Pacific Region

Losses of Well Control – 2004 (1 Total)

November 18 – Veneco, Inc.

Remarks: A loss of well control was experienced during a workover/ completion operation on Well E-15 when a wellhead service technician removed a 1.5"diameter lockdown pin and packing-gland from the wellhead. Removal of this pin circumvented the blowout prevention system (BOP). Minutes after removing the pin, the ensuing flow turned into a mixture of water and hydrocarbons. The driller closed the annular (bag) BOP after seeing that the well was flowing.

A 2" valve on the 9-5/8" casing was opened to relieve the pressure on the 1.5" pin opening without success. The well was unsecured downhole except for the well completion fluid which was being lost/depleted due to a thief zone within the same formation. The rig continuously pumped completion fluid at a rate of 2.6 barrels/minute, but estimated that they had stopped pumping minutes prior to the incident, to allow visual observation of the tubing hanger through the 1.5" opening.

The deluge system was manually activated. Platform operations were shutdown due to LEL/combustible gas and H2S detector activation in the area of the release. Thirty nine (39) nonessential personnel were evacuated. Twelve (12) essential personnel remained aboard the platform in an attempt to bring the well under control. A spill of approximately 3 gallons of crude oil went into the ocean.

Rig pumps were eventually activated and seawater was pumped into the well at a high rate through the kill line on the BOP stack and after flowing uncontrolled for approximately 2.5 hours the rate of leakage subsided enough to allow the installation of a valve assembly into the 1.5" opening. Valves on this assembly were closed thus eliminating the leak path. See Investigation Report MMS 2005-017.