Incident summary
A worker was completing a pressure test on the coil tube connector. The worker was positioned over the well head and was inadvertently contacted in the face by the test pipe, sustaining fatal injuries.
Sequence of events
On August 3, 2017, at approximately 5:30 a.m., the night shift of the coil tube operation held their cross-shift meeting with the morning crew including the Supervisor, Worker 2, TP truck operator (operated the industrial water truck, providing the pressurized water for the hydro testing of the lines to the BOP connected to the wellhead, prior to completing the well fracking), and Worker 1 along with the Prime Contractor’s site Consultant. The Consultant was an individual experienced in oil and gas operations who was contracted to supervise on-site activities for operating companies at various oil and gas sites, including the process of fracking a well.
The first pressure test had been completed by the night crew. The Consultant working with the night shift, was completing their report in their truck to send back to the head office in Calgary. The Consultant had contacted their supervisor to let them know what stage the Consultant was at, as well as informed their oncoming cross shift.
Worker 2 and Worker 1 were in the process of completing the second pressure test; they had bled off the lines (releasing of water pressure in the hoses) to release pressure in the BOP. Their supervisor had verbal and hand signal confirmation from Worker 1 that all the lines had been bled off, so that the Supervisor could open the slip rams (the slips grabbed and held the coiled tubing). Once the Supervisor opened the slips, the Supervisor heard someone yell to call 911.
The Supervisor returned to the rig deck to find Worker 1 lying on the deck, Worker 2 looking for rags and trying to assist the unresponsive Worker 1. The Consultant noticed one of the night crew workers pointing and running towards the lease entrance muster point; the site medic was running towards the rig. Heading towards the rig, the Consultant observed one of the workers on their hands and knees beside Worker 1 performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
The Consultant returned to their truck and called 911 and was instructed to meet emergency medical services (EMS) at the entrance of the lease site. The Consultant then contacted Karve Energy Inc., as well as OHS. EMS and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) arrived at site, and the worker was pronounced deceased.
Source: Alberta Labour and Immigration Occupational Health and Safety