HSE Practice SIMOPS Procedure

(1)

GOS

Offshore

Simultaneous

(2)

Objective

The objective of this document is to state the limitations under which different operations can be carried

out simultaneously on the GOS platforms

Simultaneous Operations Procedure

The procedures have been structured under headings as follows:

Operation

General background information concerning the operation.

Specific Hazards

Hazards liable to arise as a result of the operations concerned.

Procedures & Restrictions

Restrictions applying to the operation, and specific procedures relating to the interaction of the two

operations being carried out simultaneously.

The ‘Simultaneous Activities Matrix’ summarizes the activities associated with simultaneous operations.

For each procedure that follows, the appropriate part of the matrix is reproduced. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 11 12 13 14 15 61 17 18 19 20 21 22 1 Drilling Rig Positioning - x - x x x o x x - - - x x x x x x x o x x 2 Lifts affecting wells x - o x x o o x o x o o o o o o o o o o o

(3)

3 Drilling Ops. _- _o _- _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _- _o _o _o _o _o _o _x _o 4 Flowline

Installation x o o - o o o o o x o o x o o o o o o

5 Pressure & leak

testing x o o o - o o o x o o o o o o x o

6 Instr. El. Work _x _o _o _o _o _- _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _o

7 Well Prod/Injec. _o _o _o _o 8 Wellhead Maintenance x o o o o o - o o o o o o o o o o 9 Chemical Injection x o o o o o o - x o o o o o o o o 10 Explosives Op. _- _- _o _x _x _o _o _x _- _o _o _x _o _o _o _x _x _x _x _o 11 Wireline Op. _- _- _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _- _- _o _o _o _o _o _o _o 12 Coil Tubing Op _- _- _- _- _o _o _o _o _o _- _- _o _o _o _o _o _o _o 13 Hot Work _x _x _o _x _o _o _x _o _o _- _o _o ₀ _x 14 Scaffolding _x _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _- _o 15 Painting _x _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _- _o _o _o 16 Grit Blasting _x _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _- _o _o _x 17 Radiography _x _o _o _o _o _o _o _o _x _o _o _o _o _o _o _- _o _o _x 18 Vessel Operation _x _o _x _o _o _- _o _o 19 Diving _x _o _o _o _x _o _o _o _o -20 Gas Lift _o _o -21 Emergency Eq. Maint./Repair x o x x o o x o o o o o o - x 22 Purging _x _o _o _o _o _o _x _x _x _o _x

(4)

-The terms used in the matrix are as follows:

Not Applicable (-)

Two operations that cannot physically be carried out simultaneously due to the configuration of the platform.

Allowed Subject to Permit Restrictions ( )

This is to be treated as normal work on the platform and will require a permit to work to be raised and

subject to normal observances and precautions.

Restricted (o)

Operations that may only take place simultaneously provided certain conditions have been met. Risk Assessment might be the tool to identify the required precautions.

Not Permitted (x)

Operations not to be undertaken simultaneously.

Drilling Rig Installation Operation

 This operation involves the movement of a drilling rig approaching a satellite or Complex drilling platform. This is required to drill a new well or perform workover on a platform.

 The positioning of a drilling rig above a satellite or Complex platform is a critical operation. The drilling rig is much heavier and bigger than a satellite and the possibility of objects falling or bumping into each other is high.

 Rig move Risk Assessment to be completed before Rig approach or begging work with, O/P, Marian, Drilling and any other Dept. involved.

 If on a drilling platform the area has to be barriered off from unauthorized personnel.

 No operation shall take place on the satellite or drilling platform during this operation.

 No other operation than production may continue. The drilling platform must be barriered off.

(5)

Operation

 This operation involves the movement of the drilling derrick over the satellite helideck deck or drilling platform. This is required when work requiring the derrick on one well is

complete and when work on another well, requiring the derrick, is to be started, or for maintenance or access purposes.

 The moving of heavy equipment above hydrocarbon filled facilities, and the possibility of objects

falling onto the decks below, and/or into the sea.

 If on a drilling platform the area has to be barriered off from unauthorized personnel.

 No operation shall take place on or above the deck under the path of the skidding rig.

 No operations other than production may continue

Lifts Affecting Wells Operation

 This procedure covers the moving of a heavy piece of

equipment, for example a Xmas tree, the wellhead or conductor, below or through the wellbay deck.

 Damage to flowlines or pipework under pressure or containing well fluids during equipment handling.

 Endangering diving operations by dropped objects.  Injury to personnel.

 Damage to gas lift flowlines under pressure.

