OSHA Inspection: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.

Issued

May 12, 2015

Abate by

Nov 9, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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 struck-by hazards associated with working within the red zone of the well while energized.     (a) Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. @ WCR 9 ½ & Hwy 66, Well Reynolds Cattle 6C-19HZ, Mead, CO 80542:  On November 13th, 2014, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from struck-by hazards associated with the removal of an ice plug from within a Christmas tree with open valves while under pressure.  An employee was fatally injured when a 2'' chiksan (swivel joint) blew off of a valve and struck the employee in the head.           (b) Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. @ WCR 9 ½ & Hwy 66, Well Reynolds Cattle 6C-19HZ, Mead, CO 80542: On November 13th, 2014, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from struck-by hazards associated with working in the red zone while placing a live perforation gun down the well bore. Employees remained in the red zone while equipment was pressurized up to 3500 psi.  This condition exposed employees working in the red zone to struck-by hazards as a result of an explosion.       Abatement Note: Among other abatement methods, one feasible and acceptable method is to develop and implement specific procedural elements to control hazardous energy in accordance with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Z244.1-2003 publication Annex A (Informational).    Abatement Note: Abatement Certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").    -DELETE-Abatement Note: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others, to correct the hazards is to assure that the well shall be checked for pressure and if pressure is indicated, the operator's authorized person should be notified; then proper steps should be taken to remove pressure or to operate safely under pressure before commencing operations such as specified by API RP 54-92, Section 5, Sub-Section 5.3, Paragraph 5.3.4.-DELETE-       -DELETE-Abatement Note: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means of abatement is to implement the American Petroleum Institute, API RP 54 1999, Section 19.3, Freezing Operations. 19.3.1 Freezing operations should be under the direct supervision of a qualified person. 19.3.3. When possible, frozen plugs should be tested by a staged reduction in pressure, utilizing proportional increments.  After pressure is bled to zero, hold for a minimum of five (5) minutes.  Any ice plug movement indicated by this pressure test should constitute a valid reason to restart the plug freezing operations. 19.3.5, Frozen plugs should be allowed to thaw at a normal rate.  Steam or hot water should not be used to thaw plugs. Because of fracture problems of steel at cold temperature, striking or hammering cold metal surfaces should be avoided.-DELETE-