2007 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.
2007 Civil Penalties Summary
Penalties Paid in Calendar Year 2007
(1/1/2007 12/31/2007)
|
Operator Name |
Violation and Date(s) |
Penalty Paid and |
Regulation(s) Violated |
| Petro Ventures, Inc.
G-2002-042 |
Boat landing ESD station bypassed and the ESD station at the top of the stairs leading to the boat landing was also bypassed both by a manual isolation valve. 03-Jul-2002 - 12-Jul-2002 |
$60,000 3/14/2007 |
CFR 250.803(c) |
|
BP Exploration & Production Inc. (Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.) G-2004-003 |
Operator failed to verify employees were trained to competently perform the assigned well control duties. Additionally, they failed to have a remote-controlled station that could operate the valves in the flow and vent lines of the diverter. These violations contributed to a loss of well control event on November 14, 2002. There was no pollution or injuries. 04-Nov-2002 - 14-Nov-2002 |
$41,000 10/25/07 |
CFR 250.1503(a) |
| The Houston Exploration Company
G-2006-016 |
Two emergency shut down (ESD) stations at the boat landing were taken out of service and the two primary means of escape were unsafe. 18-Nov-2005 - 18-Jan-2006 |
$317,500 2/27/07 |
CFR 250.803 (b) (4) |
| Maritech Resources Inc.
G-2006-021 |
A major component of the approved dry chemical firefighting system was inoperable. Four 350 pound wheel unit fire extinguishers were not ready-for-use since the nitrogen cylinders were not connected. 10-Mar-2005 – 10-Mar-2005 |
$30,000 3/22/07 |
CFR 250.803(b)(8) |
| Maritech Resources Inc.
G-2006-024 |
The Platform was producing without operable emergency shut down (ESD) stations on the east & west boat landings, and once the ESD's were repaired, the block valves were left in the closed position. Additionally, surface-controlled subsurface safety valves (SCSSV's) for Wells B-1, B-4, B-10, B-20, B-22 & B-24 were blocked out of service since the manual override valve was closed at the main panel. 01-Oct-2005 – 14-Nov-2005 |
$162,500 5/10/07 |
CFR 250.803(c) |
| Energy Partners, Ltd.
G-2006-025 |
A rig floor hand was injured while using a spinner wrench. 06-Apr-2006 – 06-AR-2006 |
$30,000 4/23/07 |
CFR 250.107 |
| Merit Energy Company (Island Operators Co. Inc.)
G-2006-027 |
Pressure vessel had a hole where an inappropriate patch was used to repair it. 19-Dec-2005 – 31-Jan-2006 |
$220,000 4/25/07 |
CFR 250.107 |
| Mariner Energy, Inc.
G-2006-028 |
Employee injured when he fell 11 feet while working on a electrical tray 11 feet above the Deck. 01-Jun-2006 - 01-Jun-2006 |
$30,000 8/11/07 |
CFR 250.107 |
| Pogo Producing Company
(Wood Group Production Services) G-2006-030 |
The isolation valve was closed on the fuel gas supply line for the sump pump, placing the sump pump in an out of service mode. The condition of sump tank was not being monitored by platform personnel. 01-Apr-2006-03-Apr-2006 |
$15,000 2/14/2007 |
CFR 250.300(b)(4) |
| Noble Energy, Inc.
G-2006-031 |
LSH on the bulk oil Separator MBD 1000 was found in the close position rendering it inoperable (By-Passed). Welding operations with in 35 feet horizontally of equipment containing hydrocarbons from the point of impact of slag, sparks or burning material at lower elevations and was not otherwise protected. 21-Jul-2005 - 21-Jul-2005 |
$35,000 1/25/07 |
CFR 250.803 |
| Nexen Petroleum U.S.A. Inc.
G-2006-033 |
An open hole was found on the plus 10' Deck leading to the boat landing and there was no barricade to prevent personnel from entering the unsafe area. 03-MAY-2006 – 03-MAY-2006 |
$10,000 4/26/07 |
CFR 250.107(a) |
| Merit Energy Company
G2006-035 |
Repairs were conducted on the damaged crane boom that were not in accordance with API RP 2D, Section 4.3.3(e) and the crane was placed back in service without conducting a load test. 09-Aug-2006 - 09-Aug-2006 |
$10,000 1/10/2006 |
CFR 250.108 |
| Apache Corporation
G-2006-036 |
Records verified that there was not a low or high pressure test conducted on the following BOP related equipment: HCR choke valve, manual choke valve, HCR kill valve, manual kill valve, kill line check valve, IBOP, TIW valve and choke manifold. These violations were for 2 BOP test periods, 7/19/2006 and 7/26/2006. A mud-pit-level indicator with both visual and audible warning devices had not been installed. There was not a BOP station installed in the work basket of the snubbing unit. The secondary power source (air supply) was isolated with a closed manual block valve located on the inlet piping to the accumulator. 02-Aug-2006 - 02-Aug-2006 |
$446,000 8/30/07 |
CFR 250.615(c) |
| NCX Company, L.L.C.
