Any ideas

  Any ideas as to why a accumulator on the suction side of a pump would blow off the top half shearing 48 1/2" hardened  bolts off in the process. It happened while wireline was equalizing in preparation to making a run down the hole.

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Permalink Reply by Booger on May 11, 2013 at 3:17am

the GD pumps we use for waterblasting have checkvalves in the fluid end that would prevent pressure side water from flowing to suction side (when pump is off).....unless the check valves are worn badly....broken or cracked. inspect the checkvalves.

Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on May 11, 2013 at 3:54am

Booger ya MPW? Used to work for them in the Industrial Water Side but operated a few blaster pumps for corporate. 

 I'll agree with that however you would probably agree there was no way that pressure could have built up in the accumulator had the intake valve been opened as the pressure would have went into the LP side of the manifold. Had the supply manifold valve been closed I would think the 4" rubber  connector hose would have failed first. 

Permalink Reply by Booger on May 11, 2013 at 9:48am

Not MPW.....Hydrochem, formerly Valley Systems....supply valve would have to be closed if the accumulater blew and hose did not.

2z248p19vqnh9Permalink Reply by 2z248p19vqnh9 on May 11, 2013 at 4:45pm

There HAVE to be 'predispositioned pressure regulators'/ 'automated pressure relievers" - positioned SOMEWHERE as a safety precaution....

Peters Heat Treat Inc.-Precision Part Specialists ... I would think these people would know anyone & EVERYONE in 'the T&D industry'...and could help to better direct you...basically in your back yard.... Can't argue with that....

Go your own way now...do your own thing....my two cents (for what it's worth).

Permalink Reply by Jim Litwinowicz on May 11, 2013 at 4:34pm

Billy, since you have witnessed two of these already in your short oil field career it sounds like this is a common problem.  Or a problem with your company.

The suction side should never achieve that kind of pressure. My suggestion is for you to design a pop off valve or pressure release system to prevent these from happening. Patent it and then retire rich when the whole industry uses your idea.

Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on May 11, 2013 at 4:53pm

 Jim no one has said this but let me throw this into the pool of thought, operator error due to lack of adequate training or inattention as a possible cause, there I said it, but that area I had no responsibility or control of.

Permalink Reply by Jim Litwinowicz on May 11, 2013 at 4:57pm

Billy; had that thought also. But still a good idea to have pressure relief valves/system to prevent operator error from killing someone.  Bet it happens with other companies too. If its possible, it will happen.

2z248p19vqnh9Permalink Reply by 2z248p19vqnh9 on May 11, 2013 at 5:33pm

Good point, Jim. *Second go round like this?...sounds like a 'safety wake-up call' for STANDARDIZATION concerning any such problems - before someone ends up 6' under...NO 'paycheck' is worth THAT.

STANDARDIZATION for the entire G/O industry will eliminate these problems.

No one wants to end up saying, "I just knew something like this was going to happen sometime, just a matter of time." after being a pall bearer at a co-worker's funeral. 

IF the 'suits' behind the desks can be convinced, it would be the best thing. It's NOT just 'Billy's company'...I'm sure ALL of the G/O Co.'s 'cut corners' for their 'bonus' bottom lines. (*Follow the money....)

Designing a 'pop-valve', patenting it, retire 'rich' is a good suggestion, BUT a better one is to design, patent, and have it be the INDUSTRY STANDARD - and save lives (as WELL as 'retire rich').... Sometimes, saving someone's life is 'retiring rich' in & of itself...all the rest is icing on the cake....James Burke Connections II #3 - Getting it Together - YouTube .... I'm NOT kidding you - watch these. IF you have ANY inkling of 'ingenuity' in your mind whatsoever...you never know WHAT you hear that will key you into something that you didn't think of before. It is 'mind opening'...ENDEAVOR.

AND it'll keep your mind off of what happened, but still remain enlightened...actually IS relative to what it sounds like you are dealing with - LISTEN/WATCH this.You'll do what you do...SOMEONE will. somewhere, sometime.... asonelightlightsanothernorgrowslesssonoblenessenkindlesnobless...

2z248p19vqnh9Permalink Reply by 2z248p19vqnh9 on May 11, 2013 at 5:58pm

This is a 'wake up call', guys - take and use it as such (to YOUR OWN advantage once a 'bad thing happens' you can't take it back. BOLTS & PRESSURE VALVES, HOSES(?) can be 'replaced' - YOU can't...REALIZE THAT.

I can't say it enough...but WATCH this - James Burke Connections II #3 - Getting it Together - YouTube

Watch it until you get EVERYTHING! - Burke goes over SO much, you've got to. It's worth your time...only 22 minutes of it. Watch it every couple of days - you'll gain INSIGHTS that can be invaluable to you. *KEY*

Can't say it enough...watch it over & over - you'll 'click' with something 'connected' to the insights that MAY enlighten you to improve things within your industry that help EVERYONE...maybe someday we'll listen to something like with YOUR name/idea mentioned as a POSITIVE 'game changer' for the G/O industry....

Permalink Reply by Tony Yurina on May 12, 2013 at 10:23am

The cause of failure is either mechanical or human.

You need to find out which it was.

The mechanical aspects can be verified in order to determine if there is some check valve failure or other bypass loops introducing high pressure into a low pressure accumulator.  

The G.D. Representative should be happy to provide an expert technical support person to assist in this investigation of the mechanical verification.

Were the two incidents from the same pumping unit? or two different units? 

Same personnel? or different personnel involvement?

If a HP check valve is leaking off pressure into a low pressure suction system, then what are the possible modes of that pressure source finding its way to the accumulator? 

Heaven forbid, I hope a known issue of a check valve leak or pump seal was not dealt with by some person closing off a  suction side valve, isolating the accumulator and allowing HP to equalize in a low pressure piece of equipment.  

I sure hope there is not a dangerous work around being used to compensate for a faulty piece of high pressure equipment.   

 

Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on May 12, 2013 at 12:39pm

Different pad, different crew, as to same pump I never saw any detailed repair documents for any of the equipment, so hard to tell. 

Permalink Reply by Joseph-Ohio on May 12, 2013 at 10:31pm
Maliciousness ?
Fractivist infiltrator sabotage ?
Can that be ruled out ?

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