OVERVIEW

" I could see that we were having a blowout!" Gas to the surface at 0940 hours.

0940 TO 1230 HOURS

Natural gas was at the surface on the casing side very shortly after routing the returning wellbore fluid through the degasser. The crew reported that most of the unions and the flex line were leaking. A -inch hammer union in the line between the manifold and the atmospheric-type "poor-boy" separator was leaking drilling mud and gas badly. The separator was mounted in the end of the first tank. Gas was being blown from around the bottom of the poor-boy separator. At about 1000 hours, the motors on the rig floor began to rev as a result of gas in the air intake. The crew shut down the motors.

At 1030 hours the annular preventer began leaking very badly. The upper pipe rams were closed.

1230 TO 1400 HOURS

Continuing to attempt to circulate the hole with mud and water.

1400 TO 1500 HOURS

The casing pressure continues to increase. The flow from the well is dry gas. The line between the manifold and the degasser is washing out and the leak is becoming more severe. The flow from the well is switched to the panic line. The panic line is leaking from numerous connections. Flow is to both the panic line and the separator.

The gas around the rig ignited at 1510 hours. The fire was higher than the rig. The derrick fell at 1520 hours.

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