Marine Accident Report - Explosion and Fire Aboard the U.S. Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit ZAPATA LEXINGTON, Gulf of Mexico, September 14, 1984

摘要

About 1230 on September 14, 1984, the U.S.-flag mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) ZAPATA LEXINGTON suffered an explosion and fire while moored and conducting drilling operations in 1,465 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the explosion and fire was the accidental ignition of gas released to the atmosphere through the marine riser during an attempt to evacuate gas from the blowout preventer stack. Contributing to the cause of the accident was the failure of the drilling crew to use the diverter system when the return flow of drilling mud became excessive. Contributing to the number of injuries was the failure of the rig's supervisory personnel to exclude nonessential personnel from high-risk areas during critical well control operations.