G-2006-037 |
Records verify that the Flow Safety Valves (FSV) for Wells B3 and B9 were not tested during the months of April, May, June and July of 2006, and the FSV for Well B13 was not tested during the months of March and April of 2006. The Surface Safety Valves (SSV) for Wells B3 and B9 were not tested during the months of April, May, June and July of 2006 and the SSV for Well B13 was not tested during the months of March and April of 2006. The Pressure Safety High and Low (PSHL) for Wells B3 and B9 were not tested during the months of May, June and July of 2006. The Level Safety High (LSH) for the new sump pump (ABJ-B801) was not tested since the installation during the months of June and July of 2006. 01-Apr-2006 - 01-MAY-2006 |
$170,000 6/27/07 |
CFR 250.804(a)(5) |
| Forest Oil Corporation
G-2006-038 |
On WD 34 #3 caisson an open hole was found on the plus 10' Deck leading to the boat landing with no barricade to prevent personnel from entering the unsafe area. On WD 34 #1 caisson there were 2 open holes found: one open hole at the boat landing with no barricade and one opening in the Deck on the top Deck below the heliport which was not covered, guarded or otherwise made inaccessible. 18-MAY-2006 - 18-MAY-2006 |
$30,000 7/23/07 |
CFR 250.107 |
| SPN Resources
G-2006-040 |
Well A-16 Flowline PSH and PSL were bypassed while not being flagged or monitored. Also, the isolation valve directly upstream of the PSV on the compressor first stage suction scrubber was closed thus rendering the PSV inoperable. 14-MAY-2006 – 15-MAY-2006 |
$20,000 6/15/07 |
CFR 250.803(c) |
| Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
G-2006-041 |
The LSH on Run Tank, MAJ 1027, was bypassed while changing a leaking site glass. There was no way to monitor the level inside the vessel which was a contributing factor to the 2 bbl oil spill on August 1, 2006. 01-Aug-2006 – 01-Aug-2006 |
$15,000 4/10/07 |
CFR 250.803(c) |
| Freeport-McMoRan Energy LLC
G-2007-001 |
While changing the orifice plate on the test Separator meter run, the lead operator was overcome by H2S gas. The bottom gate of the orifice fitting did not seal completely, allowing gas to leak to the atmosphere; and proper H2S safety measures had not been taken. 22-Sep-2006 - 22-Sep-2006 |
$50,000 9/10/07 |
CFR 250.107 |
| Stone Energy Corporation
G-2007-002 |
Surface Control Subsurface Safety Valve for a well was found open and the manual block valve on the control line located at the well was closed rendering the SCSSV inoperable (by-passed), the valve would not closed as designed with the loss of hydraulic pressure. 19-Aug-2006 – 19-Aug-2006 |
$10,000 4/26/07 |
CFR 250.803 |
| Remington Oil and Gas Corporation
G-2007-004 |
The mechanical ventilation safety system protecting the Mud Engineer's portable building was found manually by-passed. 26-Sep-2006 - 26-Sep-2006 |
$17,500 8/17/07 |
CFR 250.459(d) |
| TDC Energy LLC
G-2007-005 |
A pollution event occurred with approximately 28 gallons spilled into Gulf waters; the skimmer tank skid, 2) sump tank skid, and condensate pump containment skid were all full of oil; and the sump pump was inoperable. 13-Sep-2006 - 14-Sep-2006 |
$72,000 7/10/07 |
CFR 250.300(a) |
| Linder Oil Company, A Partnership
G-2007-006 |
Four violations in this case: Oil and Grease on Stairway (primary means of escape); Boat landing blocked off; Gas detection alarm system disabled; and access to two 350# wheeled fire extinguishers were blocked off. 13-Sep-2006 - 13-Sep-2006 |
$65,000 7/11/07 |
CFR 250.107 |
| Forest Oil Corporation
G-2007-007 |
During an inspection on May 18, 2006 the LSH on the vent scrubber was found bypassed, also the gas lift line to the sump pile was disconnected rendering the sump pile inoperable. During this initial inspection there were 2 violations written up for oil accumulations, one being in the compressor skid and the second around the Deck of the crane. During a follow up inspection on June 9, 2006 a closed block valve was found on the supply line to the gas lift for the sump pile rendering the sump pile inoperable. On a third follow up inspection on June 13, 2006 the entire gas detector relay panel was found in bypass, there were also 2 violations documented for oil accumulations, both in the same areas as documented on the May 18th inspection (compressor skid and Deck area around the crane). 09-Jun-2006 - 09-Jun-2006 |
$80,000 10/5/07 |
CFR 250.300(b)(4) |