 All work on affected wells is to cease.

 All wells considered to be at risk to be shut in as and the relevant flowlines

depressurized. Cold work permit for heavy lift operation will only be issued after the Production Supervisor has confirmed that the wells have been shut in and the flowlines

depressurized as required.

 If risk is apparent, ensure diving operations have been completed and the divers returned to the bell.

(6)

Drilling Operations Operation

 Drilling Operation covers all modes of drilling, during well control, drilling in the reservoir and normal drilling.

 Shallow gas encounter risk.  Release of hydrocarbons.  Drilling in the reservoir.  Injury to personnel.

 No Hot Work operations will be allowed during abnormal drilling operations (as listed under specific hazards above).  Wells considered to be at risk of collision are to be made secure.

 Should the drilling phase reach the point where primary well control has been lost, then the production and all other work on the platform must stop.

Flowline Installation Operation

 Once a well is ready to be connected to the platform system, the flowline spool must be fitted, making

the final connection from the tree to the production manifold.

 Hot Work may be required in the well area.

 No operation allowed on adjacent wells.

 If drilling is in the critical phase, Hot Work restrictions are imposed.

 Suspend the following operations that may be ongoing on any wells for the duration of the Hot

Work required for the flowline installations: - Wellhead maintenance

- Scale inhibitor squeeze operation

 Withdraw all Hot Work permits in force on the Platform other than those required for flowline installation.

 Scaffold erection/striking, painting, grit blasting and radiography may continue provided access to

or egress from their worksite is not affected by the area affected by the flowline installation.

(7)

 The DHSV on the affected well to be closed and tested for PBU, and the well prepared for flowline

installation as per the detailed procedures.

 No diving operation to be undertaken below the area deemed by the Area Authority to be at risk

from falling objects.

Pressure & Leak Testing Operation

 Pressure and leak testing, where possible, will be limited to hydraulic testing.

 Injury to personnel following failure of equipment under test.

 Before allowing a pressure or leak test to be undertaken, the Area Authority must ensure that all

work in the vicinity of the test is stopped and the permits withdrawn.

 Erect barriers at a safe distance from the pressure test. If these barriers affect the access to or egress

from another work site, or the extent of the barriers encompass another job site then that job must

be suspended until after the completion of the pressure or leak test.

 Ensure that responsible persons patrol the barriers at regular intervals to stop unauthorized access.

 Make regular PA announcements warning unauthorized personnel to stay clear of the pressure test area.

Instrument Electrical Work Operation

 This procedure applies only to ‘dead’ electrical work and exclude those works

requiring a Hot Work (Spark Potential) Permit.

 Injury to personnel due to failure of equipment under test.

 Prior to allowing instrument/electrical work on pressure vessels, the Area Authority is to ensure

(8)

that the pressure/leak testing has been completed and system or equipment has been depressurized.

 Instrument/electrical work will be restricted in terms of being performed simultaneously with any

other work when access to or egress from the site of the instrument/electrical work is affected by

the extent of the other work.

Well Production/Injection Operation

 Production via the Xmas trees and flowlines to the production manifold of formation fluids, and injection from the water

injection manifold through flowlines to the injection Xmas trees of treated seawater.

 Uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons may result if a well being drilled intersects an on line

producing well.

 Failure of lifting gear when making heavy lifts over live plant could result in injury to personnel

and uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons. Specifically affecting production will be heavy lifts over

live flowlines and trees.

 Wells considered to be at risk of collision are to be made secure.

 Wells at risk due to overhead heavy lifts are to be shut in and isolated.

Wellhead Maintenance Operation

 This procedure refers to any operation involving work on the wellhead.

 Any release of hydrocarbons presents a risk of fire/explosion if a source of ignition exists.

 Any release of well fluids presents an additional hazard to personnel in the area of the leak due to

its H 2 S content.

(9)

 All pressure testing in the area of the affected wellhead must have been completed and the system

or equipment depressurized before the wellhead maintenance is allowed to commence or continue.

 No Hot Work in the wellbay area will be allowed.

 No heavy lift will be allowed in the area of the wellhead being worked on.

 No other operation (for example wireline operations) will be permitted on the well at the same time

as the well head maintenance is being performed.

 If access to or egress from the wellhead being maintained is affected by any other operation, one of

either of the operations will be suspended.

Scale Inhibitor Squeeze Operation

 At regular intervals, each production well will be treated with chemicals to avoid, as far as

possible, the formation of scale. This treatment is referred to as ‘Squeeze’ treatment and consists

primarily of injecting a mixture of scale inhibitor and sea water into the production wells.

