Alaska, April 2012
It is a sad day today in the Alaskan oil patch, in Prudhoe Bay, as we hear the report of the death a rig worker. Look, these “other” guys that get their 60 minutes claim to fame aboard some creepy outlaw fishing vessel, this occupation is nowhere near as dangerous as “rig” work. Rig work is kept tame and in check, due many layers of safety. Violations upon the oil field safety net can find one headed south on the first plane out of Deadhorse, and forget about ever getting back that job, as the word travels fast. Unsafe workers are not wanted, not by management and not by other crewmembers. But there exists a sad culture today unlike yesterday in Alaska’s oil patch – in favor of Governor Parnells’ overzealous attempt to get the Trans-Alaska-Pipeline back up to full strength. Maybe it is common place throughout the “drilling” sector of this industry nowadays, regardless, this dereliction goes on and on and on day after day after day today. Before getting into details this corrupt pathetic culture, sure Doyon Drilling - the rig operator where the death occurred - has cashed in on interviews with the local news’ casts to preach that the company has a safety program second to none and comments from readers have expressed the same sentiment, that safety is first and foremost on rigs working in Alaska – but it is not the case, not any longer! I don’t care how many reams or 3-ring binders of safety policies a company can produce from its corporate headquarters, this stuff only benefits the lawyers when push comes to shove to defend the guilty! Once again, it used to be so, this safety 1st over guess what? Here is what I witnessed in the “patch” and not afraid to speak out upon, in hopes that this trend can be turned around before injuries and deaths become par for the course. I worked for an “Independent” oil company, just a stone’s throw away from where this recent casualty took place. There is a whole lot of pressure in the oil patch these days, as drilling prospects for these newcomers – the “Independents” – is way behind schedule, because the state has entertained this crash course off course misguided exploration era with the “Golden Carrot” syndrome, through tax incentives and royalty relief. Basically, Parnell’s plan calls for giving the “refinanced” hen house away. Of the 32 “wishful thinking” wells that were supposed to be finished by now, maybe 8 have been completed. Drill rigs are not keeping up with the pace, and this can be detrimental to the “bottom-line” and place a hold on development for an entire season, as restrictions are one thing that still remains intact to protect the environment from cowboy like abuse – poke a hole here, poke a hole there six shooter style. Now for instance, with respect to a hurried season this past season in Prudhoe Bay, a “rig” was scheduled to be shared – like in the case of Savant over at Badami – but because of delays due to out-of-control rigs getting stuck in frozen drilling fluids, from “blow-outs” because the AOGCC is asleep at the wheel, it causes those in the boardrooms to freak-out and give ultimatums – you know what I am talking about, get it done or else edicts. So the pressure is on in the drilling world in the land of the cold and dark. When I was a lead spokesperson - for the 1st Independent to brave a place no other “mom & pop” outfit not fit for duty on the Prudhoe Bay scene showed up after receiving tax breaks and royalty relief from the clowns down in Juneau - I came across numerous violations being performed by the “drilling crew”. Many times they were caught “red-handed” in the act. See, “rig” hands work at the convenience and discretion of the “rig boss”, the so-called “Company Man”. I wrote a book about this once honored position, titled “Alaskan Company Man”, which can be read on my “Reader Free Site” at storylineonline.com. That writing glorifies the position, as back then when I researched this coveted position, it appeared different than what is going on today. If I were to re-write the book, it would not reflect such “glory”. In fact, it would be but a sick novel akin to cannibalism. Dylan once wrote that “the railway men drink up your blood like wine”, well a “the Company Man eat up your independence like candy”. This “I’m the boss you bowel weevil”, this abuse is today threatening the once safe North Slope oil patch. Case in point. Operation’s had commenced venting volatile gas from the annulus of a producing well, through the use of a bleed trailer positioned outside the multi-well housing bay. The area had been flagged off the required distances, fast away from any heat or spark generating equipment and the “venting” process was broadcast over the loud speaker as well as the local radio system. Soon, the barrier was trespassed upon by a giant sized Cat forklift, to within 2 feet of the escaping gas that was blowing out and creating a vapor cloud that could not be miss-read, and the escaping gas was giving off a whistle like warning! This “grave violation” just so the “rig” crew could deliver a tool piece at a critical time in the drilling plan – this is what I was told in haste when looking for handcuffs to arrest these guys. When I shut-down the CAT and asked them if they were stupid and trying to blow this entire man-made island to smithereens, I was told they were sorry but quickly realized they were under orders, “or else” type of orders. I felt sorry for these guys, to have to work under such “Deliverance” type slavery. So I gave them a break, as they asked me down on their knees not to report them. When I approached the “Company Man”, with a smile he ignored me and went back to stuffing his fat face with a triple patty burger. This kind of attitude will pollute the environment and send young rig workers home in coffins. And when I reported this laissez-fairy attitude to upper management that is supposed to be on my side, I was told the same thing, that time is money and they were losing money, as the drilling program was way behind schedule and way over budget - so the Company Man had a carte blanch license to “Kill”, more than just a well it appears. I quit in protest! It is a bazar mindset, like it is OK to kill workers, as a human body is worth far less then lost production – just so Parnell can get the pipeline filled? This is what’s coming from the corporate boardrooms, because of what the shareholders expect! Kill a worker, pay his surviving spouse some loot to get by and the kids get by without a dad - pennies on the dollar retribution. And while mom suffers the pain such a loss, the rig gets on with making oil to push up the investors’ portfolio. If this is what is going on, it is but a pathetic human weakness that addicts one to the greed factor that is indeed turning us all into disposable slaves, at any expense, even that of the loss of a human. If I were the family member of this latest victim – yes victim of negligence – I would sue the hell out of the bastards. And if any family out there needs information on what I saw go on when a Nabors rig was operating out at Oooguruk Island under the control of the parent company’s “Company Man”, respond for my help this site. Wow, it paints a pretty sad picture of what was once! Maybe it is time to shut it all down as all I can see is a “Kiss My Ass” rigger mentality! Sidebar: Alaska saw a “blow-out” this past drilling season. And the well was so messed up that it was abandoned in place. This accident occurred from a shallow gas pocket. The AOGCC has repeatedly allowed PNR at Oooguruk Island to “waive” the “diverter” requirements, because of no known shallow gas pockets? What gives? Sarah Palin gave us “Drill Baby Drill”, with Parnell its “FAST, FAST, FAST”!
