The U.S. Interior Department issued a safety alert on Feb. 2, warning offshore oil and gas drillers about a "recurring problem of connector and bolt failures" in equipment including blowout preventers.
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), a unit of the department, said it was aware of the problem, which affected components used in risers and underwater blowout preventers used in offshore drilling.
"These failures are of great concern to BSEE due to their frequency and the potential for a catastrophic event," the agency said. In 2012, failures led to a global recall of bolts and a temporary stop to drilling activities, BSEE said.
BSEE recommended that drilling operators work with the original equipment manufacturers to verify all components satisfy the metallurgical properties specified by the makers and to follow installation and maintenance procedures.
Recommended Reading
CEO Darren Woods: What’s Driving Permian M&A for Exxon, Other E&Ps
2024-03-18 - Since acquiring XTO for $36 billion in 2010, Exxon Mobil has gotten better at drilling unconventional shale plays. But it needed Pioneer’s high-quality acreage to keep running in the Permian Basin, CEO Darren Woods said at CERAWeek by S&P Global.
Analyst: Chevron Duvernay Shale Assets May Sell in $900MM Range
2024-01-29 - E&Ps are turning north toward Canadian shale plays as Lower 48 M&A opportunities shrink, and Chevron aims to monetize its footprint in Alberta’s Duvernay play.
Uinta Basin's XCL Seeks FTC OK to Buy Altamont Energy
2024-03-07 - XCL Resources is seeking approval from the Federal Trade Commission to acquire fellow Utah producer Altamont Energy LLC.
Chevron's Duvernay Sale Seen Attracting Mid-sized Canadian Shale Operators
2024-01-25 - As Chevron Corp. markets its Duvernay shale assets, the U.S. oil major is most likely to find a buyer among a handful of mid-sized Canadian firms looking to capitalize on the region.
Silver Hill Energy Enters Bakken with Liberty Resources Acquisition
2024-01-31 - Silver Hill Energy Partners LP is getting into the Bakken in North Dakota through the acquisition of Liberty Resources II.