 Injury to personnel following failure of equipment under pressure.

 Hazard to personnel involved in the handling of chemicals.

Procedures & Restriction

 If access to or egress from the wellhead is restricted in any way by any other operation, the squeeze

should be suspended until such times as safe and clear access is available.

 The area encompassing the adjacent wells is to be barriered off for the duration of the squeeze, and

no other operation is to be permitted within these barriers.  Inhibitor squeezes may be restricted during drilling.

(10)

Explosives Operations Operation

 The operation that require the use of explosives is related to well perforations. In all cases, the explosives are run into the hole on electric line. Detonation will be electrical, initiated at the surface.

 Either conventional explosives or explosives using Schlumberger’s SAFE equipment may be utilized.

 Premature detonation of explosive charge whilst using conventional explosives. Procedure &

Restrictions (Conventional Explosives).  Radio silence to be imposed.

 Operations relying on radio communication to be suspended or postponed.

 Work involving the use of explosives must not be carried out under conditions of thunder or

lightning and may be restricted during high winds.  Withdraw all Hot Works.

Procedures & Restrictions (SAFE Equipment)

 Use of equipment featuring SAFE will only be permitted subject to the following restrictions:

 Work involving the use of explosives may be restricted during high winds.

 The area in which there may be a risk to persons or plant from premature detonation of the

explosive device shall be clearly marked out. Only persons

authorized by the platform Supervisor shall enter or remain in the defined danger area. This area must remain clearly demarcated until the explosives operations are complete.

 Withdraw all Hot Work.

Wireline Operations Operation

 Wireline operations, as described in this procedure, refer to any operation which involves the lowering of a tool or device into a well on either slickline or electric line.

 Electric line and slickline work can take place through the Helideck on Satellites and weather deck on drilling platforms. On drilling rigs it is performed from the drill floor.

(11)

 All wireline work on a live well will take place using pressure control equipment to enable entry of the

tool or device into the well without release of well fluids.

 Potential for release of well fluids and subsequent fire hazard should failure of pressure control

equipment occur.

 Injury to personnel from wireline breakage under tension.  Damage to well/completion integrity should wireline part.  Injury to personnel from failure of equipment under test.

 All Hot Work liable to present a source of ignition to a leak of hydrocarbons as a result of failure

of or damage to any part of the equipment associated with the wireline work to be withdrawn.

 All work within an area judged by the Area Authority to be at risk due to its proximity to the

wireline operation to be suspended.

 No lifts of any kind to be made above the wireline once it is under tension.

 When lifting the wireline hatch covers, and installing the lubricator and riser, specific precautions

to be taken.

 Barriers and signs to be erected warning personnel of the wireline operations. If these barriers affect

the access to or egress from another work site, or the extent of the barriers encompass another job

site then that job must be suspended until after the completion of the pressure or leak test.

 No diving operation to be undertaken below the area deemed by the Area Authority to be at risk

from falling objects.

Coiled Tubing Operations Operation

 The types of operations performed with coiled tubing. Each operation involves passing small bore tubing through an injector head attached to a lubricator which is attached to the wellhead. The rig up of this equipment involves heavy lifting operations.  Specific Hazards

(12)

 Injury to personnel following failure of equipment under pressure.

 Hazard to personnel involved in the handling of chemicals.  Hazard to personnel or equipment underneath the coiled tubing operation due to failure of equipment causing a spillage of chemical.

 Risk of damage to equipment or injury to personnel during rig up operations.

 Release of chemicals/hydrocarbons should damage occur to the tubing whilst it is in service.

 Restrictions will be imposed on Hot Work as advised by the Area Authority.

 No operation to be undertaken beneath the coiled tubing operation that could be at risk should a

spillage of chemical or nitrogen occur.

 All wells considered to be at risk due to the heavy lifts involved during rig up to be shut in and

made safe.

 Diving operations to be restricted below the area deemed by the Area Authority to be at risk from

falling objects.

 No lifts of any kind to be made above the coiled tubing spread once it is in service.

Hot Work Operation

 Hot Works are defined as those requiring a Hot Works, Naked Flame and Spark Potential Permit.

 In this section, Hot Work in that area of the platform that will directly affect well related is addressed.

 On a production platform any source of ignition presents a potential explosion/fire hazard.

