OSHA Inspection: CAJUN WELL SERVICE

Issued

Sep 13, 2004

Abate by

Sep 30, 2004

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $3,500

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish to each of his employees a place of employment which was free from
recognized hazards
that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that
employees were exposed to the hazard of:
For the period of time up to and including 05 May 04, the employer did not
always ensure that
threaded couplings (hammer unions) used to connect the well casing to a
pump were in good
condition and free from thread damage prior to pressurizing the casing.
The threaded coupling,
rated at 6000 psi, at the casing nipple failed when the pressure applied
reached 3300 psi. This
condition exposed employees and other contractor personnel to the hazards
and
injuries related
to the sudden and unexpected release of hydraulic pressure from the casing.
American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice RP54 Paragraph 6.3.2
states that: "Well
Operations involving the rig shall not  be commenced until the rig is
rigged up in a safe
manner."
American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice RP54 Paragraph 9.13.3
states that: "Each
section of high pressure rigid line should be secured using appropriate
means to prevent
movement should the line fail..."
American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice RP54 Paragraph 9.13.4
states that: "In
normal operations, pumps, piping, hoses, valves, and other fittings shall
not be operated at
pressures greater than their rated working pressure and shall be
maintained in good operating
condition."
American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice RP54 Paragraph 9.13.5
states that:
"Hammer unions shall be made up of like halves with the same pressure
ratings and thread
type."
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard
would be to:
1. Assure that the threads of the hammer union and mating parts are in
good condition.
2. Assure that the threads of the hammer union and mating parts are
compatible and have
the same pressure ratings. Also assure that any potential for
cross-threading has
been eliminated.
DISCLAIMERS:
1) You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above.
2) The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases.
3) The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate method.