2000 Civil Penalties
The goal of the OCS Civil Penalties Program is to assure safe and clean operations on the OCS. Through the pursuit, assessment, and collection of civil penalties and referrals for the consideration of criminal penalties, the program is designed to encourage compliance with OCS statutes and regulations.
2000 Civil Penalties Summary
All Penalties Paid in Calendar 2000
(1/1/2000 - 12/31/2000)
|
Operator Name |
Violation and Date(s) |
Penalty Paid and |
Regulation(s) Violated (30 CFR) |
| Conn Energy, Inc.
G-1996-24 |
The SSSD's for several wells were not tested in the required timeframe.
12/13/95 - 1/12/96 |
$42,000
10/24/2000 |
250.124(a)(1)(iii) |
| Vastar Resources,
Inc. G-1997-22 |
A flowline FSV was determined to be leaking beyond the allowable rate and had not been repaired or replaced since the leak was discovered.
2/16/97 - 3/7/97 |
$19,000
9/12/2000 |
250.124(a)(5) |
| Conoco Inc.
G-1997-37 |
A fatality occurred when unsafe and unworkmanlike conditions existed. There were tripping hazards and rig personnel were not wearing fall protection.
1/20/97 |
$20,000
5/25/2000 |
250.20(a) |
| Torch Oil & Gas Company
G-1997-55 |
Failure to maintain an operable sump system resulted in a slick 1 mile by 40 yards. The parts building (classified area) was not equipped with a gas detection system. The sump pump was inoperable and the platform was not equipped with an automatic sump system.
11/7/95, 11/29/96 |
$29,500
1/14/2000 |
250.40(a) 250.40(b)(4) 250.123(b)(9) |
| Shell Frontier Oil & Gas Inc.
G-1997-56 |
PSV on Fuel Gas Scrubber set about MAWP and not annually tested.
7/31/96 |
$15,000
7/11/2000 |
250.123(b)(1)(i)
250.124(a)(2) |
| Pogo Producing Company
G-1998-14 |
During an unannounced inspection two rig personnel were observed not wearing fall protection gear while working near a 7' X 7' hole. A follow-up inspection revealed a second 4' X 8' hole which was not flagged, barricaded or monitored.
10/3/97, 10/23/97 |
$17,500
4/17/2000 |
250.20(a) |
| Statoil Exploration (US) Inc.
G-1998-20 |
The SCSSV's for Wells E-2, E-8 and E-11 were bypassed.
7/27/97 |
$30,000
2/7/2000 |
250.123(c)(1) |
| Aviva America, Inc.
G-1998-21 |
The SCSSV was bypassed on Well JA-7
1/14/97 |
$5,000
2/4/2000 |
250.123(c)(1) |
| Forcenergy Inc
G-1998-27 |
PSL on test separator was backed all the way off such that it would not trip, therefore, bypassed.
3/3/98 |
$15,000
3/24/2000 |
250.123(c)(1) |
| Vastar Resources, Inc.
G-1998-31 |
The gas detector sensors in the shale shaker room were covered with plastic and tape which rendered them inoperable.
10/1/97 - 10/2/97 |
$15,000
5/5/2000 |
250.60(e)(3) |
| Santa Fe Snyder Corporation
G-1998-36 |
EAW 3010 Line Heater: BSL was bypassed at line heater panel while line heater was in service. MBF 010 Suction Scrubber: LSH microswitch was disconnected from the compressor panel resulting in a bypass of the LSH.
3/12/98 |
$20,000
1/7/2000 |
250.123(c)(1) |
| The Houston Exploration
G-1998-37 |
During an annual inspection the inspector detected numerous violations that have been submitted for a compliance review. They are 1) P-103 for the bypassing of the SCSSV for well, 2) two P-280's The operator failed to conduct test of the SCSSV's on well's A-2 and A-3 in a timely manner, 3) P-231 the ESD station for the heliport had been disconnected.
9/1/97 - 3/26/98 |
$37,500
2/10/2000 |
250.124(a)(1)(i) 250.123(c)(1) 250.123(b)(4) |
| Aviva America, Inc.
G-1998-41 |
The automatic pump on the emergency sump had been disconnected. The LAH on the emergency sump was out of service.
1/10/98 |
$30,000
11/28/2000 |
250.123(c)(1) 250.40(b)(4) |
| Aviva America, Inc.
G-1998-42 |
The PSHL on Well JA-7 was bypassed and the gas detection system for the laundry room was inoperative.
2/17/98 |
$24,000
11/28/2000 |
250.123(6)(9) 250.123(c)(1) |
| Basin Exploration, Inc.
G-1998-46 |
P-261 was issued for well A-1D not being equipped with a pump thru plug after being shutin for more than 6 months, P-280 was issued due to well A-4 SCSSV being inoperable (leaking) and not being replaced.