 Before allowing Hot Work to commence, ensure that the area where the work is being undertaken

is gas-free, and stop all operations liable to give rise to a hydrocarbon release. If necessary, the area

(13)

 Due to the increased risk of hydrocarbon release associated with the following operations,

consideration will have to be given to restricting them for the duration of the Hot Work:

- Coiled tubing operations - Wireline operations - Wellhead maintenance

 Due to the flammable nature of the solvents associated with painting, painting in proximity to Hot

Work must be restricted.

Scaffolding Operation

 A scaffold is defined as a temporary structure on which

persons work and which provides support for the materials used in construction, maintenance, repair or demolition work. It can also be used to obtain access to certain areas or equipment.

 Endangering diving operations when constructing or dismantling scaffolding over the side of the platform  Injuries

 Diving operations must cease during the period of construction or destruction of scaffold extending

over the side of the platform.

 Scaffolding operations can generally be restricted by their proximity to other ongoing work. For

example, scaffold operations are not permitted on any well adjacent to one being worked on.

Painting Operation

 Application of paint to all surfaces throughout the entire platform.

 The flammable nature of the solvents used during the painting process give rise to a potential

(14)

 The toxicity of some paints or solvents can affect personnel in the vicinity of the worksite.

 Painting in proximity to Hot Work must be restricted.

 Painting will be restricted by the physical encroachment of other operations which affect

access/egress or site hygiene.

 Painting in confined spaces requires special precautions and the provision of adequate ventilation or

personal protective equipment.

Grit Blasting Operation

 Grit blasting is carried out for the purpose of surface preparation for painting.

 Grit blasting is a possible source of ignition.

 The materials used during grit blasting are abrasive and will cause damage to systems or machinery

if ingress is allowed to occur.

 Injury to personnel due to flying grit.

 When reviewing an application for grit blasting operations, the Area Authority must consider

restricting the following activities or restricting grit blasting in their vicinity:

- Wireline operations - Coiled tubing operations - Flowline installation - Wellhead maintenance - Painting

Radiography Operation

 Radiography is a method used to evaluate the integrity of material welds, and involves the exposure of a radioactive source. As a result restrictions are imposed on all operations that are being performed within the field of exposure of the source.

(15)

 Exposure of personnel to radiation doses above a safe level.

 Before allowing radiography to be undertaken, the Area Authority must ensure that all work in the

vicinity of the radiography is stopped and permits withdrawn.  The HSE advisor in conjunction with the Performing Authority will barrier off the area affected by

the radiography. If these barriers encompass or ingress into another worksite, then that job or the

radiography must be suspended.

 Responsible persons must patrol the barriers at regular intervals to stop unauthorized access.

Vessel Operations Operation

 All vessel operations within the 500 meter safety zone will only be conducted on the authority of the

Production Supervisor. The master of the vessel remains responsible for the safety of his crew and the vessel.  The Production Supervisor will co-ordinate all vessel operations

 Vessel operations can present a hazard to diving operations.

 Vessels entering the 500 meter safety zone while divers are in the water should be notified

regarding the location of the diving operation and areas of prohibited vessel operation.

 Once a vessel enters the 500 meter safety zone, smoking is to be prohibited on the open deck of the

vessel, and any work liable to give rise to a source of ignition to hydrocarbon gas is to cease.

(16)

Diving Operation

 Diving operations will be required at regular intervals for inspection purposes, for the platform structure and the gas export line sub-sea isolation valve.

 Divers in the water are at risk from falling objects, discharges or vessel movements.

 Scaffold work over the side of the platform to be suspended while diving operations are in progress.

 Diving operations must not coincide with drilling or well activities that involve lifting of objects

which may be dropped into the water.

 Outboard crane operations are restricted during diving.

- Clearance is to be obtained from the Diving Supervisor prior to any outboard lifts

Commencing.

Gas Lift Operation

 Production wells will be considered for gas lift as their production rate decreases and water out increases.

 Uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons may result if a well being drilled intersects an online gas

lift well.

 Failure of lifting gear when making heavy lifts in vicinity of gas lift piping.

 Rigging of wireline/coil tubing equipment on wells adjacent to gas lift manifold.

 Potential dropped objects during drilling rig positioning

operations.

(17)

Emergency Equipment Maintenance/Repair Operation

ط Any emergency equipment like the Fire Water pumps out of

operation due to maintenance or repair etc.

ط High risk jobs creating a fire without fire pumps in operation.

ط No hot work open flame (welding) jobs to take place.

ط No other critical job that can initiate sparks etc to take place.

Purging Operation

ط Using nitrogen to gas free hydrocarbon pipes.

ط Hydro carbon gas is intentionally released to atmosphere.

ط No hot work to take place during purging operations. ط All emergency equipment to be operational