The Bay Marchand Fire

Introduction Platform "B" was launched July 16, 1969, in the Platform "B" was launched July 16, 1969, in the Bay Marchand Block 2 field. The 12-pile structure was located in 55 ft of water, 7 miles offshore and 65 miles south of New Orleans. It was designed for 36 wells, which were to be drilled by two independently operated, full-sized drilling rigs. The first well on the platform was started Sept. 15, 1969. By Dec. 1, 1970, the two rigs, Stormdrill 20 and Stormdrill 21, had drilled and completed 22 wells. Of those wells, 21 were dual completions and one was a single completion. Daily production was 17,500 bbl of oil and 40 MMcf of gas. Two additional wells were in the process of being drilled. (Fig. 1 is an aerial view of Platform "B" before the fire broke out.) Platform "B" was equipped with the latest safety devices and was being operated in full compliance with Government regulations. What caused the Bay Marchand fire? Several investigations have disclosed the following facts. The plastic coating on the tubing in Well B-21 sloughed off and plugged the well. In the course of wireline operations to clean out the well a serious human error was made: during a period when the well was unattended, the well control valves were left incompletely closed. The well blew out and the fire ignited. A subsurface safety valve waiver, granted for completion purposes, was in effect at the time. JPT P. 225