From the packaging of the products we buy to the gas we fill our cars with to the stoves we use to cook on, petroleum products are a fundamental part of our everyday lives. The oil & gas industry, however, can be incredibly dangerous for those involved in the extraction and refinement of oil and gas. While not every mistake or malfunction on an oil rig results in a catastrophe, it is not at all uncommon. If you or a loved one have been involved in an oil rig disaster, an experienced Houston maritime lawyer may be of assistance.
Oil rig disasters date back to the start of the industry, and The Krist Law Firm is equipped to help you in the aftermath of your injury or loss from an oil rig accident. Though it seems to be the least we can do as a society, there are lessons we learn with every incident, and policy changes typically follow each one. This reflection is crucial in preventing the mistakes of our past and protecting oilfield workers in the future.
Piper Alpha
The Piper Alpha disaster is widely regarded as one of the most devastating in history. On July 6, 1988, an explosion on the rig caused the deaths of over 160 workers. A case study completed by NASA determined it to be caused by a communication error facilitated by shift change. During the day shift, a worker began routine maintenance on the pressure safety valve responsible for regulating pressure on condensate Pump A. The worker determined they could not finish maintenance in the time remaining on the shift and installed a temporary, hand-tightened valve. Though the worker filled out the appropriate permit to communicate that the pump was not in safe operating order, the permit was placed near the valve, per policy, but not in the permit binder.
Later that evening, condensate pump B malfunctioned. When workers pulled the permit binder, they did not find the permit stating Pump A was not functional. Believing it was safe, the workers activated Pump A, which failed almost immediately. An explosion soon followed, causing an evacuation of the control room.
Management’s procedure dictated the automatic fire suppression system should be deactivated when divers were near the water intakes.
No order was given to stop drilling, so the fire was constantly fueled. Workers began to jump from the rig within an hour of the initial explosion. Helicopters attempted rescue but could not reach the scene due to wind conditions and the smoke from the fire, resulting in the death of 165 workers and two rescue team members.
Alexander L. Keilland Disaster
On March 27, 1980, there were over 212 workers in the housing facilities attached to the Norwegian semi-submersible drilling rig in the North Sea. The Alexander L. Keilland disaster was responsible for the death of 123 workers. While Piper Alpha is seen as the most devastating loss of life for the United States, Alexander L. Keilland is that for Norway. Final counts confirmed only 89 survivors from the 212-man crew.
The weather on the day of the incident was dangerous, with heavy rains and waves reaching nearly 40 feet high. Just before 7 pm, five of the cables tethering the platform to the ocean floor snapped. This shift caused one of the support legs to give out and the ultimate capsizing of the rig. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) report states three of the four rescue boats were damaged. This was partially due to a failure of the release hooks.
The cause of the disaster was ultimately inadequate structural support and poor integrity of the beams. Ultimately, the design of the rig was flawed owing to the absence of structural redundancy.
Ocean Ranger
The Ocean Ranger offshore oil rig was seen as the most advanced rig of the time. On Valentine’s Day of 1982, that would no longer be the case. According to a system failure case study by NASA, the rig was battered by bad weather. The crew was unconcerned due to the rig’s impressive history of withstanding storms. Just before 8 pm that evening, a wave hit the control room, shattering the windows. The crew was able to disconnect the power to the control panel to prevent electrical issues from the salt water. For reasons still unknown, the crew prematurely re-established power to the control room, causing the ballast tanks to flood and the rig to tilt. Of the 84 men onboard, there were no survivors and only 22 of the deceased could be recovered.
The NASA report ultimately cites a lack of knowledge and training on behalf of the crew as the reason for this tragedy.
Training to operate the control room was inadequate, consisting of two weeks of shadowing day-to-day operations with no instructional time in the classroom. Investigators also feel the crew as a whole had an incomplete understanding of how the rig functioned and how the ballast tanks could be affected by the restoration of power.
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
If the Piper Alpha disaster is considered one of the most tragic losses of human life, Deepwater Horizon is probably the greatest loss of marine life and harm to the environment. Nearly 15 years later, we are still experiencing the environmental effects of this spill.
On April 20, 2010, there was an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, causing it to sink and allow oil to flow into the Gulf of Mexico. The Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) reports the well was open and leaking for 87 days before it was capped. In a statement from BP (formerly British Petroleum) on the causes of the Gulf of Mexico tragedy, several causes for the accident were cited:
- The slurry used was not adequate to control the hydrocarbons and allowed liquid and gas to flow back up.
- Workers inaccurately reported – or B.P. inaccurately accepted – the negative pressure test results.
- The crew failed to notice and act on the influx of hydrocarbons.
- The crew mistakenly diverted the gas flow to the engine rooms instead of off of the rig.
- The rig did not prevent the flow of gas into the engine room, which only increased the risk of an explosion.
- After the explosion, the failsafe to seal the well failed. This was likely because of damage done in the initial explosion.
Representation After an Oil Rig Disaster
The aftermath of an oil rig disaster can be chaotic and overwhelming. For many people, obtaining legal representation feels like an insurmountable hurdle. In cases like this, however, an attorney may be exactly what you need to focus on your recovery and trust that your interests are being advocated for and protected.
We can only move forward after reflecting and making a situation right, especially if you have lost a loved one in an oil rig disaster. We work on a contingency fee schedule, so we don’t get paid until we recover the settlement you are legally entitled to receive. Our team of compassionate and dedicated professionals is here to answer your questions.
Call us today at The Krist Law Firm to discuss your situation and learn your legal options to bring accountability to those responsible. Schedule a free, obligation-free case consultation.