What happened: Drill Pipe Dropped From Elevators' Rig crew members were attempting to pick up drill

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Shell EPW-RTD HSE Learning Bulletin
Fountain No 313200 Location US Wyoming Date
7 Nov 2008
What happened Drill Pipe Dropped From Elevators.
Rig crew members were attempting to pick up drill
pipe with single joint elevators off the
automated catwalk to build stands while drilling
ahead. The tool joint was raised about 10 ft with
the pin end still on the catwalk when the drill
pipe slipped out of the elevators and fell to the
ground.

• Preliminary Learning Points
• Elevators improperly sized. The single joint
  elevators were previously used to lay down
  different sized pipe and not changed prior to the
  lift that resulted in the near miss.
• Site-specific JSA did not address the potential
  for improper sized elevators or the control to
  confirm proper sizing.
• Rig floor red zone 30 ft buffer zone around
  catwalk (personnel exclusion areas) was discussed
  and adhered to.
• Reinforce contractor procedure to use lifting
  caps versus single joint elevators for picking up
  and laying down drill pipe in the power mouse
  hole.

EEs were behind the windwall and heavyweight DP
the heavyweight DP was racked back on the
drillers side of the rig floor.
DP came to rest in this area.
This Learning Bulletin provides preliminary
learnings. A detailed investigation is pending.
For internal use only.