While reading a COGCC inspection report of a well pad, I came across the term deadman # & marked 5 each. I’m just wondering what the Inspector means? Thanks.
William:
The term “deadman” is used to reference a buried anchor. This might be what this inspector was referring to since the inspection involved a well pad. Maybe someone else on this forum has another idea as to what the inspector was referring to.
This is interesting that the inspection indicated and numbered the individual “deadman” (rig anchors) since these rig anchors were left buried in the ground following the rig removal and clean up from two different locations on one of my places back in the 1980’s. Leaving these anchors in place is very dangerous obstacles left in an open area that may grow up with weeds following cleanup.
charles s mallory said:
William:
The term “deadman” is used to reference a buried anchor. This might be what this inspector was referring to since the inspection involved a well pad. Maybe someone else on this forum has another idea as to what the inspector was referring to.
Thanks Charles and Bigfoot for your help. I do believe you guys are right.
COGCC should add the definition of a deadman to their definitions at their website.
I’m also kind of surprised that this term is used in an inspection report but is not listed in the oil and gas rules for the state of Colorado.
This well pad has two wells and one has 3 deadmen and the other has only 2 with 5 total.
Usually there are 3 deadmen per well spaced out like tricycle wheels. Lots of times when they pull a well and shut it down, they can leave some, and this can be really bad on farm machinery. So, you have to call to get them all removed. Make sure they dug them out as they are very deep with a plate-like thing on the bottom. I have seen some deadmen cut off just below the ground level, and it’s really easy to hook some farm equipment on them.
Virginia:
Everything you say here is correct, I just didn’t go into detail previously. Once the weeds grow up, these 1 1/2-2" solid steel rods are a disaster waiting to happen. One rod will make short work out of the shredder or, for that matter, the undercarriage or radiator of a tractor, and if a person just happens to make a rather fast detour through that area on a 4-wheeler or any other ATV, it will be bad news. If these steel rods are left in the ground once the big rig moving equipment is moved away, there is no real way of easily removing that anchor. This becomes a real problem, so surface owners need to be aware and make sure these are removed by the operator while they have the big equipment on site.
Bigfoot,
I have some property in Oklahoma that wasn’t cleaned up right. So, OERB sent a guy out to remove the one deadman that I hooked with a disk, this was in my wheat field. This guy dug down about a foot and was getting ready to cut it off, luckily we were at the farm and caught him before he cut it. I told him he couldn’t do that and he finally got his tractor and backhoe and dug it out. His backhoe was almost too small to get it out. We have one in a meadow now and when I get my excavator in to take trees out, I will have him dig it out. Also, people need to be careful of underground pipe. We are going to have to remove the pipe that went from the well to the tanks. Seems they didn’t do a very good cleanup on this well. A person needs to be there watching to be sure they get everything. Also, the deadman has to stay in place anytime the well is producing as these are tie downs for cleaning rigs, etc. We mark ours with tall steel T-post.
Good conversation and learning for everyone. Again, everything you just said including the piping laid from the wellhead to the tanks. A bulldozer can hide lots of obstacles in short order. All of my opportunities were left over from the early 1980’s and now it is time to get some of those new opportunities. A few new wells sure would help improve our spending capabilities if you know what I mean.
Bigfoot,
I don’t know what state you are in, but if it’s Oklahoma, you can get help clean up the well site. OERB, 1-800-664-1301 has been great helping me clean up several well sites from the 1960s on. I believe the state takes so much out of each oil check to put in OERB piggy bank. So, you may not get it done overnight, but they will do it free in most cases. Most of the people who get the contract will do it right. I think they get 3 companies billing on each problem.
I’m in Texas and the sites have already been cleaned up, out of my pocket and a friend’s dozer. Now we are anxiously waiting for the next round of well pads. We have learned a little since 1980 though.
Virginia Pflum said:
Bigfoot,
I don’t know what state you are in, but if it’s Oklahoma, you can get help clean up the well site. OERB, 1-800-664-1301 has been great helping me clean up several well sites from the 1960s on. I believe the state takes so much out of each oil check to put in OERB piggy bank. So, you may not get it done overnight, but they will do it free in most cases. Most of the people who get the contract will do it right. I think they get 3 companies billing on each problem.
I am not sure what you are referring to. A "deadman switch" is automatically activated in the case of a blowout. That is my extent of plumbing knowledge on a rig.
Buddy Cotten
Nope, we are talking about the large 2" x 8-10' anchor rods that are put into the ground to keep the drilling rig stable while they are in the "up" or drilling mode. At least in my places, there were four anchors/deadmen, placed at each site, one for each corner of the rig. Keeps them stable as well as keeps them from toppling over in a high wind.
Buddy Cotten said:
I am not sure what you are referring to. A "deadman switch" is automatically activated in the case of a blowout. That is my extent of plumbing knowledge on a rig.
Buddy Cotten
Mineral Manager
Thanks Bigfoot. I try to stay away from machinery as much as possible. I used to have to be around it and work on it and fix it and hated it then. Thanks for the specifics!
Buddy