As the snubbing operator was staging the coupler of joint #44 into the staging
chamber of the snubbing unit the lower stripping Quick Ram Change (QRC) rams were closed, the chamber was de-pressurized, and the upper stripping QRC rams were opened. Immediately after the upper QRC rams were opened there was a natural gas release from the closed annular Blow Out Preventer (BOP) on top of the snubbing stack.