On a floating rig the guide collar for a down-hole pump assembly was separated into its two segments for lifting to the rig floor from the moon pool platform. The master bushings were removed and a winch line was lowered and attached to a rig made handle on the first segment. There was no lifting eye.
Although there was a spotter with UHF radio in the moon pool area and a spotter at the rotary table to signal the winch operator, as the guide collar segment entered the rotary table, it caught on the diverter housing.
The handle broke off and the 25 kilogram guide collar fell and struck the moon pool equipment support beams then fell into the water. Since personnel had been evacuated from the drop zone, there were no injuries.
WHAT CAUSED IT:
There was no proper lifting eye (or manufactured lifting hole) on the collar guide segment.
The handle was too weak to sustain a snag and easily broke off.
Rig motion was also a likely contributing factor. (Since master bushings were removed, it would not be safe for anyone to attempt to centre the tool as it passed through the table.
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS:
To address this incident, this company did the following:
Client and Third-Party Contractor changed procedures for transporting the collar guide segments to the rig floor. The segments would no longer be lifted through the rotary table.
The OIM must approve anything lifted through the rotary table with his senior-level supervisor supervising the lift.
Procurement policies should be revised to require that third party companies should provide equipment with built-in suitable lifting points that will not break off while being lifted even if it snags on something.
Source: IADC ALERT 10 – 01
