It’s hard to believe something this catastrophic could occur in the Gulf and on a Gen5 rig. I’ve seen stuff like this happen in Africa, but not in the Gulf of Mexico. I’ve got two co-workers on that rig, but no word on whether they made it off the rig safely. So I’ll be praying for them.
The last time I worked on the Horizon they were up for a 5 year “No Hand Injury” award. Basically, the crew had gone 5 years without so much as hitting themselves in the thumb with a ball-peen hammer. Its hard to equate that kind of safety standards with something like this. From the article I take it to mean they were drilling an exploration well. I imagine they took a really big kick or we’re looking a blowout preventer (BOP) failure.
A better explanation at Wikipedia.
For a better idea watch the first 15 minutes of Armageddon with Bruce Willis. The whole sequence is pretty ridiculous, but it does show what blowout looks like (minus the fire and the complete loss of the rig).
Oil exploration is what I do, and the Horizon is the type of rig I normally work on. It’s a very sobering event.
The Horizon is listing. Will probably submerge or capsize.
I’m safe and sound in the middle of no where South Texas. We’re testing out a couple new pieces of equipment to see how they perform. Possibly open up more of a market on land and expand our deep water services.
That’s a bad one. I hope your friends made it out. Someone really screwed the pooch here. The major opreators almost NEVER have this kind of issue anymore. You usually hear about it happening onshore to some nickle-and-dime operator.
[quote]Bujo wrote:
The Horizon is listing. Will probably submerge or capsize.
I’m safe and sound in the middle of no where South Texas. We’re testing out a couple new pieces of equipment to see how they perform. Possibly open up more of a market on land and expand our deep water services. [/quote]
Where at in South Texas? I also read that this was a BP rig?
I was working on a rig in Oklahoma in the early eighties that blew out while I was off shift…wasnt much left. Hit an unexpected gas pocket with a new driller.
We also had an incident on another rig with a brine water blow out. Pretty tense few minutes until we managed to get that one under control, it was really screaming. I had brine water up my ass, nose, in my ears etc and it doesnt feel good. Luckily, I had a good coating of drilling mud on my skin and clothes before the brine water hit. (sarcasm)
news report I heard on FOX at 1:00 was that all hands were accounted for, last life raft had been found with 12 guys, all okay. There were some injuries reported earlier, but I don’t believe any deaths.
[quote]Bujo wrote:
The Horizon is listing. Will probably submerge or capsize.
I’m safe and sound in the middle of no where South Texas. We’re testing out a couple new pieces of equipment to see how they perform. Possibly open up more of a market on land and expand our deep water services. [/quote]
Where at in South Texas? I also read that this was a BP rig?[/quote]
Transocean owns the rig and employs the crew (roughnecks, roustabouts, electrician, mechanic, seamen, etc…). BP is the petroleum company that is contracting the rig for service. Its not uncommon to see it reported as the BP Deepwater Horizon. If you see a rig with the word “Deepwater” or “Discoverer” its probably a Transocean Rig. If it has “Ocean” (Ocean Titan, Ocean Spur) its probably owned by Diamond, and if it is named after a person its probably Rowan or Noble.
I am in San Isidro Tx. 50 miles NNW of McAllen, Tx.
I just talked with my coordinator, looks like all my buddies are accounted for and alive.
[quote]Bujo wrote:
The Horizon is listing. Will probably submerge or capsize.
I’m safe and sound in the middle of no where South Texas. We’re testing out a couple new pieces of equipment to see how they perform. Possibly open up more of a market on land and expand our deep water services. [/quote]
Where at in South Texas? I also read that this was a BP rig?[/quote]
Transocean owns the rig and employs the crew (roughnecks, roustabouts, electrician, mechanic, seamen, etc…). BP is the petroleum company that is contracting the rig for service. Its not uncommon to see it reported as the BP Deepwater Horizon. If you see a rig with the word “Deepwater” or “Discoverer” its probably a Transocean Rig. If it has “Ocean” (Ocean Titan, Ocean Spur) its probably owned by Diamond, and if it is named after a person its probably Rowan or Noble.
I am in San Isidro Tx. 50 miles NNW of McAllen, Tx.
I just talked with my coordinator, looks like all my buddies are accounted for and alive.[/quote]
Cool thanks man. I am the regional director for an occupational medicine company based out of Baton Rouge. So my hat is always off for guys who work hard for a living. I also have some close friends who work offshore and was glad to hear everyone is safe.
[quote]ward bond wrote:
I was working on a rig in Oklahoma in the early eighties that blew out while I was off shift…wasnt much left. Hit an unexpected gas pocket with a new driller.
We also had an incident on another rig with a brine water blow out. Pretty tense few minutes until we managed to get that one under control, it was really screaming. I had brine water up my ass, nose, in my ears etc and it doesnt feel good. Luckily, I had a good coating of drilling mud on my skin and clothes before the brine water hit. (sarcasm)
[/quote]
Yeah, blow outs and kicks on those land rigs come up quick. I’ll be doing 6 wells total and they are only 6000-7000 ft deep. Not a whole lot of time to close the BOPs if you see a kick. The Horizon was drilling in 4000+ ft of water, that gives a nice buffer zone. Plus between the driller, derrickman, and the mudloggers somebody should have seen it coming and been on the horn to the driller shack. One of the reasons I’m thinking BOP failure.
