Community Forums

Forest Grump · 07-09-2008, 12:08 PM

I've spent a lot of time on drilling rigs from Michigan to Texas to Oklahoma to Alaska to Venezuela from the small guy to the big 7 and nowhere have I seen anything remotely comparable to this show.

One thing they are forgetting is the drilling forman and drilling superintendent. The real bosses. The guys on the rigs I have seen are professional, intelligent and very environmentally concerned.

I've also never seen a "race" even between competing rigs. It's baloney. All companies have very strict rules regarding safety for the men, the rig and for the liability of the company. Remember these companies are all self insured and the cost of a disaster can be huge.
After the Devils Candle incident for Shell they developed the Blue Book - actually about 20 volumes for each division - it's the Bible. Even if it costs twice as much you do what the book says.

One example is circulating bottoms up prior to coming out of the hole, each and every time, everyone waits till the mud had recirculated. This insures there are no gas bubbles present which could cause the well to blow while pulling pipe etc.

historyljc · 07-09-2008, 03:08 PM

Does anyone really believe that these Hollywood productions in any way represent reality? Anyone who has watched all the cop shows over the years should know better.

codgerbill · 07-15-2008, 11:23 AM

While I dont doubt all that is said about hollywood and thier productions, I do somewhat dispute the statement "--the oil industry with all the dangers is by far the most safe conceus industry in the world---" Americans as a whole are pretty safety conscious. I retired from an electric utility (43 years). I personally worked with Utility and Contractor lineman and thier environment can be and is very dangerous. The safety practices they observe are very rigid and have developed over time and based on experience, as I am sure the practices in the oil industry aer too.I have observed workers in other industries too and can say safety is of the utmost of concern in most companies. That said, it has always been my opinion that the "media" has an agenda and does not wish the facts to get in the way.

historyljc · 07-15-2008, 11:34 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">... it has always been my opinion that the "media" has an agenda and does not wish the facts to get in the way. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Two Amens to that: AMEN, AMEN.

MCDDY · 07-15-2008, 03:24 PM

Forest Grump
How'd you end up at Big Bear, beautiful area. Know all about the Blue Book and our company's best practices, a living document that is the way to do it. Every operator in the field has a copy which is updated semi-annualy. Sat in on many meetings of everyone involved in any process to map out best practices. All part of ISO9000 or whatever # it is now. It works.
Saw the show the last 2 wks but didn't post, somewhat better, still way off base. A crew doesn't leave location till their relief is there.
The thing that gets my shorts in a wad is the impression of oil shooting out the top of the derrick. You and I know that's an absolute disaster and somebody or some piece of equipment has failed to do it's/their job.

CodgerBill
Not gonna comment about consensus safest but it's one of them. Your industry is also and an awesome example. Where I live, get to watch them in action quite often repairing downed lines from summer thunderstorms, etc. Those guys are good and safe.

Now, historyljc
About 30mi. off of Pensacola Beach is what can turn out to be one of the most prolific gas fields in the US. A major US company and partners drilled and proved that field in the late 80s and early 90s. Fairly shallow water, 150' but deep wells, 20,000+ and the gas has H2S but that's a technical/matallurgy problem. I was involved in the initial drilling part and later on supplying unique H2S equipment for the actual well testing. Beauty part for you Florida folks is no pipeline will cross your beach but will go West to their huge refinery at Pascagoula, Ms. if you can ever get your politicians off their butt.
Dave

historyljc · 07-15-2008, 05:55 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Beauty part for you Florida folks is no pipeline will cross your beach but will go West to their huge refinery at Pascagoula, Ms. if you can ever get your politicians off their butt </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
These are the same people than refused the Casinos and let them go to Biloxi.
The old joke about Pensacola. An airline was coming in for a landing at Pensacola airport when the pilot came on over the speaker system and said, <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> I would like to welcome everyone to Pensacola. Please take a moment and set your watches back 20 years. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

MCDDY · 07-16-2008, 09:06 AM

historyljc
Off topic but your comment made me think of this humorous tidbit. There was a sign on the I-20, might have still been US80, bridge between Vicksburg,Ms and Louisiana back in the late 60s. "Entering Louisiana, please set your watches back 3 seconds". Had to do with an Ole Miss/LSU game @ Tiger Stadium that time had expired on the scoreboard clock but there were still 3 seconds and LSU scored the winning touchdown. Ole Miss fans still bring it up and Miss. State fans still just chuckle.
Dave

offshore · 07-16-2008, 12:14 PM

I've been in the oil and gas industry all my life (61 years young) and its been very good for my family. I deal with the Minerals Management Service all day long. The tree huggers are winning and we let them.