)
2 (0.3)
3 (0.5)
2 (0.3)
1
4 (0.7)
6
22 (3.6)
50 (8.3) 33
1
5 (0.8)
1
3 (0.5)
7 (1.2)
TABLE II1-9
TYPES AND CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS SUSTAINED DURING TASKS
UNIQUE TO WELL DRILLING OPERATIONS (Concluded)
Type of Accident
Tool/equipment
Foreign
Associated with Struck by/ Caught in/ Overexer- Substance
against
between t i o n ( l i f t ) in Eye
Accident
Vee-door
Cellar
Ladder into Cellar
Valve cap on
3
mud tank
1
1
Drawworks
Rigging
4
Welding, Cutting
1
Reserve p it
Motor vehicle
Other
7
10
7
TOTAL
220
176
55
13
(36.5)
(29.2)
(9.1)
(2.2)
(%)
Fall to
Working Fall to NonclasSurface Below sifia b le
2
4
2
1
7
31
(5.1)
68
(11.3)
TOTAL(%) Fatal
2 (0.3)
1
4 (0.7)
2 (0.3)
2
3 (0.5)
2
2 (0.3)
4 (0.7)
1
2 (0.3)
1
1 (0.2)
3
3
3 (0.5)
2
19
50 (8.3)
40
603
105
(6.6) (100.0)
(17.4)
TABLE I11-10
TYPES AND CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS SUSTAINED DURING TASKS
NOT UNIQUE TO WELL DRILLING OPERATIONS1
Accident Types
Handtools Ladders
Foreign substances
in the Eye
3
Fall to working
surface
2
1
Fall to below
Struck by/against
25
Caught in/between
2
Contact with
temperature extremes
Overexertion
Puncture
Heat exposure
Electrocution
Motor vehicle
Nonelassifiable
1
TOTALS
32
2
(23.7)
(1.5)
(%)
8
4
Burns
2
7
4
Other
Total(%)
10
13 (9.6)
6
3
14
8
21(15.6)
15(11.1)
39(28.9)
14(10.4)
5 (3.7)
4
5 (3.7)
3 (2.2)
3
1
2
3 (2.2)
1
3
5 (3.7)
3
3 (2.2)
7
9 (6.7)
63 135
7
(5.2) (46.6) (100. 0)
Fatal
12
(8.9)
5
(3.7)
1
14
(10.4)
4
1
6
(4.4)
1 Seven hundred th irty -e ig h t accident reports have been compiled from OSHA investigations, company accident
reports, workers' compensation reports, and published case h is to r ie s [10, 46-49]; 135 of the accident
reports concerned a c t iv it ie s not unique to well d rillin g a c t iv it ie s (Table III-8) and are analyzed in
this table. An analysis of the remaining 603 accident reports is presented in Table III-9 .
(%)
427
13.03
552
16.84
276
8.42
48
1.46
19
.58
148
4.52
155
4.73
13
.40
30
.92
41
1.25
2
.06
19
.58
106
3.23
147
4.48
16
.49
42
1.28
490
14.95
182
5.55
60
1.83
25
.76
74
2.26
406
12.38
TOTAL
3278
100.00
Adapted from the International Association of D rilling Contractors'
"Charlie Report for 1980" [43],
Tongs
Pipe
Cables, Chains, Ropes
Hose
Cathead
Elevator
Hand Tools
Air Tugger
Vehicles
Motors or Generators
Fans
Clutches or Brakes
Si ips
Falling Objects
Cranes
Belts or Pulleys
Personnel Falls
Overexertion
Rotary Tables
Temperature Extremes
Harmful Substances
Other
43
The percentage d istrib u tio n of accident types, as reported by both the IADC
and SDS for the 3-year period, 1977-1979, is highly correlated (Table
111- 12) .
TABLE I I I - 12
TYPE OF ACCIDENT OR EXPOSURE FOR OIL AND GAS WELL
DRILLING ACTIVITIES (1977-79)
Type of Accident
or Exposure
IADC1
Number Percent
SDS2
SIC 138
Number Percent
SDS2
SIC 1381
Number Percent
5,118
20.7
1,078
1,913
19.7
Struck by or against
22.4
14.6
20.2
3,592
829
1,725
15.2
Falls of personnel
4,162
975
Caught in or Between
1,694
19.9
16.9
17.9
602
10.8
2,841
Overexertion
920
11.5
11.0
660
602
7.1
2,925
12.1
Falling objects
11.9
2.6
3.2
645
273
221
4.1
Flying objects
748
3.1
3.0
169
Temperature extremes
3.1
265
4,648
1,130
13.3
18.8
927
All others
16.9
8,552 100.0
24,679 100.0
TOTAL
5,461
100.0
1 Compiled from reports of the International Association of D rilling
Contractors (IADC) [40-42].
2 Reported by the Bureau of Labor S ta tis tic s , Supplementary Data System
(SDS) [45].
E. How Injuries Occur in D rilling Operations
Inherent in a l l tasks is the potential that an accident w ill occur, although
the accident p oten tial may be greater for some tasks than for others.
Accidents, in turn, may re s u lt in in ju rie s, some more severe than others.
Injury severity is reflected by the nature of the injury (amputation,
fracture, laceration) and by the amount of time the injured employee is
unable to work.
A hazard has been defined as "a thing or condition that might operate
against success or safety: a possible source of p e r i l , danger, duress, or
d iff ic u lty " [54]. In th is report, which takes an operational approach to
the concept of hazard, those tasks which are more likely to re s u lt in severe
in ju rie s to workers are considered the more hazardous tasks.
44
TABLE 111-13
WORKERS' COMPENSATION LOSSES INCURRED BY THE
OIL AND GAS WELL DRILLING INDUSTRY, 1971-78
State
Alabama
Alaska
Arkansas
Colorado
I llin o is
Indiana
Kansas
Louisiana
Michigan
Mississippi
Montana
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Texas
Utah
Total
Average
Average
Compensation
Years
Reported Lossesl($/year)
1973-77
1972-77
1973-77
1973-76
1972-77
1973-77
1972-77
1973-77
1972-77
1972-76
1971-77
1973-77
1973-77
1971-78
1973-76
329,985
1,203,597
416,865
1,083,862
608,125
46,891
1,544,177
3,139,169
1,203,170
755,648
536,564
1,755,866
6,698,880
9,105,563
411,868
28,840,230
1,922,682
Average
Payroll1
($/year)
5,004,462
18,152,949
5,692,735
13,718,224
7,019,205
1,240,933
22,037,448
11,997,301
8,762,933
14,131,438
7,176,740
20,647,992
70,225,608
140,258,688
9,674,385
355,741,041
23,716,069
Payroll Paid
Average Well
in Compensa
Footage D rilled2
(ft./y e a r)
tion Losses (%)
6.6
6.6
7.3
7.9
8.7
3.8
7.0
26.2
13.7
5.3
7.5
8.5
9.5
6.5
4.3
8.6
1,123,655
446,814
1,963,036
5,823,623
2,564,963
856,158
10,743,261
16,477,052
2,241,429
3,905,173
2,383,769
6,709,484
20,826,149
62,236,657
1,533,450
139,834,673
9,322,312
Compensa
tion Losses
per Foot^($)
0.29
2.69
0.21
0.19
0.24
0.05
0.14
0.19
0.54
0.19
0.23
0.26
0.32
0.15
0.27
0.214
1 Compiled from reports by the National Council of Compensation Insurance [56] and the Texas
Workers' Compensation State Board of Insurance [35] (Adjusted to r e f le c t land-based compensation
losses and payroll).
2 Compiled from the American Petroleum In s titu te Quarterly Review of D rilling S ta tis tic s [29-34]
(for years 1973-78).
3 Calculated by dividing average incurred compensation loss by average well footage d r ille d for
reporting sta te s .
4 This s t a t i s t i c a l analysis incorporates a weighting factor that a ttrib u te s greater representation
to 1,000,000 feet d r ille d than to 100,000 feet d rille d .
but with the present level of d r il lin g a c tiv ity i t has become a necessity
[58]. Skilled hands are now at a premium and technical development may lag
behind job advancement. Insufficient crew training and lack of experienced
hands have been targeted by industry experts as the "greatest problem facing
the industry today" [59, 60].
A 1979 study of Canadian o il fie ld accidents, conducted for the Alberta
Division of Occupational Safety and Health, concludes:
The data suggests that accidents will be reduced when people
who work on well sites are selected properly, oriented well,
trained completely, retrained constantly, motivated always, and
retained to become career oil field staff.
