OSHA Inspection: MILAGRO EXPLORATION LLC

Issued

May 16, 2008

Abate by

May 27, 2008

Penalty

Initial $4,900

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 struck-by hazard relating to the sudden unexpected
release of high pressure:
On or before February 8, 2008, and at other times prior thereto, at the
new #2
Parma Lease well site, employees operating and monitoring a Permian
Fabrication & Service indirect line heater, Type 750K-ILH, Serial Number
3770-
5, were exposed to the struck-by hazard of unexpected release of
high-pressure
raw petroleum gas.
Among others, feasible means of abatement could include:
a.providing a safe means of pressure relief for vessels to prevent
catastrophic failure in accordance with the ASME Boiler & Pressure
Vessel Code, Section VIII (1968), the API's RP 54 (1999),
"Recommended Practice of Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well
Drilling and Servicing Operations", and the API's RP 521 (1997), "Guide
for Pressure-Relieving and Depressuring Systems";
b.providing a safe means of pressure relief for aboveground product piping
to prevent catastrophic failure in accordance with the ASME Code for
Pressure Piping - Process Piping, ANSI/ASME B31.3 (2002), the API's
RP 54 (1999), "Recommended Practice of Occupational Safety for Oil and
Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations", and the API's RP 521
(1997), "Guide for Pressure-Relieving and Depressuring Systems".ing