Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Buell Well on July 16, 2012 at 6:57am

Does not look like there was much of a drilling pad. Likely an old well? But why would people be painting it?

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Permalink Reply by Frank Nesmith on July 16, 2012 at 7:00am

I don't know. Perhaps getting ready for a sale. ???

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Permalink Reply by Buell Well on July 16, 2012 at 7:03am

Perhaps...tragic no matter the details.

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Permalink Reply by rob on July 16, 2012 at 1:57pm

it's an old clinton well, owned by an investment group... tragic but very fortunate it didn't come close to the group home, the tank landed not far from the home.   

 

it's over with now, the cleveland tv stations can go back home anytime.

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Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on July 16, 2012 at 6:47pm

In the 80s I built ladder and cat walks for tank batterys that met OSHA standards, One of the units I built is  near me and is still in use and is still as solid as when it was delivered. It amazes me yet to see a board on top of tanks ten feet above ground , no fall protection that have been like that since the day the wells were drilled.  Pumpers have even went through the top of rusted tanks in the past and died as a result. 

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Permalink Reply by Frank Nesmith on July 16, 2012 at 7:18pm

Wow Billy. Seems they could have come up with some safety measures by now on some of these. This looked to be an older well. Is it?

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Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on July 16, 2012 at 7:42pm

The well mentioned in this accident I have no knowledge of. Safety measures have been in effect for 30 plus years in regards to OSHA standards on stairways and platforms. Anything over 4' in height must be protected by handrails 42" high with a intermediate. 

   I attempted to sell my units to SHRIDER Oil CO which is run by Nancy Chiles Dix a former state senator. When I mentioned the danger of a plank laid 10' off the ground on snow covered oily tanks and remote locations and OSHA rules she replied well they have worked for decades! So much for lawmakers following law! 

  Did sell some to Quaker State, Zenith O&G, Dick Hart. Funny I went to a O&G exhibition in Charleston WV I was contacted by Bremco and they wanted me to build their assemblies as a sub contractor but their design did not meet OSHA standards so I refused . 

   I had OSHA inspect my units design. 

  Back to the accident it would seem to me that for a tank to have blown the worker must have set off a spark by static  or possibly even smoking on the tank as it looks as if the tank in the one picture was recently painted. 

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Permalink Reply by James Kerns on July 17, 2012 at 4:26pm

Hi Billy, Most of the company's in NE Ohio set up a budget to paint and perform other maintenance on the wellheads and tank battery's every year. The Brine and crude oil is very corrosive and regular painting prolongs the life of the tanks and equipment, it is also the company's responsibility to the landowner.

Most years a friend of mine who works in the industry gets us a couple of scrape and paint jobs, we use the extra income for our family vacations or out-of-state hunting trips. The fact of the matter is most of the old wells out there have small gas leaks somewhere, pinhole's rusted through on the stock tanks, stuffing box leaks on the pumping unit, etc., and if you lift the lid on the tank top there is a lot of explosive vapor coming off the crude oil. Only a complete fool would be smoking in a tank battery or near a wellhead, but yet every year someone will have made the mistake and the results can be tragic.

Also no one should ever walk on top of the tanks, we use push broom handles and duck tape our putty knive scrapers and paint rollers to them to reach all the way across to avoid climbing on top of the 100 Bbl or 210's.

Note; if you must walk on top of the tank, stay around the edge its stronger than the unsupported middle.

Another source of trouble is lightning, i have personally seen lightning hit a tank battery and have seen tanks that have been blown across fields by lightning strikes, they look like Ball Park Franks, they plump when you cook them, lol.

This is just a reminder to all of us to keep an eye on all of the industry's and let them know we expect them to run clean operations and train employee's in best practices. 

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