Selecting properly from a more qualified pool of applicants
will begin to occur when escalation of activity in the industry
decreases, or levels out, or when better retention of workers
reduces the need for constant replacements.
At the present
time manpower
needs
are
so urgent
that
normal
selection
procedures are often by-passed.
Orientation would be improved by industry cooperating with
educational institutions in providing information and courses
to
prospective
employees
about
opportunities
in
the
oil
fields.
Recruitment should include exposure to packaged audio
visual orientation material that would take the surprise out of
first days on the job.
Training must compensate for lack of experience when new men,
because of necessity, are promoted rapidly.
The industry will
be
challenged
to
research
best
methods
and
to
implement
excellent programs.
Remaining
aware
of
danger,
as
familiarity
kills
caution,
requires constant retraining in a variety of ways in order to
retain interest.
This constitutes another developmental thrust
for training institutions and personnel.
Motivation to work safely and to stay with the industry must
come from the companies.
The opportunity to be employed year
around,
developing
pride
in working
for
a
good
company,
experiencing satisfaction with job conditions, knowing that the
work is meaningful and in being rewarded generously should
lessen the movement of workers through the industry.
It will
assist in raising public opinions about oil field work to the
status of a respected career.
This should reduce the number of
workers who say they are in it for the money only.
Government cooperation with
the high priority strategic
company
failure
50
management in addressing
paths identified in this
51
TABLE 111-14
INJURY BREAKDOWN BY LENGTH OF EMPLOYMENT
Length of Employment (Months)
24 and
6 and
12-23 over
under
7-11
No. of
Disabling
552
578
738
2,925
Injuries
Percent
12
12
of Total
61
15
Compiled from the 1979 IADC "Charlie Report" [42].
TABLE I I I - 15
REPORTED ACCIDENTS AND LENGTH OF EMPLOYMENT1
Length of Employment (Months)
No. of
Reported
Accidents
Percent
of Total
2-3
3-6
6-12
234
45
97
18
46
9
56
11
12 and
over
89
17
53
CHAPTER IV
COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR OIL AND GAS WELL DRILLING
According to an evaluation of existing State (Alaska, C alifornia, Michigan,
Utah, and Wyoming), international (Canada), and the consensus of industry
(API, ANSI, NFPA) safety standards, presented in Appendix B, most of the
operations, tasks, and equipment u tiliz e d in well d r il lin g operations are
covered by at le a st one existing safety standard. For these instances, the
applicable standard, or a consolidation of the existing standards, has been
incorporated into safety recommendations. For operations not covered in any
standards, such as guarding k elly bushings, elevator latching procedures,
positioning of s l ip s , techniques for transfer of d r i l l pipe from pipe racks
to vee-door, and water rescue equipment for reserve p i t s , recommendations
are based on d ire ct observation of industry in operation, information from
industry experts, and good safety practices. No attempt has been made to
present safety recommendations for tasks, to o ls, equipment, or operations
common to other in dustries; e .g ., handtools, general machine guarding,
sanitary f a c i l i t i e s , welding, or blasting . Safety standards and safe work
practices for these areas are adequately addressed in OSHA General Industry
Standards (29 CFR 1910) and should be applied to the d r illin g industry.
The safety recommendations for o il and gas d r illin g operations have been
organized into three major areas:
A. General safety recommendations
B. Safety guidelines for well d r i l l machinery and equipment
C. Safe work practices
A. General Safety Recommendations
1. Employee Instru ction, Training, and Testing
When i n i t i a l l y employed, a worker should receive in stru ctio n and training
pertinent to the hazards, safety precautions, safe work practices, and use
of personal protective equipment applicable to the type of work performed.
The instructions should adequately orient and a le r t the new employee to:
o The basic principles of a well d r il lin g operation, including the
safe work practices and hazards associated with rig equipment
o The purpose and operation of blowout prevention
o Hydrogen sulfide and respiratory protection
o Fire prevention and control
o Confined spaces and entry procedures
o Personal protective equipment.
55
Each new employee should receive training in the safe use of a l l equipment
or tools that are necessary for use and the safe performance of assigned
tasks. The employer should require that the worker demonstrate h is a b il ity
to safely operate the tool or equipment p rio r to using i t in a d r il lin g
situ a tio n . If a new employee has been c e r tif ie d as qualified to operate the
equipment or tool (by an approved training f a c i l i t y ) , then the training
portion of this recommendation is not required. As an employee advances to
new positions and tasks, he should demonstrate his knowledge and a b il ity to
safely operate the equipment and perform the tasks before he is required to
perform them in a d r illin g situ a tio n . Retraining should be conducted as
needed to ensure that employees are able to perform th e ir tasks in a safe
manner.
2. F irs t Aid and Emergency Communication
Well s ite s may be located in remote
and inaccessible areas.
Anticipation of the emergencies likely to ocpur
and appropriate
contingency planning for them may save the lives of injured employees.
Employers should develop and post a detailed emergency plan su itable for
the current location of the well s i t e , the surrounding population,
formation pressures, and contaminants likely to be encountered.
a.
First Aid
57
3.
Clothing
Loose, ragged,
or poorly fitted clothing should not be worn.
Rotating parts (catheads, kelly bushings, spinning chains) may snag
the clothing and cause injuries.
Gloves are commonly worn by
drilling employees and should be discarded when they become ragged
or torn.
If
Foot Protection
Head Protection
58
59
5.
Climbing Devices
is
6.
No
Hazard
Area any
well
63
that
will
not
penetrate
known
Employee Instructions
should be
o
o
o
o
sufficient
to provide
illumination
Fire Prevention
o Well head or shale shaker, whenever potentially hydrocarbonbearing formations are exposed in the well
o Degasser while it is operating
o Fuel storage areas.
The following procedures should be
and open flames are prohibited:
followed
in areas where
smoking
heating
devices
involving
66
the
use
of
an
open
flame
or
exposed
doghouse
the well
from the
twisting (daily)
- Rope reeving, for noncompliance with manufac
tu r e r 's recommendations.
o All deficiencies should be examined carefully and a
determination made as to whether they constitute a safety
hazard.
(3) Periodic inspection
Bails, elevator links, upper side hook saddles, A-leg pins,
and housing should be inspected for flaws at least once each
year and each time the derrick or mast is rigged up. All
derricks should be visually inspected each year of use. A
w ritten report of these inspections should be kept on f ile
[77].
A complete inspection of the hoisting mechanism should be
performed periodically at 1- to 12-month intervals depending
on a c tiv ity , severity of service, and environment or as
specifically indicated below. I f any of the following
deficiencies e x is t, the member should be e ith er replaced or
rep aired:
o Deformed, cracked, or corroded members
o Loose bolts or riv e ts
o Cracked or worn sheaves and drums
o Worn, cracked, or distorted parts such as pins, bear
ings, shafts, gears, r o lle r s , and locking or clamping
devices
o Excessive wear on brake system parts, linings, pawls,
and ratchets
o Load indicators over th e ir fu ll range, for any sig n if
icant inaccuracies
o Gasoline, diesel, e le c t r i c , or other powerplants for
improper performance or noncompliance with applicable
safety requirements
o Excessive wear of chain drive sprockets and excessive
chain stretch
o E le c tric a l apparatus, for signs of p ittin g or any
deterioration of controller containers, limit switches,
and pushbutton stations.
b. Testing
(1) Lead te s t
Prior to i n i t i a l use, a ll new, extensively repaired, and/or
altered rigs should be tested under the d irectio n of an
authorized person. Before the d r illin g line is in sta lle d on
the drum of the drawworks, the brake lining should be set or
71
o
o
o
TABLE IV-1
SAFE BEARING CAPACITY OF SOILS
Type of Soil
50,000-200,000
20,000-30,000
16,000-20,000
1 0 ,000-20,000
8 ,000-12,000
8 ,000-10,000
8 ,000-10,000
3,000-8,000
4,000-8,000
2,000-4,000
2 ,0 0 0
[81].
76
Pull tests for all permanent-type ground anchors should be made for
the geographical area and size and type of anchor involved.
Rep
resentative pull tests should be conducted along the anchor working
plane.
Records of representative anchor pull tests for the area
should be maintained.
Permanent anchors should be visually inspected by the user prior to
each use.
If significant damage or deterioration is apparent
on
inspection, anchors should be pull tested.
Temporary ground anchors should be of such type and so installed to
provide pullout strengths that exceed the maximum anticipated guy
line pull of the equipment to be used and conditions of service.
Records of representative anchor pull tests for the area and size
and type of anchor should be maintained by the installing company.
Portable masts, both structural and pole type, that require use of
external guy lines to assure overturn stability should have the
external guy lines in place immediately following raising of the
mast.