1/5/98 - 4/16/98 |
$30,971
5/12/2000 |
250.124(a)(1)(i) 250.121(f) |
| Kerr-McGee Corporation
G-1998-55 |
The SSV relay for well A-6 was bypassed for three (3) days
2/4/98 - 2/6/98 |
$7,500
3/2/2000 |
250.123(c)(1) |
| Samedan Oil Corporation
G-1998-58 |
Not conducting operations in a safe and workmanlike manner. After completing his elevated work and disconnecting his safety line, a workman fell through an opening in the deck grating 18 feet to the deck below while descending the BOP stack and was injured.
6/8/98 |
$25,000
1/18/2000 |
250.20(a) |
| Ocean Energy, Inc.
G-1998-65 |
Lease came on production 4/22/98. The announced initial inspection of 5/13/98, revealed the following violations: A 4'2' X 4'4' hole in the production deck not properly barricaded; workers not wearing fall protection gear observed in vicinity of hole. Inoperable gas detection system in living quarters and MCC bldg; two men sleeping on platform since 4/22/98. No record of testing the gas detection system and the fire detection system. No record of testing the SCSSV's for Well A-4 (on line 4/24/98) and Well A-5 (on line 4/22/98) when installed.
4/22/98 - 5/13/98 |
$49,500
6/9/2000 |
250.20(a) 250.123(b)(9) 250.124(a)(8) |
| Amoco Production Company
G-1999-1 |
The SCSSV's for Wells Nos. D-1 and D-19 were bypassed for 3 days.
7/15/98 |
$18,000
1/13/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Vastar Resources, Inc.
G-1999-2 |
The operator failed to repair the leaking accumulator pump. The accumulator system had less than 1000 psi with the pump running constantly.
10/13/98 |
$25,000
2/2/2000 |
250.120(a) |
| Vastar Resources, Inc.
G-1999-4 |
The General Quarters' flame, heat and smoke detection system was bypassed.
1/30/99 - 2/1/99 |
$21,000
1/18/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Ocean Energy, Inc.
G-1999-5 |
Two fatalities resulted when the crane on the platform was not operated and maintained in accordance with the provisions of the API RP 2D.
5/10/98 |
$25,000
3/3/2000 |
250.20(c) |
| Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
G-1999-6 |
The shut-down valve (SDV) on the bi-directional pipeline (KAA-801) was bypassed.
12/30/98 |
$22,000
5/17/2000 |
250.1004(b)(8) |
| SOCO Offshore, Inc.
G-1999-7 |
The automatic SSV for Well A-3 was in bypass at the master control panel.
2/19/99 |
$10,000
2/4/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Energy Partners, Ltd.
G-1999-8 |
The air valves in the backup air pumps in the closed position.
4/2/99 |
$10,000
2/9/2000 |
250.515(c)(2) |
| Phillips Petroleum Company
G-1999-9 |
INC's (P233) were issued for not having Emergency Shut Down (ESD) stations on the boat landings of the platform.
1/26/99 |
$10,000
3/3/2000 |
250.803(b)(4) |
| Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
G-1999-10 |
Sump Pump block valve on discharge line bypassed on the compressor platform. Sump Pump fuel supply valve bypassed on the Auxillary 2 platform.
4/20/99 |
$5,000
5/18/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| The Louisiana Land and Exploration Company
G-1999-11 |
No Remote BOP Control Station for the Diverter System
10/2/98 - 10/6/98 |
$30,000
3/22/2000 |
250.406(d)(3) |
| Stone Energy Corporation
G-1999-12 |
LSH on Flare/Vent scrubber by-passed
6/1/98 |
$15,000
3/17/2000 |
250.123(c)(1) |
| Conn Energy, Inc.
G-1999-13 |
The PSHL on Well A-1 was bypassed. The LSH on the fuel gas scrubber was bypassed. And the ESD stations on the boat landing were inoperable.
6/24/98 |
$41,000
10/2/2000 |
250.123(c)(1) 250.123(b)(4) |
| Amoco Production Company
G-1999-15 |
The PSH on the interstage suction scrubber was not tested for nearly two years.
6/17/97 - 2/24/99 |
$12,000
4/29/2000 |
250.124(a)(3) |
| Taylor Energy Company
G-1999-17 |
The sump pile pump was inoperable and the supply and discharge were manually closed off placing the sump pile pump in a non operable bypassed mode.
2/5/99 |
$6,000
5/2/2000 |
250.300(b)(4) 250.803(c)(1) |
| Forcenergy Inc
G-1999-18 |
LSH was bypassed and not tested on the Floatation Cell ABM 410
7/18/98 - 9/29/98 |
$9,000
6/23/2000 |
250.802(b) |
| Burlington Resources Offshore
G-1999-20 |
Well E-10 (PSH/L) found to be bypassed on the panel board and not flagged.
