OSHA Inspection: MALLARD BAY DRILLING, INC.

Issued

Oct 6, 1997

Abate by

Oct 14, 1997

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $4,410 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1640

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to:
a)  Mallard Bay Drilling, Inc., LLC, Rig 52, State Lease Number 411, Lake
Chicot
Field, Well Number 19:  On June 16, 1997, the employer failed to evacuate
all personnel
on board Drilling Rig No. 52 after the well was out of control spewing
drilling mud and
natural gas.  For 30-40 minutes after all mechanical possibilities of
shutting in the well
had been tried and failed, crew members were exposed to a fire and
explosion hazard.
The abandon the rig alarm was never sounded.  Evacuation procedures that
were
practiced once every hitch by all crew members were not attempted when the
real
emergency event was experienced.  Generators and pumps were left running
providing
possible ignition sources.  The natural gas found an ignition source
causing an explosion.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard would be to follow the evacuation procedures already in place and
practiced by
all personnel on board at least once each hitch.  Once mechanical control
of  the  well
was lost, the well was blowing out with no chance to contain it.  At that
point the
evacuation  alarm had to be sounded, all electrical motors shut off, all
internal
combustion engines shut down, and all personnel evacuated immediately.

Issued

Oct 6, 1997

Abate by

Oct 20, 1997

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $4,410 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1640

Issued

Oct 6, 1997

Abate by

Oct 27, 1997

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $4,410 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1640