An operator was found unresponsive at an Oil Battery. The operator’s body was found lying inside a partially open utilidor where a valve was open and gas escaping. The battery is a sour gas (oil & gas with hydrogen sulphide) site. The Medical Examiner report stated the cause of death was due to hydrogen sulphide exposure.
Operator 1 (fatally injured worker) had been working to unblock a needle valve of the cyclone separator where methanol was injected into the dump line. Operators were responsible for monitoring the facility, maintenance, well checks, and maintaining wells in the field. Operator 1 had 30 years of experience as a production field operator.
Operator 1 had worked at the Oil Battery for 10 years as a senior operator and had many years of experience as a production operator in sour (hydrogen sulphide) service. He had completed mandated safety training.
Operator 2 had been working at another location of the lease site completing well checks.
Operator 2 returned to the Oil Battery to find Operator 1 unresponsive and partially inside the opened cyclone separator utilidor. Operator 2 had 35 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry, predominantly in sour service, and was a contract operator. Operator 2 had completed mandated safety training throughout their oil and gas career.