Guy lines should be maintained in good condition sufficient for the
loads to be incurred.
Guy line strength,
including auxiliary
devices such as chains, boomers, and clamps, should be capable of
withstanding loads for the anticipated service conditions.
Guy lines should be visually inspected prior to each rig-up.
Guy
lines should be removed from service and replaced if in any length
of 10 diameters the total number of visible broken wires exceeds
% of the total number of wires in the line, or if the guy line
shows other signs of excessive wear, corrosion, or defect.
10
a derrick
or mast,
all
recommended
d. Gin Poles
77
to
sustain
the
Escape Equipment
78
5.
Floors
6.
Platforms
With the exception of the stabbing board, every platform erected on the
inside of a derrick should completely cover the space from the working
edge of the platform back to the legs and girts of the derrick.
All
elevated platforms should be constructed to withstand four times the
maximum intended load.
All platform planks and other components should
be secured adequately to prevent displacement.
a. Crown Platforms
On every jackknife derrick, a platform at least 2 feet wide should
be provided on at least one side of the crown block.
This platform
should be equipped on its outer edges with a two-rail guard railing
and a toeboard.
Smaller platforms may be used if the employees are
provided with, and required to use, safety belts and lanyards.
Every standard derrick used
for drilling,
except
a jackknife
derrick, should have a continuous outside derrick platform at least
2 feet wide completely around the derrick at an elevation no more
than 2 feet above and no more than one girt (not to exceed 8 feet)
below the monkey board.
This platform should be equipped on its
outer edges with a two-rail guard railing and toeboards [75].
Additional access platforms should be provided with openings that
should be at least 30 inches by 30 inches to permit the passage of
workers climbing derrick ladders.
Standard railings around the
outer edges of the platforms and toeboards should be 4 inches high
around the inside and outside edges of the platform, except at
access points.
Direct
access
should be provided
79
to each
outside
derrick
platform
80
stabbing
board
is used,
it
should
be
removed
from
the
Guardrails
The outer edges of all floors, platforms, walks, and runways that are
four feet or more above the ground or another floor level, except entryand exitways and loading and unloading areas, should be guarded with
standard guardrails [70].
The Vee-door or other material access ways to
platforms or the rig floor should be guarded by a chain or cable capable
of withstanding 200 pounds applied at the midpoint.
The chain should be
in place at all times except when material, such as drill pipe, is
actually being moved through the platform access way.
A
standard
railing
protection purposes.
should
not
be
used
for
other
than
personnel
81
I f m a t e r i a l i s s ta c k e d t o such h e i g h t t h a t a s ta n d a r d to e b o a r d does n o t
p ro v id e p r o t e c t i o n , s u b s t a n t i a l p a n e l i n g o r s c r e e n i n g from f l o o r to
i n t e r m e d i a t e r a i l o r top r a i l h e i g h t sho uld be p ro v id e d a s r e q u i r e d .
Rig floors, derrick
s t o r a g e platforms
8.
Where the difference in elevation is more than 18- inches between the
ground and other working levels, platforms, or floors, an exit should be
provided by means of a stairway, ramp, walkway, or a combination of
these.
Typical areas that should be provided with safe exits are:
82
9.
Ladders
Mud
Portable
located wnere it is
83
employees
The
upper
end
of
the
standpipe
85
should
be
of high
securely
pressure
systems
fastened
to
the
or
mast
girts,
unless
other
The standpipe end of the rotary hose should be secured to the stand
pipe or to the derrick or mast, and the other end to the swivel by a
substantially constructed clamping device and safety chain or wire
rope.
The hose coupling is exposed to high pressure and vibration, a
combination that can result in coupling disconnect [75].
The safety chain should be strong enough to safely support the rotary
hose, contained circulating fluids, and dynamic circulating fluid pres
sures in the event of a coupling separation.
The ends of connecting hose sections should be secured together (whip
checked) by means of clamps and a safety chain or wire rope.
The clamps
should be tightly fitted to and near the ends of the connecting hose
sections, and the chain or wire rope securely fastened to each of the
clam p s .
When hose is used under pressure in a fluid circulating system of a well
(in addition to that section between the swivel and standpipe), the ends
of each section should be secured to the end of the adjoining hose or
pipe in the manner described above [75].
13.
Cellars
Every pipe and equipment storage rack and platform should be designed,
constructed, and placed on substantial foundations and maintained to
safely support the loads placed on it.
Each finger of a finger board should be bolted, welded, hinged and
pinned, or attached by other equivalent means to its support beam and be
capable of restraining the maximum intended load.
86
They
pipe
temporarily
placed
on
the
inclined
ramp
or
Vee-door
area
o Chocked a t th e base t o p re v e n t k ic k b a ck
o P o s i t i o n e d a t th e u pp er end i n a manner to p r e v e n t them from
f a l l i n g sidew ays.
15.
Blocks
a. Crown Blocks
Each sheave assembly of a crown block should be provided with a
complete metal-bearing housing, a metal strap, or an equivalent
housing, securely fastened to the crown block beams so that the
sheaves,
sheave bearings,
or housings
cannot
accidentally
be
dislodged under normal operating conditions [84].
Each crown block should be securely fastened in place with bolts,
metal clamps, or equivalent fastenings that will prevent it from
being accidentally shifted or dislodged.
Each crown block sheave
should be securely fastened in place in a manner that will prevent
it from jumping out of its bearings or becoming accidentally
shifted or dislodged.
b. Traveling Blocks
The sheaves of a traveling block should be equipped with adequate
guards that will prevent accidental contact by an employee with the
sheaves or with the nip point where the hoisting lines run on and
off the sheaves.
87
a. H o is t in g Ropes
API "RP 9B:
Recommended Practice on Application, Care, and Use of
Wire Rope for Oil Field Service" [85] should be followed.
Deadline Anchors
89
TABLE IV-2
NUMBER AND SPACING OF U-BOLT WIRE ROPE CLIPS
Improved Plow S t e e l ,
Rope Diam eter
(inches)
Number of C lip s
Drop Other
Forged M a t e r i a l
1 /2
3
3
4
4
5
3/8
3/4
7/8
1
1 -1/8
1-1/4
1-3/8
1 -1/2
7
7
4
4
5
5
3
3-3/4
4-1/2
5-1/4
7
7
6-3/4
7-1/2
8-1/4
9
6
6
6
6
Minimum
Spacing
( in c h e s)
Industry
Standards,
deadline
from
becoming
should
be
at
least
20
90
inches
of
working
area
between
the
outer flanges
wall [75].
of a cathead and a
substructure
guardrail
or prefab
91
c. Catlines
Catlines and high lines should be designed to safely lift or
otherwise handle the loads.
The maximum allowable working loads
should be based on manufacturers' tables.
A post or guard should be provided to deflect cathead lines away
from the driller's position.
Where posts are of the rotating type,
the top and bottom ends should be guarded to contain the post in
case the shaft fractures.
A catline grip should be provided
tight when the line is not in use.
18.
and
used
to
keep
the
catline
for
use
as
spinning
line
92
I f c h a in s o f d i f f e r e n t s i z e s a r e co nn ec ted t o g e t h e r f o r u se i n a
s p in n in g l i n e , a s p a r e c h a i n o f l i k e s i z e sho uld be p ro v id e d f o r each
c h a in so c o n n e c te d .
19.
Elevators
projections
that
could
catch
on
derrick
Slips
The handles of drill pipe slips should be long enough to extend at least
2 inches beyond the greatest radial dimension of the drill pipe elevator
box (except in those instances where the handles would be so long they
would project beyond the inner edge of the circular guard covering the
top outer surface of the rotary table).
In such cases they should be as
long as possible without projecting beyond the inner edge of the guard
[77].
Any slip hook used for lifting should be equipped with a safety
latch.
21.
Tongs, Tong Backup Posts, Kelly Pull-Back Posts, and Safety Lines
93
stresses imposed will not result in structural damage to the legs [77].
A kelly pull-back post with device attached, onto or through which to
run the pull-back rope, should be provided for pulling the kelly back to
the rathole.
The pull-back post should be secured either to the derrick
foundation, side sills, or floor sills and should not be attached to or
come in contact with the derrick legs, girts, or braces.
Tong dies should be inspected regularly and replaced as a
become worn.
The tongs should be inspected and greased
tripping operation.
22.
set as
before
they
each
Power Tongs
safety
device
able
to
94
there is
has been
Any counterweight above the derrick floor when not fully enclosed should
be directed away from the working surfaces or be guarded.
C.
General
Alcohol, drugs,
or other intoxicants should not be
permitted on the
well site, and employees should not be allowed to work while intoxicated
or under the influence of drugs.
