10-HAZOP Case Study

10-HAZOP Case Study#

CSB Investigation of H2S Poisoning in a Pump House in Texas: Aghorn Operating Waterflood Station Hydrogen Sulfide Release

1:50 - 6:50 Event Summary

Oil and water mixture sits and separates in an initial holding tank
Water (Produced Water) is pumped out of the bottom to reintroduce into the well then pumped to the suction tank
Waterflood station or pump house used to pressurize water
High pressure piston pumps inject water back into the well to allow greater amounts of oil to be recovered
Pump house occasionally occupied 2x per day
H2S alarm and critical warning light not functional
Alarm notification to service personal of an oil level alarm with pump malfunction of some kind
Personal H2S monitor not brought into pump house by the operator
Pump plunger had shattered and H2S was released with the water
Operator was fatally injured by H2S
Wife also fatally injured by H2S