DUBAI CSC

Middle East and

Caspian

Oilfield Supply Centre,

“Reliability, Innovation, MEMORANDUM Jebel Ali, Dubai,

P.O. Box 567,
Performance with Pace” 113 United Arab Emirates,
Tel: (971-4) 8082300
Fax: (971-4) 8836500
TO: MWD Operations coordinators, MWD field engineers
FROM: Jerome Jammal
DATE: 03 March, 2003
PAGES : 2
CC: Jon Rhodes, Chuck Brecher, Rob Kane, Amanda Edwicker
SUBJECT: Proper Installation of standpipe pressure transducer

SCOPE:

This memo details a recent incident encountered when a pressure transducer was mounted on the Standpipe
manifold using the wrong fitted hammer union.

Failure Summary:

After observing an erratic electrical signal while circulating at the shoe, the MWD Engineer went up to the rig
floor to change the pressure transducer sensor with the help of the Assistant Driller.

The pumps were switched off; and the assistant driller isolated the pressure transducer by shutting off the
valves on the manifold, then he proceeded to hammer off the union. The new transducer was installed in place
along with the hammer union that got refitted by the Driller since he thought it was not set correctly.

The MWD Engineer plugged in the lemo cable, the isolation valves were opened and the flow was brought back
up to continue cleaning the hole. The MWD system was successfully tested at that stage.

On the following day, the rig floor started circulating prior to a cementing operation. The hammer union failed to
hold in place, and the pressure transducer along with the union were forced upwards from the manifold with a
great force causing them to hit a light and metal beam before firing across the rig floor. The rig floor was
extensively covered with oil based mud. LUCKILY no personnel injury occurred as a result of the incident.

1
Proper Procedure:

1. The standard installation of the Dynisco pressure transducer is on a 2-inch FIG 1502 Hammer Union on
the standpipe. See Figure 1.

Figure1. This picture shows a pressure transducer with a hammer union.

2. Care must be taken not to impact the pressure transducer body when hammering on the WECO fitting.
3. The Engineer should always verify that the rig supplied hammer union has the correct fitting for the
standpipe manifold.
4. Check all connections supplied by the rig for integrity prior to installation.
5. Do bring up any issue or problem you notice with the driller or the tool pusher.