The offgoing driller should inform the oncoming driller of any special
hazards
or ongoing work thatmay affect
the safety of the crew.
Oncoming tour employees should be alerted by the driller to ongoing work
that could affect their safety.
Firefighting equipment should
removed
for other than
the
servicing.
If
lubrication
fittings are not accessible with
machinery should be stopped for oiling and greasing.
guards
in
place,
in
Housekeeping
95
o The rotary table of the rig floor should be kept picked up and
free of undue accumulation of oil, water, ice, or circulating
fluids.
Bagged materials should be stacked by stepping
cross-keying the bags at least every
10 bags
materials should be segregated in storage.
3.
Drillers should never engage the rotary clutch without watching the
rotary table.
The rotary clutch should not be engaged until the rotary
table is clear of personnel and material.
Unless the drawworks is equipped with an automatic feed control, the
brake should not be left unattended without first being tied down.
Except during drilling, drawworks controls should not be left unattended
while the hoisting drum is in motion.
Drill pipe or casing
cause the bottom end
floor.
stand
near
the
well
bore
whenever
any
96
wire
line
labeled
as
4.
block
or
ele
under
fully
In
an emergency, workers should not slide down any pipe,
cable, or rope line other than the escape line and buggy.
hose,
kelly
Catline Operations
97
6.
Pipe Handling
98
Subs should be screwed completely into and made up tightly to the drill
collars before the collars are lifted.
Employees should not be permitted to work immediately below pipe stored
on the inclined ramp.
All rigging and pipe handling should be per
formed from above where the employee is not exposed to falling or
tipping pipe.
Pipe hoisting lines should be properly attached to the
joint of pipe to be lifted.
7.
Derrick Operations
should
be
checked
by
the
derrickman
A means, such as a pipe hook or tag line, should be available for use by
the derrickman to assist in maneuvering, stacking, and securing pipe in
the derrick.
If pipe hooks are used above the derrick floor, then the
pipe hook should be secured to the derrick in a manner that will prevent
the hook from falling.
All stands of pipe and drill collars racked in
secured with rope or otherwise adequately secured.
derrick
should
be
racked
to safely
distribute
the
Whenever drill pipe, drill collars, or tubing are racked in the derrick,
provision should be made for drainage of any fluids from the pipe stands.
A drain pan should be installed on the derrick floor pipe rack into which
the drill pipe and drill collars can drain.
Tools, derrick parts, or materials of any kind should not be thrown from
any point above the first girt of a derrick.
A handline should be used to
lower the item to the level below.
A canvas bucket should be used as a
hoisting container for bolts or other small items.
Tools, equipment, or
materials of any kind should not be left unsecured in or on a derrick
99
8.
Tongs should be used for the initial making up and breaking of the joint.
The rotary table should not be used for the initial breaking of a joint.
Employees engaged in making or breaking joints should not be permitted to
stand within the arc of the tong handles when the tong pull line is
tensioned.
Employees should handle the tongs only by the appropriate
handles.
Employees should be trained in the safe use of spinning chains.
Spinning
chains should not be handled near the rotary table while it is in motion.
Workers should not place the chain on the joint of pipe in the mousehole
while the rotary table is in motion.
Spinning chain should not be
permitted to lodge in the threaded area of the pipe joint.
Damaged, torn,
or loose clothing should not be worn during spinning chain operations.
100
REFERENCES
1.
Baker,
R.
Primer of Oil Well Drilling.
Austin,
TX:
Petroleum
Extension Service, University of Texas at Austin. 1979. 94 pp.
2.
3.
Pettigrew G.L.
Preliminary Report on Hydrogen Sulfide Exposure in the
Oil and Gas Industry.
Dallas, TX:
US Department of Health, Education,
and Welfare, Public Health Service, Dallas Regional Office, 1976, 4 pp.
4.
5.
The
Killer
H 2 S.
Alberta,
Canada,
Workers
Health,
Safety
Compensation, Occupational Health and Safety Division. 1974. 14 pp.
6.
7.
8.
D.
H 2 S Detection
and
Protection.
Pet
and
Metallic
Corrosion
1980 Land
Drilling
7
ed.
Tulsa,
OK:
From
and Oilwell
Penn
Well
9.
Industrial Facilities Listing, Oil and Gas Well Drilling, SIC 1381.
Compiled by NIOSH,
from Dun and Bradstreet
Industrial Profile.
Cincinnati, OH: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for
Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
January 1981. (unpublished).
10.
Pearson G.W.
Safety Information Profile Oil and Gas Field Operations,
DHHS (NIOSH) Contract 210-80-0042.
Morgantown, WV: US Department of
Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease
Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 1981.
84 pp. (unpublished).
11.
1981.
12.
Wiley C.L.
29th Annual
42(13): 51-78.
1981.
13.
14.
1981.
15.
McCaslin J.C.
78(4): 125-30.
Drilling
16.
Well Forecast
for 1975.
Oil
Gas J 73(4):110.
1975.
17.
Well Forecast
for 1976.
Oil
Gas J 74(4):114.
1976.
18.
Well Forecast
for 1978.
Oil
Gas J 76(5):137.
1978.
19.
Well Forecast
for 1979.
Oil
Gas J 77(5):125.
1979.
20.
21.
22 .
Reed
1980 Biggest
1980.
Rock
Bit
Rotary
Rig
Year Since
Census.
1957.Oil
Drilling
Gas
U.S.
Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Occupational
Injuries
and Illnesses in
the United States
by
Industry, 1972.
Washington, DC:
1972. p 16.
U.S.
Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Occupational
Injuries
and Illnesses in
the United States
by
Industry, 1973.
Washington, DC:
1973. p 13.
U.S.
Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Occupational
Injuries
and Illnesses in
the United States
by
Industry, 1974.
Washington, DC:
1974. p 19.
23.
U.S.
Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in 1975. Washington,
16.
Chartbook on
DC:
1975. p
24.
U.S.
Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in 1976. Washington,
19.
Chartbook on
DC:
1976. p
25.
U.S.
Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Occupational
Injuries
and Illnesses in
the United States
by
Industry, 1976.
Washington, DC:
1976. p 25.
26.
U.S.
Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Occupational
Injuries
and Illnesses in
the United States
by
Industry, 1977.
Washington, DC:
1977. p 24.
27.
U.S.
Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Occupational
Injuries
and Illnesses in
the United States
by
Industry, 1978.
Washington, DC:
1978. p 23.
102
in the United
fo r the United
in the United
fo r the United
in the United
fo r the United
in the United
fo r the United
for
pp.
for
pp.
45.
G.C.
105
69. The Petroleum and N atural Gas Safety R egulations, A lb erta R egulation
270/76 E ffe c tiv e December 1, 1976, in The Occupational Health and
Safety Act. A lb erta, Canada, Workers Compensation Board, Occupational
Health and S afety, 1976, pp 141-80
70. U.S. Department of Labor. General Industry Standards - 29 CFR 1910.
Occupational Safety and Health A dm inistration. 1978. 820 pp.
71. Working in Confined Spaces, C r i t e r i a fo r a Recommended Standard. DHEW
(NIOSH) P u b lic a tio n No. 80-106. U.S. Department of H ealth, Education
and Welfare, Public Health Service, Centers fo r Disease C ontrol,
National I n s t i t u t e fo r Occupational Safety and H ealth. 1979. 68 pp.
72. American Petroleum I n s t i t u t e . API Recommended P ra c tic e fo r Safe
D rillin g of Wells Containing Hydrogen S u lfid e , API RP 49. D allas, TX:
1978. 11 pp.
73. S ta te of Utah Occupational Health and Safety Rules and R egulations O il,
Gas Geothermal and Related Service Standards. Utah S ta te I n d u s t r i a l
Commission, Occupational Safety and Health A dm inistration. 1980. 62 pp.
74. American Petroleum I n s t i t u t e .
API Recommended P ra c tic e for
Occupational Safety and Health for Oil and Gas Well D r i l l i n g and
Servicing O perations, API RP 54. D allas, TX: 1981. 55 pp.
75. Petroleum Safety O rd e rs-D rillin g and Production, Subchapter 14 of
I n d u s t r i a l Regulations, Chapter 4 of C a lifo rn ia A dm inistrative Code,
T i t l e 8. North Highlands, CA: C a lifo rn ia D iv isio n of Industry S afety ,
Department of General S ervices, O ffice of A dm inistrative Hearings. 1952.