| Forest Oil Corporation
G-2007-008 |
The MMS inspector found an open hole around the BOP riser on the top Deck as well as an open hole around the BOP riser in the well bay area that was not properly barricaded to prevent a person's foot or body from inadvertently falling through the hole. 14-Nov-2006 – 18-Nov-2006 |
$80,000 6/26/07 |
CFR 250.107 |
| Pogo Producing Company
G-2007-010 |
The departing sales gas pipeline shut down valve spool connector between the ball valve and the mechanical robot device, used to open and close the valve, was cracked and allowing gas to escape into the atmosphere. 08-Jan-2007 – 13-Jan-2007 |
$120,000 6/7/07 |
CFR 250.107 |
| Nippon Oil Exploration U.S.A. Limited
G-2007-013 |
The upper and lower isolation valves on the LSH on the Vent Scrubber were found in the closed position, bypassed. 26-Feb-2007 - 26-Feb-2007 |
$10,000 10/23/07 |
CFR 250.803(c) |
| GOM Shelf LLC
(Rowan Drilling) G-2007-014 |
Stairs and handrailing on the cantilever pipe rack Deck had been removed in order to install the diverter housing under the Decking. With the stairs removed, there was no other access to the pipe rack Deck. Instead of replacing the stairs, the employees were observed climbing over railing and stretching from the top of the shaker house to the pipe Deck. They were not wearing fall protection (estimated fall of 25' to the Deck below). Additionally, the two areas where the handrailing and stairs had been removed were not barricaded or properly guarded. 11-Jan-2007 - 11-Jan-2007 |
$40,000 8/3/07 |
CFR 250.401(e) |
| Energy Partners, Ltd
G-2007-015 |
The fuel gas scrubber PSV was found blocked off and not flagged or monitored by personnel. 08-Mar-2007 - 15-Mar-2007 |
$80,000 7/17/07 |
CFR 250.803(c) |
| Devon Energy Production Company, L.P.
G-2007-017 |
An employee's unsafe and unworkmanlike action resulted in him falling 15' to the Deck below. 16-Mar-2007 - 16-Mar-2007 |
$20,000 12/11/07 |
CFR 250.107 |
| PetroQuest Energy LLC
G-2007-018 |
The Surface Controlled Subsurface Safety Valve (SCSSV) had been rendered inoperable since the isolation valve located at the wellhead was closed. 25-Mar-2007 - 25-Mar-2007 |
$10,000 9/5/07 |
CFR 250.803(c) |
| Apache Corporation
G-2007-019 |
There was a failure to maintain an operable drill floor Emergency Shut-Down station with simultaneous well production. 16-Apr-2007 - 16-Apr-2007 |
$20,000 9/26/07 |
CFR 250.406 |
| Petrobras America Inc.
G-2007-020 |
During completion operations on the Transocean Offshore F100 drilling rig two contract workers were seriously injured when a lifting sub that was being used to lift production tubing backed out of its connection and fell 65 feet to the rig floor striking the 2 workers. 19-Feb-2007 - 19-Feb-2007 |
$30,000 11/6/07 |
CFR 250.107(a) |
| Dominion Exploration & Production, Inc.
G-2007-024 |
After being denied a departure request to produce the H2 well with casing pressure, Dominion pulled the DX plug and produced the well for 279 days. 15-Jun-2006 – 20-Mar-2007 |
$697,500 12/13/07 |
CFR 250.107(a) |
| W&T Offshore, Inc.
G-2007-026 |
MMS Inspector found the starter gas for the fire water pump was blocked closed rendering the pump inoperable. 13-MAY-2007 – 13-MAY-2007 |
$35,000 12/19/07 |
CFR 250.803(b)(8) |
| Apache Corporation
G-2007-028 |
The MMS Inspector discovered that an additional section of metal plating had been removed from the ladder access opening for the mud pit tank. The removed section extended the opening beyond the three barricaded sides of the ladder access, creating a hazard for personnel. 13-Apr -2007 – 13-Apr-2007 |
$12,000 11/15/07 |
CFR 250.107 |
| Devon Energy Production Co., L.P.
G-2007-032 |
The level safety high (LSH) on the 1st stage suction scrubber; and the LSH on the 3rd stage suction scrubber were both found in by-pass. 22-Jun-2007 – 22-Jun-2007 |
$15,000 12/19/07 |
CFR 250.803(c) |
|
Total Penalties Paid: 1/1/07 - 12/31/07 36 Cases: $3,106,000 |
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The following acronyms are used in this table:
|
BOP |
Blow out Preventer |
|
ESD |
Emergency Shutdown Device |
|
INC |
Incident of Non-Compliance |
|
FSV |
Flow Safety Valve |
|
LSH |
Level Safety High |
|
MBD |
Thousands of Barrels per day |
|
PSH |
Pressure Safety High |
|
PSL |
Pressure Safety Low |
|
PSV |
Pressure Safety Valve |
|
SCSSV |
Subsurface Safety Valve |
|
SSV |
Surface Safety Valve |
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.