DRILLING RIG FIRE PICS!

e-mail | 01-10-05 | E-MAIL

[TexasCowboy]

Yeah, this would have been right up Red's alley.

That is, if the oil company didn't mind depositing fifty grand in his bank when he answered the phone.

[TexasCowboy]

Thank you, Jim, for restoring the thread.

[aomagrat]

It looks like my grill the last time I tried to light it after a few beers.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

TC,

I've heard nothing about this but have been out of touch for a few days.

I was looking at the first picture and it looks like the fire is taller in the center of the rig than outside, where the flames have just reached the monkey boards. To me that means it hasn't been burning very long, and came up the drill stem first. Do you see it that way? If so whoever took this picture was much braver than I am as I would still have been in a running position this early on!

[TexasCowboy]

I've seen one of these like this in my career, but it wasn't at night.

They're awesome!

[Dog Gone]

All the Nuevo wells permitted last year were in NW Terrell County, Texas, so if the information about the operator is correct, that's where this occurred. They received two different permits as late as October.

[TexasCowboy]

You know, HC, I missed that!
You're right! It looks like it blew out through the drill pipe!
That means the derrick man was probably still in the derrick. I hope he knew how to operate the geronimo.

[glock rocks]

Thank you, Jim, for restoring the thread.

Yes, indeed. Thanks Jim.

[TexasCowboy]

Hummm...okay, refresh my memory, please.

What are some of the towns in Terrell County?
Is it in the Permian or Deleware Basin?

[Dog Gone]

That's really the Val Verde Basin. Towns down there are few and far between.

[ladyinred]

This will interest you.

[TexasCowboy]

"I would still have been in a running position this early on!"

Yeah, me, too!

One thing that's noticeable, though, is the pickup truck on the right.
Now if he had time to drive the pickup off location before it blew, then they had time to evacuate.

[TexasCowboy]

Okay, I've got it! That's Sanderson.

Everything there is upthrown from the Permian, if I remember correctly.

[Dog Gone]

Yep, Sanderson. I've never been there, but I put together a well deal to drill a 17,000' wildcat near the Mexican border about 20 years ago.

Found nothing but some cool core samples to polish and put in my office to remind me of the Big Dry Hole.

[antivenom]

I'm betting it is subsurface, parting of the casing and intentionally ignited to burn off H2S.

I work for a well control company, I'll ask the "fire gods" in my office if they have heard about this event.

[Dog Gone]

It's odd that I can't find anything in the news about this. Now I realize Google doesn't search newspapers like Sanderson's that doesn't have an online edition, but if someone had gotten killed, it probably would have at least made the Midland or Odessa newspapers.

When you find more details, please let us know.

[TexasCowboy]

I had some core samples from below 25,000' in the granite wash east of Ft. Stockton.
The old Humble Oil and Refining was trying to see what was below the Ellenberger.

Those polished core samples make beautiful lamps.
I hope my ex-wife is still enjoying it.

[TexasCowboy]

I have to talk to Patterson in the morning.
I'll find out.

[TexasCowboy]

"parting of the casing and intentionally ignited to burn off H2S."

HUH?

I guess there's supposed to be an "LOL" after that?

[KoRn]

Great pics for a ZOT thread!