World Oilfield Forum

Toolpusher & Roustabout Killed During Rig Move-Kuwait

January 26th, 2012
Minagesh, West Kuwait

Upon the completion of contract & de-hiring, a drilling rig was being moved from KOC field to the contractor Yard. The rig was being towed by the rig move sub contractor & was steered by the night duty rig mechanic.

The rig pick-up vehicle driven by roustabout along with the Toolpusher was trying to overtake the rig. The pick-up drove outside the normal road though the elevated loose sand to overtake the rig. The incident happened at a curved portion of the road where the rig tires were at the extreme end of the road on the pavement.

It appears that the pick-up tire got stuck in the loose sand. At this point the rear rig tire passed over the pick-up. The roustabout & the Toolpusher died immediately

Preliminary Findings:

The pick-up vehicle was trying to overtake the rig through loose sand area.
The right side tires of rig went off center of the road towards the extreme right in to the loose sand area of pavement. Inadequate communication between the rig move pusher who was escorting the rig, Tool pusher travelling in pick-up on back side & the mechanic who was in the rig steering control (the mechanic cannot see the right side tire positions as the elevated steering platform is on extreme left just below the substructure.

Company Recommended Preliminary Corrective Actions:

The other rig vehicles travelling along with the rig during rig move to keep a safe distance from the rig while overtaking.
The rig vehicles overtaking rig shall do so after the communicating with the rig move truck pusher & the rig steering personnel for ensuring adequate space availability for overtaking
The position of the rig tires to be monitored by the front & back side escort vehicle personnel for any corrections
Walkie talkie sets / official mobile phones to be provided to the contractor & sub-contractor personnel involved in rig move for Proper communication during rig move
The passenger vehicles to be driven through proper rig roads
The designated rig drivers to drive the rig pick-ups instead of other non-designated rig crew
Rig Move procedures as per Contractor Management system to be evaluated for identification of gaps & further compliance
Identify gaps in the Behavioral Safety programs to identify & correct the unsafe behaviors, for those involved in the rig move process including contractor & sub-contractor

Comment by Hershel Taylor on January 29, 2012 at 4:58am: who was the contractor

Comment by David S Christman on January 29, 2012 at 7:23am: RIP MY BRO.S

Comment by Billy Hayes on January 29, 2012 at 9:30am: Damn, what kind of rig moving truck is big enough to do this to a pick up. It is getting scary out here. It seems like there are 2-3 oilfield hands dying every week.

Comment by Krasimir Todorv on January 29, 2012 at 12:00pm: Again, the human factor has intervened unfortunately! Failure to comply with the procedure for transporting equipment. Distance, speed, experience, special instructions before performing the work.

Comment by Alan Fortune on January 29, 2012 at 3:05pm: Communication seems to have been a contributing factor with these unnecessary deaths.

One would hope a pre-job discussion had mentioned the 'soft' road shoulder and the unnecessary need to 'overtake'.

Rig moves of this type are in progress with 'large' sand tyres periodically.

I would venture to believe the 'overtaking' manoeuvre had been unnecessary.

'Cowboys' on large vehicles and the desert do not mix.

Once again, 'common sense' appears to be 'dead'.

Condolences to the departed and those left behind wondering, 'what went wrong'.

Comment by Michael Taylor on January 29, 2012 at 3:51pm: The rig moves in Kuwait require large tires to move accross the Desert. They are approximately 12' high and about 4' wide and are tandom at the A-Legs, the hitch pin is on the crown. They just hook up to it with a semi and move across the desert. (assisted by a tracked vihicle) I worked on a Hamad al Hamad rig there, 124... I think its call Burgan Drilling now.

Comment by clinton mccord on January 29, 2012 at 10:19pm: Communication wasnt the problem,LACK of it was!Pay attention guys we all gotta be on our toes in this thing.

Comment by yy on January 30, 2012 at 1:03am: So sorry to hear that

Comment by Juan M Gonzalez on January 31, 2012 at 10:44am: Communication is a factor to safety, something doesn't seem right you should stop the job, step back, take a look around and have another safety meeting my condolences to the family's of this unfortunate accident.