76. American Petroleum I n s t i t u t e . API Recommended P ra c tic e fo r Blowout
Prevention Equipment Systems, API RP 53. D allas, TX: 1978, 58 pp
77. S tate of Alaska Petroleum Occupational Safety and Health
Standards Subchapter 8. Juneau, AK: Department of Labor, D ivision of
Occupational Safety and H ealth. 1978. 110 pp.
78. S ta te of Wyoming Occupational Health and Safety Rules and R egulations
fo r Oil and Ga& Well D r il l i n g , E ff e c tiv e February 8, 1980. Cheyenne,
WY: The S ta te of Wyoming Health and Safety A dm in istration . 1980. 54 pp.
79. American Petroleum I n s t i t u t e . API S p e c if ic a tio n fo r S teel D erricks
(Including Standard R igs), API Std. 4A. D allas, TX: 1967.
80. American Petroleum I n s t i t u t e . API S p e c ific a tio n fo r P ortable Masts,
API Std 4D. D allas, TX: 1967.
81. Baumeister, T. ; Avallone, E .A .; Baumeister, I . , I l l , ( e d s ) . Mark's
Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers, ed 8. New York, NY:
McGraw-Hill Book Co. 1978. pp 12-20.
106
107
and
APPENDIX A
REVIEW OF ACCIDENT CASE HISTORIES
APPENDIX A
REVIEW OF ACCIDENT CASE HISTORIES
Accident s t a t i s t i c s from n a tio n a l and s t a t e surveys t h a t demonstrate the
high in ju ry incidence and s e v e r ity r a t e s of the o i l and gas well d r i l l i n g
ind u stry (SIC 1381) were presented in Chapter I I I . A ta b u la tio n of 738
accid en t r e p o r ts compiled from Federal and S ta te OSHA i n v e s t ig a ti o n s ,
w orkers compensation r e p o r ts , published a ccid en t case h i s t o r i e s [10,
46-49], and company records of in c id e n ts th a t occurred during d r i l l i n g
operatio n s is divided according to whether the employees were inju red
performing tasks t h a t a re unique to d r i l l i n g o p e ra tio n s or a re ty p i c a l of
accid en ts a sso c ia ted with numerous o th e r o ccupations; e . g . , c o n s tru c tio n ,
manufacturing, or mining.
A. Accidents Unique to D r il l i n g Operations
I n j u r ie s th a t r e s u l t from hazards unique to o i l and gas well d r i l l i n g
o peratio n s can be broadly c l a s s i f i e d in to two major c a te g o rie s : those
i n j u r i e s incurred from t a s k - s p e c i f i c ac cid en ts and those i n j u r i e s incurred
during more c a ta s tro p h ic e v e n ts . Of the 33 accid en t case h i s t o r i e s th a t
follow, 27 are re p re s e n ta tiv e of i n j u r i e s su stain ed by workers performing
tasks unique to well d r i l l i n g o peratio n s and 6 are r e p r e s e n ta tiv e of
a ccid en ts common to many i n d u s tr ie s .
1. Task-Specific Accidents
The f i r s t category of accident case h i s t o r i e s i s re p r e s e n ta tiv e of
in c id e n ts th a t occurred during t a s k - s p e c i f i c o p e ra tio n s. This major
category has been f u r t h e r subdivided in to a ccid en ts th a t occurred during
d r i l l i n g o p e ra tio n s, d e r ric k ta s k s , and m a te r ia ls handling a c t i v i t i e s .
In many in sta n c e s, the c it e d case h i s t o r i e s d e p ic t a ccid en ts c l a s s i
f i a b l e in to more than one subcategory.
a. D r illin g Operations
D r il l i n g o peratio n s have been f u r t h e r cate g o riz e d by the t o o ls or
equipment used in performing the ta s k such as:
(1) S lips
Case No. 0355, 1979
Accident
Type
Caught
between
A c tiv ity
D r illin g
Nature of
Injury
Crushed toe
111
Equipment
Length of
or Tool
Employment
S lip s and
4 days
r o ta r y ta b le
Nature o f
In jury
Amputation
of leg
Equipment
Length of
or
Tool Employment
S lip s , d r i l l
N/Al
pipe, and
tongs
(2) Tongs
Case No. 0552, 1975
Accident
Nature of
Equipment
Length of
Type
A c tiv ity
Injury
or Tool
Employment
Struck by D r illin g
F a ta l
Tongs
N/A
The r i g crew was "breaking out" a connection in the d r i l l s t r i n g . A
pipe tong was attached to the d r i l l pipe and connected to a backup post
with 5/8-inch wire rope. The ro ta r y ta b l e was engaged in re v erse to
supply the torque necessary to "break" the connection. The employee
was holding the jaws of the tongs when the sa fe ty lin e snapped, causing
the backup tong handle to s t r i k e him. The employee's chest was crushed
by the impact from the tong handle.
Comments:
Two fa c to rs con tribu ted to t h i s f a t a l a c c id e n t. Tongs are ro u tin e ly
powered by the catheads on the drawworks. A s a fe ty l i n e ' s breaking
stre n g th i s se lec te d to be compatible with the maximum forces th a t can
be generated by the cathead. Rotary t a b le s d e l i v e r the force necessary
to tu rn the d r i l l s t r i n g . When the ro ta ry ta b le i s used to torque the
coupling, there is no method used to determine i f the sa fe ty fa c to r
and/or breaking stre n g th of the snub lin e is being exceeded. NOTE:
The breaking stre n g th of new 5/8-inch wire rope i s approximately 30,000
pounds.
The second c o n trib u tin g f a c to r of t h i s accid en t was
deceased when the force was applied to the tongs.
not been in the path of t r a v e l of the pipe tong, he
k i l l e d ; the accid en t would have been a "near m iss."
Case No. 0633, 1976
Accident
Nature of
Equipment
Type
A c tiv ity
Injury
or Tool
Struck by D rillin g
F a ta l
Tongs
and caught
between
the p o s i t io n of the
I f the employee had
would not have been
Length of
Employment
2 days
113
Comments:
This f a t a l accident could have been prevented i f
cable clamps had been used. A d d itio n a lly , tongs
by the catheads on the drawworks.
Rotary
undetermined amount of force to the tong system.
i t s e l f to equipment f a i l u r e .
The crew was removing the d r i l l pipe from the w ell bore and laying i t
down in the Vee-door. The pipe was suspended by the e le v a to r s . The
bottom of the d r i l l pipe was pushed/pulled by floorhands u n t i l i t was
suspended over the Vee-door. The d r i l l e r then lowered the h o i s t along
with the d r i l l pipe and e le v a to r s . An employee unlatched the e le v a to rs
(suspended out of plumb by the h o i s t ) , which then swung back and
crushed h is hand a g a in s t the stand o f pipe in the r o ta r y .
Case No. 0048, 1979
Accident
T y P e _____
Struck by
and caught
between
A ctiv ity
D rillin g
Nature of
Injury
Mashed fin g e rs
Equipment
or Tool
E lev ato r
Length of
Employment
4 months
Length of
Equipment
Nature of
Acc ident
Employment
or Tool
injury
A c tiv ity
Type
N/A
D r il l i n g Amputated hand; Cathead or
Caught
ruptured spleen wire lin e
between
and f a l l
to below
An employee was to run a 1/8-inch wire rope through a p ulley sheave
located a t the d e r ric k runaround platform . The wire was to a tta c h a
geolograph, used to record d r i l l i n g r a t e s . The employee wrapped the
wire rope around h is hand and proceeded to climb the d e r r ic k .
The wire lin e became snagged in a space between the bottom p la t e and
the c lu tch mechanism of the cathead. The lin e wound around the cathead
and yanked the employee o f f the d e r ric k ; as he f e l l he s tru c k a beam
and ruptured h is spleen. The wire l i n e continued to wrap around the
cathead u n t i l i t became ta u t enough to amputate the employee's hand.
Comment s :
The employee committed an unsafe a c t when he wrapped the wire around
h is hand to carry i t up the d e r r ic k . F a ilu re to i n s t r u c t the employee
in the safe procedures necessary to complete a task is the
r e s p o n s i b il i ty of management. (This was the f i r s t time the inju red
employee had performed t h i s task . Furthermore, no one was s ta tio n e d a t
the r i g c o n tro ls to stop the catheads in the event of an emergency.)