5/3/99 |
$13,000
4/13/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Forcenergy Inc
G-1999-21 |
Multiple safety devices on each of 10 process components were found bypassed. Pollution from the floatation cell occurred when the ESD was activated.
3/15/99 |
$161,000
7/11/2000 |
250.803(c)(1)
250.300(a) |
| Kelley Oil Corporation
G-1999-22 |
Pollution occurred when condensate spilled out of the skimmer's vent. There was no PSV on the skimmer pump, the supply gas to the skimmer pump was blocked, and the LSH failed to operate because it had not been set/tested properly. One hundred fifty gallons of condensate was released into the Gulf of Mexico. The PSHL on the skimmer pump was bypassed. Also, the SCSSV's on two wells had not been tested within the required timeframe.
5/17/99 - 5/18/99 |
$44,000
7/13/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) 250.300(a) |
| Bois d'Arc Offshore Ltd.
G-1999-23 |
Fuel Gas Master Relay and Sump Pump Master Relay were found to be Pinned out of service and not flagged or monitored.
12/5/98 |
$20,000
4/13/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
G-1999-24 |
Gas Supply in By-pass on Sump Pump
10/28/98 |
$20,000
3/27/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Kelley Oil Corporation
G-1999-26 |
The designated person operating the subject platform was not T-2 certified even though he was engaged in installing, inspecting, testing, and maintaining safety devices.
6/17/98 |
$20,000
5/19/2000 |
250.214 |
| Stone Energy Corporation
G-1999-28 |
The boat landing ESD stations were bypassed and block out of service by a closed manual isolation block valve located on the sub-cellar deck exit stairway to the boat landings.
7/4/99 - 7/8/99 |
$17,500
9/28/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Equitable Production Company
G-1999-30 |
The PSV on the treater fuel gas scrubber on the A Platform was bypassed and blocked out of service by a closed manual block valve under the PSV.The PSV on the test separator on the C Platform was bypassed and blocked out of service by a closed manual block valve under the PSV.
7/26/99 |
$24,000
9/11/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Vastar Resources, Inc.
G-1999-31 |
The master relay for Well A-6 was found bypassed (pinned out) on the well panel thus rendering the SSV inoperable.
6/2/99 |
$15,000
3/20/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Stone Energy Corporation
G-1999-32 |
Relay for the burner fuel SDV on the glycol reboiler (EAW 1000) panel was bypassed.
8/24/99 - 8/25/99 |
$8,000
4/11/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Matrix Oil & Gas, Inc.
G-1999-37 |
Diesel was discovered leaking into the Gulf of Mexico.
9/9/99 |
$19,000
8/11/2000 |
250.300(a) |
| Murphy Exploration & Production
Company G-2000-1 |
Manual block valve in the emergency shutdown (ESD) line discovered in a closed position thus rendering the ESD station at the boat landing inoperable. The temperature safety elements (TSE) for the measurement separators MBD-0600 and MBD-0700 were blocked out of service due to a closed manual block valve in TSE line.
1/31/99 - 2/2/99, 2/2/99 - 2/9/99 |
$18,500
8/2/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) 250.803(b)(4) |
| Forcenergy Inc
G-2000-4 |
The SCSSV for Wells A-24 and A-26 was bypassed.
10/18/99 |
$27,000
6/26/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Energy Resource Technology,
G-2000-5 |
The boat landing ESD was disconnected from the facility ESD system.
7/8/99 - 8/13/99 |
$92,500
6/28/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Anadarko Petroleum
G-2000-6 |
The purge system in the mud-logging unit was shut off.
8/12/99 |
$8,500
7/26/2000 |
250.120(a) |
| Matrix Oil & Gas, Inc.
G-2000-7 |
INC was issued for leaking condensate into Gulf waters from vent boom.
11/16/99 |
$18,000
11/2/2000 |
250.300(a) |
| Union Pacific Resources
G-2000-9 |
The ESD station on the A Platform boat landing was bypassed and blocked out of service bya closed manual isolation valve in the stainles ssteel supply tubing located on the sump tank deck level exit stairway to the boat landing.
11/3/99 |
$12,500
9/22/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Newfield Exploration Company
G-2000-10 |
The mud logging unit purge system was discovered to be shut off manually on the GLOMAR BALTIC I Drilling Rig Platform.
10/6/99 |
$10,000
12/21/2000 |
250.120(a) |
| Union Pacific Resources
G-2000-11 |
The LSH on the sump tank was bypassed and blocked out of service
1/2/2000 - 1/12/2000 |
$27,500
10/18/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Samedan Oil Corporation
G-2000-21 |
The mud logging unit purge system was discovered to be shut off manually on the ENSCO 55 Drilling Rig.
