OSHA Inspection: NOMAC DRILLING, LLC

Issued

Nov 10, 2009

Abate by

May 14, 2010

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,900 Reduced

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 likely to cause death or serious physical harm to the employees
in that employees
were exposed to fire, explosion and/or release of toxic fumes due to the
uncontrolled release
of pressurized gas or fumes:
(a)NOMAC Drilling, Rig #241 - Employees were exposed to hazards such as but
not limited to, toxic fumes, fire, and explosions while performing work on
the
rig floor.  Employees were overcome by toxic fumes coming out the end of
the drill string while tripping pipe, well control was not maintained at
all
times, as determined on 05/21/09.
NOTE: Among other methods, one or more feasible and acceptable abatement
method to
prevent this hazard is to; a) ensure proper well control equipment is on
site and utilized to
maintain well control as addressed in Recommended Practice for
Occupational Safety for Oil
and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations, American Petroleum
Institute (API)
Recommended Practice 54, Third Edition, August 1999, paragraph 6.1.1 "Well
control
shall
be maintained at all times.  Consideration shall be made to ensure
appropriate equipment and
materials are on location and operational before work commences.", b)
install the T.I.W
valve and close off valve at the first indication of abnormal smoke or
odor coming out of the
drill string when tripping out, c) use a high temp rated float valve, d)
install a fire stop or
fire float in the drill string, e) install additional drill string floats,
f) use nitrogen injection
down the drill pipe when MWD is used, and/or g) add/Install a shear ram to
the Blow out
Preventer (BOP).
ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM