Faulty Bolts on Offshore Oil Rigs in the Gulf of Mexico may Fail | DENENA | POINTS
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Faulty Bolts on Offshore Oil Rigs in the Gulf of Mexico may Fail

Maritime industry workers who work on the offshore oil rigs might be interested in a recent safety finding of the U.S. BSEE (Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement). The Bureau’s Offshore Regulatory Program is responsible for developing standards and regulations to enhance operational safety as well as environmental protection related to offshore exploration and development of oil and natural gas resources on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.

The BSEE has found that zinc electroplated bolts manufactured by GE for use on rigs’ lower marine riser packages and wellhead connectors to connect the blowout preventers have been improperly heat-treated. Our Gulf Coast maritime injury lawyers note that lack of proper heat treatments makes the bolts vulnerable to stress corrosion cracking caused by hydrogen embrittlement. What this means is that offshore oil rigs that use these bolts are vulnerable to H-4 connector bolt failures and resulting discharge of oil and pollutants. And possible ignition and explosion of released discharges.

The BSEE has ordered that operations be suspended on all offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico that use the bolts until they can be refurbished or replaced and then examined and certified as properly heat treated by an independent third party. The BSEE order has offshore drilling groups scrambling to comply in order to get production back in place. Diamond Offshore, for instance, has already stated that will replace the bolts on 30 of its platforms (two thirds of its fleet) and that the replacement operation will be complete within six weeks. (Source: Marine Log, 2/8/13)

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Your safety is at risk when defective parts are used in manufacturing the rigs where you spend your working life. Our Gulf Coast maritime injury lawyers point out that recent years have seen some deadly explosions and fires from faulty equipment and operations out in the Gulf of Mexico.

Learn more about Maritime Safety and What You can do if You’re Injured on the Job

Read our Gulf Coast maritime injury lawyers’ FAQs, informational articles, and blogs. And if you have questions or concerns about an injury or illness you received while working in the maritime industry, don’t hesitate to contact the Gulf Coast maritime injury lawyers at Denena Points, PC for a free and confidential legal consultation. You have no obligation to hire an attorney. And what you learn could help you make an informed decision about the proper course of action to ensure a full financial recovery after a needless maritime injury. Call us at 281-369-4363 or reach us through our online contact formanytime.