(5) Working su rfaces
Case No. 0575, 1975
Length of
Nature of
Equipment
Accident
or
Tool
in
ju
ry
Employment
A
c
tiv
ity
T y p e _____
F a ta l
D r i l l pipe
F a ll to
Tripping
15 months
working
surface
and caught
between
This crew had removed approximately 6,300 fe e t of d r i l l pipe from the
hole during the tr ip p in g o p e ra tio n . There were approximately 6,000
fe e t of " th r ib b le " stands of d r i l l pipe in the d e r ric k pipe rack. Each
" t h r i b b le " stand of pipe was approximately 94 fe e t in len g th . The crew
had placed one stand of pipe from the o f f s i d e rack in the h o le . The
derrickman was on the monkey board about 90 fe e t above the f l o o r , the
d r i l l e r was a t h is c o n tro l panel, and one floorhand had h is back to the
r o ta r y ta b l e p u llin g the spinning chain from the cathead. The second
floorhand was positio n ed near the ro ta ry t a b l e , w aiting to stab the
next stand of p ip e , while the motorman (th e employee to be f a t a l l y
117
A c tiv ity
D rillin g
Nature of
Injury
Bruised chest
and r i b cage
Equipment
or Tool
C e lla r
Length of
Employment
19 days
F a l l to
below
An employee had been working as a floorman f o r 19 days. He f e l l in to
an unguarded c e l l a r under the r i g su b s tru c tu re and b ru ise d h is chest
and r i b cage.
Comment s :
Since the c e l l a r was f u l l of w ater and contained blowout p reven tio n
equipment, the p o t e n t i a l e x is te d fo r the employee to s t r i k e h is head
and drown while unconscious.
"Near-miss" accid en ts should serve as a warning. Open c e l l a r s should
be guarded as a m a tte r of standard o p eratin g procedure.
Case No. 0371, 1979
Accident
Nature of
Equipment
Length of
A c tiv ity
in ju ry
or Tool
Employment
Type
F a l l to
N/A
F ractu red r i b
C e lla r
1 month
below
ladder
A floorhand attempted to climb down a ladder in to the c e l l a r . His
hand slipp ed and he f e l l in to the c e l l a r . He b ru ise d h is back and
fra c tu re d a r i b .
Comments:
Ladders e n te rin g c e l l a r openings from above should be designed with
adequate h a n d ra ils above the openings.
118
Nature of
Equipment
Length of
Type
A c tiv ity
In jury
or Tool
Employment
F a l l to
D r illin g Fractured foot
Mousehole
14 years
working
surface
The d r i l l e r had pulled a j o i n t of d r i l l pipe out of the mousehole to
add to the s t r i n g when he stepped back in to the mousehole. He
fra c tu re d h is fo o t.
Comments:
All holes in the f l o o r o f a d r i l l i n g r i g are p o t e n t i a l h azards. They
should be covered when not in use to prevent employees from stepping
in to them.
Nature of
In jury
Bruised h ip
and s tra in e d
back
Equipment
or Tool
Mousehole
Length of
Employment
1 month
A floorhand was helping another employee move a well head from the r i g
f lo o r . He in a d v e rte n tly stepped in to the unguarded mousehole and
f e l l . He sustain ed a bruised hip and p u lled muscles in the lower back.
Comments:
When unoccupied, mouseholes and r a th o le s should be covered to prevent
employees from a c c id e n ta lly stepping in to them.
Case No. 0661, 1979
Accident
Type
F a ll to
below
flu id
A c tiv ity
C i r c u l a ting i n
sp ection
Nature of
Injury
F ata l drowning
Equipment
Length of
or Tool
Employment
Reserve p i t s
N/A
119
Comments:
Guardrails around the dike embankment were not in evidence, personal
flotation lifejackets were not provided, and no water rescue devices
were onsite.
b.
Derrick Tasks
Length of
Equipment
or Tool
Employment
D errick
8 months
platform
The d r i l l i n g crew was completing the f i n a l phase of a trip p in g
o peratio n . Forty-seven hundred fe e t of d r i l l pipe, in 60-foot i n
crements, had been returned to the h ole. The f i n a l stand of pipe would
not go in to the h o le , so the d r i l l e r replaced i t in the d e r ric k rack.
When the k e lly was re a tta c h e d to the h o i s t , the d r i l l e r ra ise d the
block. For unknown reasons, the block stru ck the d e r ric k s t r u c t u r e ,
causing the derrickman to f a l l 50 fe e t from the d e r ric k platform to h is
death.
Nature of
in ju ry
F atal
Equipment Length of
Nature of
or Tool
Employment
Injury
Derrick
N/A
M ultiple f r a c ladder
tu r e s of legs
and aims ; head
and i n te r n a l
injuries
The d r i l l i n g crew was preparing to begin a trip p in g o p e ra tio n . The
derrickman was climbing the d e r ric k ladder when he l o s t h is g rip and
f e l l about 70 fe e t to the d e rric k f lo o r . He su ffe red m u ltip le i n j u r i e s .
Comments:
This accident could have been prevented by the wearing of a d e rric k
climber or o th e r f a l l a r r e s t i n g climbing device.
c.
M aterials Handling A c t i v i t i e s
The most common type of accident th a t occurs in m a te r ia ls handling
operations i s the "caught between" s i t u a t i o n ; e . g . , when a load is
being handled and a fin g e r or toe g ets caught between two
o b je c ts . R olling stock ( d r i l l pipe and c o l l a r s ) can s h i f t and/or
f a l l from a pipe rack or truckbed. Employees must be a l e r t to the
hazards a tte n d a n t to pipe handling and racking.
V e rtic a l storage of d r i l l pipe on the in c lin e d ramp re q u ire s
adequate slippage p ro te c tio n and employee procedural t r a in i n g in
order to handle them s a fe ly .
Improper rig gin g of loads can e a s il y r e s u l t in load s h i f t s and
o bjects f a l l i n g on those below. M a te ria ls handling procedures are
freq u en tly not given the necessary emphasis in sa fe ty t r a in i n g ;
i . e . , m a te r ia ls handling i s a support a c t i v i t y to the ta s k of
"making hole" and as such may be s lig h te d .
d e rric k in c lin e . One man was working the c a t l i n e , and one man was
rigging the pipe a t ground le v e l. The i n c l in e , located below the
Vee-door, was serving as a temporary storage poin t fo r the d r i l l pipe;
i . e . , d r i l l pipe th a t was expected to be added to the d r i l l s t r i n g
during the s h i f t was stored in a lo c a tio n conducive to i t s rapid
a d d itio n to the d r i l l s t r i n g . The d r i l l pipe was blocked a t the
bottom, but no p recautions were taken a t the top to prevent the pipe
from slip p in g ; e . g . , 30-foot-long pipe j o i n t s sto re d almost v e r t i c a l l y
may tend to topple sideways. The five pipes stored in the in c lin e
toppled and f a t a l l y crushed the man working below.
A re ta in in g sa fe ty device a t the top of the in c lin e could prevent
s im ila r accidents of t h i s type.
Case No. 0576, 1979
Accident
Type
A ctiv ity
Struck by D r illin g
Nature of
Equipment
Length of
In jury
or Tool
Employment
Fractured fo o t; D r i l l pipe
N/A
contusions
Two men were handling d r i l l pipe on the in c lin e d pipe ramp below the
Vee-door of a d r i l l i n g r i g . Two j o i n t s of d r i l l pipe got away and s l i d
down the ramp, s t r i k i n g and in ju rin g both employees. A pipe j o i n t
weighs about 500 pounds and i s about 30 fe e t long.
This accident happened a f t e r the two men had p ulled five j o i n t s of
d r i l l pipe onto the pipe ramp with an a i r tugger. Two j o i n t s ended up
crossed over th ree j o i n t s already on the ramp. All j o i n t s were
p ositioned a g a in st a pipe stop near the bottom of the ramp. When one
j o i n t was moved from the bottom end of the ramp, i t went over the pipe
stop. The other crossed j o i n t
followed. One j o i n t s l i d
on top of the
pipe racks, and the o th er j o i n t s l i d to the ground under the pipe
racks, s t r i k i n g both employees and causing a fra c tu re d foot in one and
contusions in both.
Comment s :
This accident r e f l e c t s a lack of procedural i n s t r u c t i o n to em
ployees. A pipe should never be handled from below. R etainers l o
cated a t the upper le v e l of the pipe ramp may have prevented th e pipe
from slip p in g .
Activity
Nature of
Injury
Drilling
Fatal
Equipment
or Tool
Kelly bushing
assembly
122
Length of
Employment
N/A
Nature of
Equipment
Length of
A
c
tiv
ity
Injury
or
Tool
Employment
J j R g ____
F ata l
Hoist and
N/A
Caught
Install
ing
blowout
between
preventer
Hydri l
The well d r i l l i n g o p eratio n had progressed through the i n s t a l l a t i o n and
cementing of the surface casin g . The d r i l l i n g crew was i n s t a l l i n g the
upper p o rtio n of a blowout p re v e n te r. They were using the main h o i s t
to "pick" the equipment from the ground to i t s p o s itio n below the d r i l l
flo o r (in the su b s tru c tu re a r e a ) . The r i g was equipped with only two
s lin g s long enough to perform the ta s k . Tag l in e s were not used to
p o s itio n and s t a b i l i z e the load. During the p o s itio n in g o p e ra tio n , the
equipment tipped and f a t a l l y crushed one of the employees.
