Investigation of Fatal Fall from Rig Pollution Pan Galveston Area Block 151, Well No.6 Ocs-G 15740

On 28 January 2008, a fatal accident occurred on Hercules Offshore (Hercules) Rig 251, Galveston Area Block 151, Lease OCS-G 15740, in the Gulf of Mexico, offshore Texas. Hall-Houston, the operator, had contracted Hercules Offshore to conduct well work that included installing a 60-inch over-drive caisson over a well. In the course of that operation, two welders from Frank's Casing Crews (Frank's) began cutting a hole in the pollution pan big enough to allow the passage of the drive pipe caisson. While cutting the hole, the welders also cut several apparently extraneous 3-inches wide metal straps welded to the floor of the pollution pan and to the sub-structure support beams. When the last of the straps were cut, the pollution pan suddenly dropped away from beneath the welders, landing on the Texas deck 50-feet (ft) below the rig floor. One of the welders was unable get out of the pan when it dropped. He was fatally injured in the resulting fall.