Coast Guard details causes of Gulf of Mexico offshore blowout
An investigation of the March 1979 gas blowout that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, leading to an explosion, fire, and loss of personnel, reveals that the casualties may have been fewer if the rig personnel had responded immediately to the abandon-rig alarm. The proximate cause of the explosion was the loss of well control; natural gas flowed into the wellbore, up through the drill pipe, and into the strainer cross on the mud pump. There, it simultaneously blew out the gate valve on the pump recirculation line, lifted the pressure-relief valve, and forced the relief valve line to part, thus venting to the atmosphere. The gas accumulated under, around, and in the living quarters, pump room, and engine room. The resultant explosion completely destroyed the living quarters. Seriously contributing to the accident was the crew's inability to close the kelly preventer; the blowout-preventer stack functioned properly throughout the blowout.
- OSTI ID:
- 6108297
- Journal Information:
- Oil Gas J.; (United States), Vol. 78
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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