A number of events c o n trib u ted to t h i s in c id e n t. The d r i l l i n g crew is
freq u en tly assigned tasks t h a t are not p art of the everyday d r i l l i n g
ro u tin e . In t h i s in sta n c e , the rig g in g , p ick in g , and placement of a
heavy load (12,000 pounds) in a c o n s tr ic te d space was beyond the
e x p e rtis e of the crew. A fo u r-p o in t pick made from two p o in ts should
never be performed. Hands-on p o sitio n in g of heavy loads, in ste a d of
using tag l i n e s , is not an acceptable p r a c t i c e .
Accident
Comments :
Proper t r a in i n g , a p p ro p ria te equipment, and o p e ra tio n a l su pervision
could have prevented t h i s death.
2. C atastrophic Events
C atastrophic accid en ts involve the d e s tr u c tio n of the d r i l l i n g r i g and/or
i n j u r i e s to m u ltip le employees. Blowouts, d e r r ic k c o lla p s e , and hydrogen
s u lf id e accid en ts are included in t h i s categ ory . These ac cid en ts may
freq u en tly involve lo ss of l i f e as well as the major d e s tr u c tio n of
equipment. Insurance companies and corpo rate decisionmakers become involved
in accident in v e s tig a tio n s and prevention p o l i c i e s .
Although these
in c id e n ts freq u en tly make fo r media headline m a t e r ia l , the a c tu a l loss of
employee l i f e and limb re p re se n ts a small percentage of the t o t a l well
d r i l l i n g occupational worker incidence and s e v e r ity r a t e s [2].
a. Derrick or Mast Collapse
Derrick or mast c o lla p se is most common during rigging-up and
rigging-down procedures. The g r e a t e s t s t r a i n s a re exerted on the mast
components during these o p e ra tio n s.
In sp ection of the d e rric k
s t r u c tu r e is important fo r the d e te c tio n of s u lf id e em brittlem ent, weld
weakness, o x id atio n , and bent members [6, 7]. Weight in d ic a to r s and
recorders allow the d r i l l e r to stay with mast load to le ra n c e s ;
124
Although t h i s accident occurred when the crew was preparing to lay the
mast down, the events leading up to t h i s accident could occur during
any phase of a d r i l l i n g o peratio n . The d r i l l e r , who supervises
a c t i v i t i e s during the d r i l l i n g o p e ra tio n , is resp o n sib le fo r checking
the weight in d ic a to r for load forces on the mast throughout the
d r i l l i n g o peratio n .
In th i s in c id e n t, the d r i l l e r had taken a weight reading of the mast
load. He was try in g to m aintain a weight of 60,000 pounds as in d icated
on the meter when in a c t u a l i t y he had exceeded the safe load of the
mast. When the meter bled down, r a th e r than stopping to determine
where the f a u lt was, the d r i l l e r continued with the operatio n .
B.
Checking
oil level
Nature of
Injury
Fatal
Equipment
or Tool
Jumper cables
Length of
Employment
N/A
h is head on a pipe.
undetermined source.
Accident
Type
F ire
A ctiv ity
Lighting
h e a te r
Nature of
Injury____
Burns to face
and hands
Equipment
or Tool
Heater
Length of
Employment
1 year
128
APPENDIX B
REVIEW OF STATE, FEDERAL, INTERNATIONAL,
AND CONSENSUS SAFETY STANDARDS
APPENDIX B
REVIEW OF STATE, FEDERAL, INTERNATIONAL, AND CONSENSUS SAFETY STANDARDS
The purpose of t h i s appendix is to compare e x i s t i n g s t a t e , Federal,
i n t e r n a t i o n a l , and consensus standards r e l a t e d to , and impacting on, o i l and
gas well d r i l l i n g . Included are the OSHA General Industry Standards (29 CFR
1910) [70]; s t a t e standards with o i l and gas w ell d r i l l i n g re g u la tio n s ;
in t e r n a t i o n a l standards from Canada (A lberta) [69]; and consensus standards
developed by API [74].
The f i r s t sectio n of t h i s appendix ta b u la te s e x i s t i n g n a tio n a l standards
th a t r e l a t e to o i l and gas well d r i l l i n g . The second s e c tio n reviews s t a t e ,
in t e r n a t i o n a l, and consensus standards th a t s p e c i f i c a l l y address a c t i v i t i e s ,
o p e ra tio n s, task s, t o o l s , and conditions ty p ic a l of well d r i l l i n g o p e ra tio n s.
A. E x isting National Standards
National standards do not s p e c i f i c a l l y re g u la te o i l and gas well d r i l l i n g ,
but OSHA General Industry Standards (29 CFR 1910) apply to many of the
o p e ra tio n s, ta s k s, and co n d itio n s ty p ic a lly p re se n t a t a well s i t e . Table
B-l p resents e x is tin g n a tio n a l standards which may be a p p lic a b le to the
a c t i v i t i e s or conditions a t a well s i t e .
B. E x istin g S ta te , I n t e r n a t io n a l , and Consensus Standards
An examination of standards from a l l 50 s t a t e s , plus Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Is la n d s, determined th a t only Alaska [77], C a lifo rn ia [75], Michigan
[86], Utah [73], and Wyoming [78] have standards t h a t s p e c i f i c a l l y address
o i l and gas well d r i l l i n g . The remaining s t a t e s r e p r i n t the n a tio n a l
stand ard s. The C a lifo rn ia Petroleum Safety Orders are in the process of
r e v is io n ; the revised stand ard , not y et enacted in to law, is used in t h i s
appendix to rep resent d r i l l i n g re g u la tio n s in C a lifo rn ia .
Occupational safety and h e a lth standards fo r o i l and gas well d r i l l i n g
o peratio n s were requested from Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the
N etherlands, Sweden, A u s t r a l ia , Canada, and Mexico. The Canadian (A lb erta)
standards th a t re g u la te o i l and gas well d r i l l i n g o p e ra tio n s are included
for review [67]. The United Kingdom has standards fo r the petroleum
in d u stry , but does not re g u la te d r i l l i n g o p e ra tio n s. The remaining
c o u n trie s do not have sa fe ty standards th a t s p e c i f i c a l l y address well
d r i l l i n g operatio n s.
The industry consensus standards developed by API have been reviewed and
compared with e x is tin g s t a t e stand ard s. In many in sta n c e s, s t a t e standards
have adopted portions of the API standards.
131
TABLE B-l
GENERAL INDUSTRY STANDARDS WHICH MAY BE APPLICABLE
TO THE OIL AND GAS WELL DRILLING INDUSTRY
General Industry
Standard
Part 1910
Subpart C
Subpart D
Subpart E
Subpart G
Area of Impact
Employee Exposure Records
Guarding Floor and Wall Openings, and Holes,
P ortable Wood and Metal Ladders, Fixed Ladders,
S caffolding and o th er Walking-Working Surfaces
Means of Egress, Emergency Plans and Fire
Prevention Plans
Occupational Health and Environmental Control
Hazardous M aterials
Compressed gases
.101
Acetylene cy lin d e rs
.102(a)
.106(a) through (e) Flammable and combustible liq u id s
Explosives and b la s t i n g agents
.109
Storage and handling of liq u e fie d pertroleum gases
.110
Subpart I
Eye and Face P ro te c tio n , R espiratory P ro te c tio n ,
Head P ro te c tio n , and o th er types of Personal
P ro te c tiv e Equipment
General Environmental Controls
Subpart J
S a n ita tio n
.141
.142
Temporary labor camps
S p e c ific a tio n s fo r accident prevention signs and
.145
tags
Subpart H
Subpart K
Subpart L
.157
Subpart M
.169
TABLE B-l
GENERAL INDUSTRY STANDARDS WHICH MAY BE APPLICABLE TO
THE OIL AND GAS WELL DRILLING INDUSTRY (Concluded)
General Industry
Standard
Part 1910
Subpart N
.176
.179
.180
.184
Subpart
.212
.215
.219
Subpart P
Subpart
Subpart
Subpart
Area of Impact
d.
3.
API
tabulates
soil
stabilities
Derrick Ladders
The
regulate
lad
Derrick Floor
c. Mousehole, Rathole
Only the California standard specifies that if a rathole
is un
occupied and does not have at
least a 12-inch protruding pipe
guide, then it must be covered or guarded.
