This Section of the PTW Manual defines the requirements for the use of Permits to Work on Drilling Rigs operating under contract to PDO.
15.11.1 PTW Systems on Contractor Operated Drilling Rigs
A Drilling Contractor may operate his own PTW System, if it has been formally approved by PDO. Before approval, the Contractor’s system should be examined by PDO to ensure it complies with the checklist contained in Section 15.11.5.
If a Contractor cannot meet the required standard, the PDO PTW System is to be operated on the Rig. In this case, the requirements of this manual, except for Section 9 (Work Tracking), shall apply. The PDO Drilling Supervisor is to act as the Responsible Supervisor and the Toolpusher as the Area Authority. If the PDO PTW System is being used, the list of activities requiring Permit in Section 15.11.2 below is to apply in addition to relevant activities from Section 3.5.4 of the PDO PTW Manual.
15.11.2 Activities requiring Permits on Contractor Operated Drilling Rigs
The activities listed require a Permit to Work on all drilling rigs working for PDO.
Maintenance
Hot Work, except when done in the approved rig workshop.
Isolation of rig safety systems.
Work in those confined spaces where there is a risk from toxic fumes or oxygen depletion.
Major maintenance on mud pump.
Non-routine maintenance in mast during normal operations.
Maintenance / repair / painting from a personnel basket during any operations.
Man-riding hoist operations.
Scaffold erection on Rig or Camp site.
Working on equipment which requires electrical isolation.
Working on equipment which requires a secure mechanical isolation to minimise the potential hazard.
Re-charging of Nitrogen Unit Bottles.
Inspection of mast / standpipe / derrick / substructure fixtures and fittings during normal operations.
Killing well / major work on Xmas Tree while Rig rigging up / down.
Grit blasting.
Pressure cleaning of tubulars by subcontractor.
Pressure Testing
Cement Unit pressure testing other than cement unit related Rig work.
Any pressure tests not part of current rig work (e.g. Pre-test of BOP / test manifold / choke manifold.)
Flowline pressure testing.
Installation of secondary Contractor’s equipment e.g. Solids control equipment, filters or mixing machinery.
Use of radioactive sources or materials
15.11.3 Activities Requiring Signature from PDO Drilling Supervisor when Contractor PTW System is being used.
When the Contractor’s PTW System is being used, the following activities require the Permit to be counter-signed by the PDO Drilling Supervisor:
Hot Work, except when done in the approved rig workshop.
Isolation of rig safety systems.
When required to counter-sign a Contractors Permit, the PDO Drilling Supervisor takes responsibility for:
Agreeing that the work should be done on the equipment involved at the proposed time.
Ensuring that all hazards have been identified.
Reviewing the Job HSE Plan to ensure that it is correct for the work.
Deciding on necessary worksite preparations and safety precautions.
The Toolpusher has all other responsibilities listed in the Contractor’s PTW System.
15.11.4 Work Done on or Near Drilling Rigs by Departments other than Well Engineering Some work on the drilling location will be performed by or for departments other than Drilling, e.g. welding and testing flowlines, digging pits etc. This work is to be covered by a PDO Permit to Work. The requirements are as follows:
Work On the Drilling Location
The Permit is to be raised by the appropriate Permit Applicant for the personnel carrying out the work.
The Permit is to be Authorised and Validated by the PDO Drilling Supervisor, who will act as both the Responsible Supervisor and the Area Authority.
The Permit need not be entered into a Work Tracking System (see Section 9) Work near the Drilling Location
Where the work is done outside the drilling location, but within 100 metres of the well, the following shall apply:
The Permit is to be raised by the appropriate Permit Applicant for the personnel carrying out the work.
The Permit is to be Authorised by a Responsible Supervisor, and Validated by an Area Authority, from the PDO Asset Holder department for the area.
The Drilling Supervisor is to sign the Permit as the Other Affected Custodian.
Page 107 PR-1172 – Permit to Work System Printed 11/01/16
The Permit is to be entered in the PDO Work Tracking System (see Section 9 of the PTW Manual).
15.11.5 Checklist for Contractor Permit to Work Systems
This Checklist contains a list of questions against which a Contractor's Permit to Work System should be checked before authorising it for use.
If the answer to any of these questions is 'No', the Contractor should be required to amend his system.
PTW System
Is there a procedure defining how the PTW System operates?
Is there a list of work requiring Permit, which complies with the list in 3.6 of the PTW Manual?
Does the PTW system apply to the Company and all its sub-contractors?
PTW Procedure
Does the PTW procedure define who authorises Permits?
Are personnel prevented from authorising themselves to work?
Are records of all Authorised and Suspended Permits kept on the Rig site?
Is a copy of the Permit displayed at the worksite?
Is the Person to whom the Permit is issued named on the Permit?
Are hazards and precautions listed on the Permit or Job HSE Plan?
Does the Permit require clear definition of the work to be done?
Does the Permit state the specific location of the work?
Are Permits signed by the person to whom they are issued?
Is there a defined Validity period for a Permit?
Does the procedure include checks to prevent conflicting activities from being authorised?
Is there a procedure for handover when the person in charge of the work changes?
Are there documented isolation procedures?
Does the procedure state what must be done when an unsafe condition occurs or an alarm sounds?
Is there a signature to confirm that work is complete, and that the worksite has been left safe?
Training in PTW
Are personnel trained in the operation of the system, to the standards required by the E&P Forum Guidelines on Permit to Work Systems?
Are personnel who authorise Permits themselves authorised?
Is the competence of authorising personnel assessed?
Is there a record of training and assessment?
Are subcontractors included in the training requirement?