BSEE Report Issued for Incident on Shell’s Auger Platform

by | Nov 5, 2021 | Offshore accidents, Personal Injury

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has released its Investigation Report on the April 3, 2021 incident that occurred on Shell Offshore Inc.’s A-Auger Tension Leg Platform located in the Gulf of Mexico at Garden Banks (GB) 426-A.  During the incident, a production operator was on the deck of the platform testing the boarding shut down valve (BSDV) for the Cardamom Field. During this work, the operator was holding one of the valves in his hand when it became pressurized.  The worker lost control of the hose, and was struck by a metal fitting on the end of it.  Pressure to the hose was eventually shut off, and the injured person transported to shore for evaluation.

The BSEE report, documented the work was not covered by Shell’s Operating Procedures:

Utilizing the hose to show zero pressure on the flowline was not part of the Shell’s Operating Procedure. An additional probable cause includes allowing the IP to assist in the testing of the BSDV without prior experience in boarding valve testing operations.

BSEE report determined the probable causes of the incident:

Management Systems: Inadequate documentation or availability of hazard analyses, job procedures, or emergency procedures: Utilizing the referenced hose (to achieve zero pressure) was not part of the approved operating procedure. The approved operating procedure states, “zero psi is not required. Blowdown to a point where at least 500 psi differential is across the boarding valve and monitor for pressure build-up”. 

Human Performance Error: Inexperience doing task related to incident – BSEE also found that the probable cause of the injury was allowing the inexperienced IP to assist in the testing of the BSDV regarding the referenced operation(s).

Our attorneys have extensive experience in maritime injury and wrongful death litigation in courts across the country and the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives as a result of the negligence of another party, or been seriously injured.  We have handled numerous cases involving injuries that occurred following fires or explosions on offshore platforms.  The experienced offshore accident attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of an offshore accident.  Please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or 877-678-5864 to learn more about your legal rights.