1/5/2000 |
$10,000
10/18/2000 |
250.120(a) |
| Bois d'Arc Offshore Ltd.
G-2000-22 |
The case contained 59 violations that were submitted for review, of which 55 were for failure to perform tests of safety devices. Four were the result of safety devices being bypassed. Nine of the violations were not assessed in that they were found not to be a threat.
8/31/98 - 2/1/00 |
$245,000
10/30/2000 |
250.804(a)(1)(i) 250.804(a)(3) 250.804(a)(4) 250.804(a)(5) 250.804(a)(10) 250.803(c)(1) |
| Fugro-LCT Inc.
G-2000-23 |
Company failed to obtain a geophysical permit prior to beginning operations to collect gravity data.
10/28/99 - 2/4/00 |
$13,250
6/27/2000 |
251.4(a) |
| Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
G-2000-24 |
A well surface-controlled subsurface safety valve was blocked out of service on February 18, 2000.
2/18/2000 |
$15,000
12/20/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Burlington Resources Offshore
G-2000-25 |
The manual block valve in the fuel supply system piping was found in the open position thus bypassing the shut down valve (SDV) for the fuel gas scrubber (MBF-1603). This SDV was not bypassed for startup, maintenance or testing; it was not flagged nor was it being monitored.
2/4/2000 |
$18,000
10/19/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Texaco Exploration and Production Inc.
G-2000-26 |
Wells A-1, A-6 and A-8 continued to produce after FSV's failed leakage test.
3/29/2000 - 3/20/2000 |
$63,000
9/20/2000 |
250.804(a)(5) |
| Exxon Mobil Corporation
G-2000-27 |
The PSHL protecting the departing oil pipeline was bypassed.
2/24/2000 |
$5,000
10/2/2000 |
250.1004(b)(3) |
| Samedan Oil Corporation
G-2000-28 |
An employee was working at a height of 15 feet above steel decking without utilizing fall protection gear.
2/26/2000 |
$12,000
10/18/2000 |
250.107(a) |
| Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
G-2000-30 |
Crane operator attempted to lift a load exceeding the lifting capacity of the crane; boom fell onto a tool storage building (causing minor damage) and the basket, remaining attached to the cable, fell into the water.
4/9/2000 |
$22,000
10/17/2000 |
250.108 |
| Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
G-2000-33 |
Accident occurred on the rig floor. The accident resulted in serious injury to a derrick-hand where he loss two fingers on the right hand and three fingers on the left hand while greasing the crown and air hoist sheaves on the derrick.
3/22/2000 |
$25,000
12/1/2000 |
250.120(a) |
| AEDC (USA) INC.
G-2000-34 |
The Condensate Coalescer Blowcase was in bypass on the panel board
5/6/2000 |
$10,000
11/29/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Bois d'Arc Offshore Ltd.
G-2000-38 |
The Surface Control Subsurface Safety Valve
(SCSSV) on the caisson well #4 was found closed on the tree. 12/16/99 |
$12,000
11/21/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Vastar Resources, Inc.
G-2000-40 |
PSV on Well No. A-5 flowline was bypassed.
2/7/2000 |
$15,000
12/12/2000 |
250.803(c)(1) |
| Aera Energy LLC
P-1999-001 |
G-110: pipeline leak detection system was not operated and maintained properly (E-100 for 10 BBL spill was not covered by final assessment)
6/7/99 |
$48,000
4/25/2000 |
250.122(e) |
|
Total Penalties Paid: 1/1/2000 - 12/31/2000 66 Cases: $1,780,721 |
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The purpose of publishing the penalties summary is to provide information to the public on violations of special concern in OCS operations and to provide an additional incentive for safe and environmentally sound operations.
The Oil Pollution Act (OPA 90) strengthened section 24 of the OCS Lands Act Amendments of 1978. Subtitle B of OPA 90, entitled 'Penalties,' increased the amount of the civil penalty from a maximum of $10,000 to a maximum of $20,000 per violation for each day of noncompliance. More importantly, in cases where a failure to comply with applicable regulations constitutes or constituted a threat of serious, irreparable, or immediate harm or damage to life (including fish and other aquatic life); property; any mineral deposit; or the marine, coastal, or human environment; OPA 90 provided the Secretary of the Interior with the authority to assess a civil penalty without regard to the requirement of expiration of a period of time allowed for corrective action.
On August 8, 1997, the MMS published new regulations(22 KB PDF) implementing the civil penalty provisions of the OCS Lands Act. Written in 'plain English,' the new question-and-answer format provides a better understanding of the OCS civil penalty process. In addition, the provisions of OPA 90 require the Secretary of the Interior to adjust the maximum civil penalty to reflect any increases in the Consumer Price Index. The new rule increases the maximum civil penalty to $25,000 per day per violation.