The safety metting.
-Tururup tururururup-tururururup, rup!
The man opened his eyes with that well-known sound of his cell phone intoning the notes of the flight of the blowfly, by Nikolai Rimsky Korsakov, indicating that it was time to wake up, the device marked 6:11 in the morning of June 20, 2002, the Sun was born in that semi-desert landscape, showing a beautiful sunrise to that man who when he could, He knew very well how to enjoy the beauty of a sunrise.
"It's going to be hot, Edgar!"
Juan de Dios tells his friend and co-worker who was dozing near him.
-Yes driller, even the birds are going to fall.
Edgar answers, who was an athletic young man of about 22 years with a dark complexion and Torn eyes.
-Besides today is the longest day of the year. –replies Juan de Dios. -Since it is the summer solstice of June 20 and it will take 15 hours for the sun to set, it is when Quetzalcoatl descends through the pyramid of Chichén-Itzá, today at noon and with the stepped shape of the pyramid, the shadow of the Sun draws the body of a snake that descends from one side, ending in one of the heads that are placed at the end of the stairs; Who knows how the Mayans arranged the pyramid at the exact angle? So that precisely today an effect of light and shadow is realized that still impresses locals and strangers.
- I would like to see it. Edgar says.
"I already saw it. Juan de Dios tells him. "Many years ago my dad took me.
"Then it was centuries ago, driller!
He tells her jokingly; Edgar to Juan, as if alluding to his age.
-How do you see yourself at 22? Better dog! How do you see me at 33? Jump do it !
Juan de Dios replies returning the joke, and so they continued their trip talking and joking between family and work issues, those 9 men, who made up the national crew of the oil well drilling team no. 722, of the Canadian oil company Presicion Drilling, installed in the state of Tamaulipas in Mexico, about 30 minutes from the great industrial city of Reynosa, located on the border with Texas, USA; Juan de Dios was the driller and shift manager; (30 years old, white complexion, light brown hair, somewhat long, stocky complexion of about 90 kilos and 1.78 Centimeters in height)
Where does Don Pedro take us?
He asks the driver of that recent model Ford Van, who was a gentleman of about 60 years, almost 2 meters tall and with all the look of a tough northern rancher, and He answered.
-Here near boss, about 10 minutes by the road to Monterrey and another 15 of gap, entering on the left.
"Do you know what the well is called?" Edgar asks.
-the Well is called Caudaloso 2 and they say that last night they were and blow out. Míster Pedro answers.
"Did you hear that?" Juan de Dios asks. –The well is out of control on the longest and hottest day of the year; Did they bring their supply of coca colas to withstand the sunstroke?
His cell phone now marked 6:50 am, when they saw rising in the middle of that jungle of mesquites to the high tower of about 40 meters high, painted red and white, contrasting with the desert colors of that jungle that surrounded it, mister Pedro parked the passenger van in reverse as indicated by the safety regulations, On one side of the dining house where the drawers were, in which the crew personnel kept their personal effects and personal protective equipment or PPE for its acronym in English, the crew got off the unit and began to prepare for the day, which began with the mandatory safety metting at the beginning of each shift and upon arrival at the well, the Rig Manager of that drilling team came out to receive them, who was basically in charge of the proper functioning of the mechanical parts and safety standards, as well as the good condition of the various tools, and security systems that exist in the work area, his name: Ron Olsen.
A tall, thin, white and blue-eyed 40 years old, with all the appearance of those indomitable and stubborn immigrants who conquered the old American West, soon Mike Ursulak arrived, a young and athletic drilling supervisor, with the appearance of an ice hockey player, bald and friendly who knew how to get along with the workers as if he were among countrymen. The Company Mano also arrived; Luís Molina, of medium height, fair complexion and dark hair, native of Veracruz, already known by that group of national workers, having earned their trust for his jovial and friendly character typical of Veracruz inhabitants.
Already all ready and settled around the metal dining table, those workers began the mix of Canadian and Mexican personnel with the safety talk of the day.
"Well, the situation is dangerous," said rig manager Ron. –And it requires all the attention, the well wants to get out of control, there is no circulation of control fluid and the upper well shut-off valves are closed.
-We are calculating the material and time necessary to restore circulation, we are at 2116 meters and we only need 182, so that we can consider it as finished and the company can charge it, they must be alert and always ready to any They must be alert and always ready for any event, the burner is ready to be turned on and in case of a lack of control, there will always be a man in the pressure choke valve, venting the excess pressures to the burner.
Edgar raises his hand to ask a question.
-Which one is the maximum pressure allowed?
-600 pounds! Ron replies. –Although the wall of the well is already fractured somewhere in the hole discovered, it is very important not to exceed that pressure to avoid opening more fractures in the formation.
-Ok mates. –says Juan. -You have already heard, so everyone at your posts and while cleaning the equipment, remember that if you hear the alarm you must first identify it and then act.
-Does everyone know the alarm codes?
The workers kept a silence that Juan broke with the characteristic high tone of his voice.
-From what I hear no, 1 tap indicates a start, 2 taps is the fire alarm, and 3 spaced taps is abandonment alarm, although also if you hear that the bugle sounds continuously, it is because the driller has already burned or died, and did not have a chance to give the 3 touches, make sure to identify the type of alarm first and then act, Now to give it hard and eager that we already have 14 days left.