Alert 13 – 11 Failure to Properly Make Up the Top Drive/Saver Sub Connection Results in Employee Injury
WHAT HAPPENED:
After making up the Bottom Hole Assembly to spud in the well, the crew made up the first stand of drill pipe in the mouse-hole. The stand was then picked up, made up to the drill string and then the top drive was connected. As the drill string was picked up off the slips, the pumps were engaged to test the MWD tool. At this point the drill string pulled loose from the top drive saver sub and dropped approximately 3 feet (91cm) into the elevators. As the drill string dropped, the drill pipe screen came out of the top of the drill pipe and fell approximately 90 feet (27m) to the rig floor striking an employee in the left forearm, which resulted in a fracture.