Utah requires that all
floor holes be guarded when not in use.
d.
Vee-doors
standards
to pro-
Derrick Exits
Hoisting Lines
Deadline Anchors
136
c. Weight In d ic a to rs
The API standards and a l l referenced S ta te s sim ila rly re q u ire the
presence of an accu rate (5%) weight i n d ic a to r . Monthly c a l i b r a
tio n to c a lc u la te d d r i l l s t r i n g weight is req u ired by API and
Michigan.
d. Crown and T raveling Blocks
Alaska and C a lifo rn ia re g u la tio n s address the engineering design
and use of crown and tr a v e lin g blocks. The API has s im ila r
requirements in i t s standard and t h e i r recommended " S p e c ific a tio n
for Rotary D r il l i n g Equipment" [88] d e t a i l s proper guarding
tec h n iq u e s.
e. Drawworks
Drawworks guards are required by Alaska, Utah, C a lifo rn ia , and
Canada. Visual in sp e c tio n of the drawworks is req uired by a l l
standards. Brake t e s t i n g by the d r i l l e r (each s h i f t ) is mandated
by Alaska.
f. Hoist Operations
D r i l l e r s are req uired bya l l standards to be at t h e i r s t a ti o n s
during load movements. Alaska and C a lifo rn ia a ls o re q u ire c le a r l y
labeled c o n tro ls . All standards re q u ire th a t brake handles be tie d
down when the d r i l l e r is not a t h is s t a t i o n (autofeed drawworks are
exempt). All standards allow an employee to rid e an unloaded
tra v e lin g block i f he is tie d o ff with approved sa fe ty b e l t and
lan y ard .
6. Rotary Equipment and Guarding
,
The examined S ta tes a l l re q u ire guarding of the ro ta ry ta b l e by sub
s t a n t i a l l y con stru cted m a te r ia l extending downward and covering a l l
g ea rs, pins, and sp ro ckets.
Wyoming, Alaska, and C a lifo rn ia
s p e c i f i c a l l y exclude the k e l l y bushing and the k e lly from guarding
requirements as does API. Utah and Michigan re q u ire th a t a l l g ea rs,
p u lle y s, and r o t a t i n g p a r ts be guarded but do not s p e c i f i c a l l y address
the k e lly .
Standards e x i s t in a l l S ta te s , Canada, and API re q u irin g t h a t the
d r i l l e r s h a ll not o perate the ro ta ry ta b le while personnel and/or equip
ment are in con tact with the r o t a t i n g p a r ts .
The d r i l l e r is a lso
required to watch the ro ta r y area when i t is in motion.
All standards re q u ire exposed moving g ea rs, c h a in s, sp ro c k e ts, b e l t s ,
and o th er s im ila r p a r ts to be guarded. The ANSI B15.1-1972 "Safety
137
16.
Blowout Prevention
140
GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THE OIL AND GAS WELL DRILLING INDUSTRY
acid fracture
acidize
air drilling
annular blowout
A
large
valve,
usually
installed
above
the
ram
preventers,
that forms a seal
in the annular space
between the pipe and well bore or, if no pipe is present,
on the well bore itself.
annular space
artificial lift
automatic slips
141
backup post
bail
bailer
bailing
barite or baryte
belly buster
belt
bentonite
bit
bit breaker
A heavy plate that fits in the rotary table and holds the
drill bit while it is being made up in or broken out of
the drill stem.
142
a mineral
used
to
increase
the
blind ram
block
blooey line
blowout
blowout
preventer (BOP)
bore hole
break out
breakout cathead
breakout tongs
bullet perforator
143
by drilling or boring.
cable-tool
dr i11 ing
casing
casing string
cathead
catline
cellar
cement casing
cementing
cementing
materials
chain drive
chain tongs
144
the cathead
and
choke
choke line
choke manifold
Christmas tree
combination
string
coming out
the hole
To pull the drill stem out of the well bore. This with
drawal is necessary to change the bit, change from a core
barrel to the bit, run electric logs, prepare for a
drill-stem test, run casing, and so on.
complete a well
To finish
status.
completion rig
A
portable
servicing
or
workover
rig
that
is
selfpropelled, using the hoisting engines for motive
power.
Because the driver's cab is mounted on the end
opposite the mast support, the unit must be backed up to
the well head. Also known as a backover rig.
work
on
145
well
and
bring
it
to
productive
compound
crown block
cuttings
deadline
deadline
tiedown anchor
degasser
derrick
A
large
load-bearing
structure,
usually
of
bolted
construction.
In drilling, the standard derrick has four
legs standing at the corners of the substructure and
reaching to the crown block.
The substructure is an
assembly of heavy beams used to elevate the derrick and
provide space to install blowout preventers,
casing
heads, and so forth.
Because the standard derrick must
be assembled piece by piece, it has largely been replaced
by the mast, which can be lowered and raised without
disassembly.
derrick climber
derrickman
The crew member who handles the upper end of the drill
stem as it is being hoisted out of or lowered into the
hole. He is also responsible for the conditioning of the
drilling fluid and the circulation machinery.
desander
146
the
diesel-electric
power
diesel engine
A
high-compression, interna1-combustion
engine
used
extensively for powering drilling rigs.
In a diesel
engine, air is drawn into the cylinders and compressed to
very high pressures; ignition occurs as fuel is injected
into the compressed and heated air.
Combustion takes
place within the cylinder above the piston, and expansion
of the combustion products imparts power to the piston.
directional
drilling
doghouse
drawworks
drill collar
drill pipe
drill stem
drill string
147
drilling fluid
drilling line
drum
A cylinder around which wire rope is wound in the drawworks. The drawworks drum is that part of the hoist upon
which the drilling line is wound.
elevators
fastiine
finger
Steel, fingerlike
finger board.
finger board
finger brace
fish
An object
left
in the well
bore
during
drilling
operations that must be recovered or drilled around
before work can proceed. It can be anything from a piece
of scrap metal to a part of the drill stem.
To recover
projection
148
that
forms
a slot
in
the
fishing
foaming agent
formation
fracturing
format ion
pressure
formation
testing
149
gas lift
geronimo
gin pole
gun perforate
guy line
hoist
hoisting drum
hook
hydraulic
fracturing
hydrogen sulfide
A
gaseous
compound,
H 2 S,
of
sulfur
and
hydrogen
commonly found in petroleum, which causes the foul smell
of sour petroleum fractions.
150
the
intermediate
casing string
jackknife mast
jet
jet perforate
joint
kel ly
kelly bushing
kelly cock
kelly spinner
kick
151
log
logging
The recording
formations.
make a
connection
make a trip
make up
makeup cathead
making hole
Marsh funnel
mast
master bushing
A
device
that
fits
into the
rotary table.
It
accommodates the slips and drives the kelly bushing so
that the rotating motion of the rotary table can be
transmitted to the kelly. Also called rotary bushing.
monkey board
motorman
of
information
152
about
subsurface
geologic
mousehole
connection
mud
mud logging
mud pit
mud pump
perforate
perforating gun
pipe rack
153
pipe rams
racking pipe
ram
The
closing
and
sealing
component
on
a blowout
preventer.
One
of
three
types blind,
pipe, or
shear may be installed in several preventers mounted in
a stack on top of the well bore.
Blind rams, when
closed, form a seal on a hole that has no drill pipe in
it; pipe rams, when closed, seal around the pipe; shear
rams cut through drill pipe and then form a seal.
ram blowout
preventer
rathole
rathole
connection
reeve
remote blowout
preventer panel
remote choke
panel
reserve pit
154
rig
r ig-down
rig-up
rotary
rotary bushing
rotary drilling
rotary helper
rotary hose
rotary swivel
rotary table
safety line
shale shaker
155
and
attendant
surface
sheave
A grooved pulley.
slips
slurry
sour gas
spinning cathead
spinning chain
spud-in
stab
stabbing board
1 56
standpipe
st imulation
sub
substructure
swab
swabbing
swive1
157
or create
tag line
thribble
tongs
tool joint
tool pusher
torque
transmission
The gear or
chain arrangement
by which
power
is
transmitted from the prime mover to the drawworks, mud
pump, or rotary table of a drilling rig.
traveling block
158
Vee-door
well bore
well completion
well head
whipstock
wildcat
wire rope
workover
To perform one
or more
of a variety of remedial
operations on a producing oil well with hope of restoring
or
increasing
production.
Examples
of
workover
operations aredeepening,
plugging back, pulling and
resetting the liner, squeeze cementing, shooting, and
acidizing.
From:
159
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