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<br />REPORT OF UNDESIRABLE EVENT <br />DATE/TIME OCCURRED: 10/12/98 10:00 DATE /TIlvIE REPORTED BLM: 10/12/98 13:00 <br />LOCATION: NW1/4,NW1/4 QTR QTR, SEC.1 T. 2S R.98W 6TH Meridian <br />County: Rio Blanco State: Colorado <br />WELL/FACII,ITY NUMBER: 1.A-4HI OPERATOR: White River Nahcolite <br />SURFACE OWNERSHIP: Federal Indian Fee State <br />LEASE NUMBER: C-Ol 18327 UNIT NAME/CA NUMBER: None <br />TYPE OF EVENT: Blow out Fire Fatality Injury Property Damage <br />Oil Spill Saltwater Spill Toxic Fluid Spill Gas Venting <br />Oil/Saltwater Spill Oil/Toxic Fluid Spill <br />Other (specify): Sodium bicarbonate production fluid (barren liquor) <br />CAUSE OF EVENT: Apparently- erosion corrosion action caused the injection pipe to leak. The leak was <br />approximately 12" down stream from the flow control valve and before the 90 degree elbow at the well head. <br />The wall of the pipe was very thin with two hole approximately 3/8" in diameter. It appears the leak was <br />located where the restricted flow i.'rom the valve would hit the ape causing erosion of scale and allowine <br />corrosion. The pipe was similar to other materials used at WRN where this problem has not been noted in the <br />past. Since this well head installation was constructed less than a year ago. WRN believes a combination of <br />erosion and corrosion caused the leak. <br />VOLUMES OF POLLUTANTS: Discharged consumed: Approximately 1500 alg Ions <br />Recovered: None. drainaee was adequate to mud ~t <br />TIIvIE REQUIRED TO CONTRCIL EVENT (in hours) 1 hours <br />ACTION TAKEN TO CONTROL EVENT, DESCRIPTION OF DAMAGE, CLEAN UP PROCEDURES <br />AND DATES: Infection well 1 A-4HI flow was turned off when leak was detected. The water from the leak <br />drained to the mud pit. A piece oFwalled steel was welded over the leaky area on the pipe. On October 15. <br />after the surface of the drill pad had dried a contractor removed surface contamination to_the mud pit. <br />CAUSE AND EXTENT OF PERSONNEL INNRY: None <br />OTHER FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES NOTIFIED: Colorado DMG <br />ACTION TAKEN TO PREVENT RECURRENCE: Operators were reminded to perform daily well head <br />checks in order to detect leaks when they are small. This is the_first case of erosion corrosion in well field <br />piping to cause a leak. A stainless steel spool or sleeve will be fabricated and installed just down stream of the <br />lA-4HI well head valve to prevent corrosion and leaks. ~~ <br />~' ~¢ <br />GENERAL REMARKS: Ed Baker <br />WRN Envir/Safety Manager <br />RECEIVED BY: <br />(name) and (title) <br />cc: Corporate E/S Manager <br />DATE: <br /> <br />