Complexities of Today’s Oil and Gas Worksites with SimOp/Concurrent Operations

By John Artym

Last month I attended the 2019 Petroleum Safety Conference in Banff Alberta and had the opportunity to engage in the “SimOp/Concurrent operations” discussions in the context of several presentations and oil & gas industry workshops that occurred during the conference.

An industry peer who is a General Manager of a Drilling Contractor showed me a photo of his “Super Pad” operation, where you could see the production facility, 3 drilling rig derricks and numerous construction activities. This illustrated the growing complexities of today’s worksites with simultaneous and concurrent operations with changing technologies and job scopes.

IRP 7 Workshop

I participated in an Industry Share Workshop on the revised IRP 7: Competencies for Critical Roles in Drilling and Completion Operations published in April 2019 by DACC and sanctioned by industry. The purpose of the updated document is to identify the process for preventing serious outcomes at the wellsite through competent supervision and competency management systems

IRP 7 Definitions

The following 3 definitions are from the revised IRP #7 on the type of operations you may find on a jobsite:

• Adjacent Operations: Close proximity operations, either simultaneous or concurrent operations.
• Concurrent Operations: Activities that are taking place on a wellsite where the activities are not anticipated to interfere with one another.
• Simultaneous Operations: Concurrent activities which are taking place on one wellsite or adjacent wellsites that may have surface or subsurface interference with one another creating the potential for unintended outcomes.

Given the complexities of worksites today, the presenters discussed the need for job planning for concurrent operations, management of change of activities and operations and the need to engage all workers on the jobsite.

Regulatory Forum on Potential Impacts of Simultaneous/Concurrent Operations

Another session I attended was the “Regulator Forum”, the presenters were Occupational Health and Safety/WCB representatives from BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan. One of the presenters raised concerns on the potential impacts of Simultaneous/Concurrent operations; for example, compromised well bore integrity and the release of hazardous chemicals/products.

Important Considerations for Chemical Hazards in Simultaneous/Concurrent Operations

Over the 3 days of the 2019 Petroleum Safety Conference, numerous discussions were had on the number of chemical exposure incidents that have occurred during Simultaneous/Concurrent operations.

Therefore, the questions must be asked:

• How are you managing Chemical Hazards in your Simultaneous/Concurrent operations?
• When developing and implementing your Chemical Management systems, have you identified and considered the impact of Simultaneous/Concurrent operations on your jobsite?

Depending on your project planning or management model, the following are examples for considerations:

1. Have you had the discussion regarding “worksites and operations in your vicinity”?
2. Focus on Chemicals or Designated Substances of Concern: For example, when using materials/products that contain silica (i.e. abrasive blasting, fracing, cementing, rock crushing), have you considered the impact of adjacent operations?
3. Operational or Process focused: When you break containment of your engineering controls, purposefully or unintentionally, have you considered the impact? Will hazardous product be released to the atmosphere?

Simultaneous/Concurrent operations will have hazard sources that may impact adjacent worksites, some of these hazard sources will be chemical. Chemical management systems are structured to eliminate hazardous chemicals and/or control the hazard to prevent exposure to workers and protect the environment.

Actions That Are Fundamental for Your Chemical Management System In Simultaneous/Concurrent Operations

1. Accurate Chemical Inventory – Ensure your chemical inventories are reflective of the chemicals you manage, and the chemicals/products introduced by Simultaneous/Concurrent operations.
2. Chemical Hazard Assessments - When completing your project or job hazard assessments (pre-job, HIAC, FLHA), include the hazards and required controls introduced by Simultaneous/Concurrent operations. Standardized hazard ranking systems are a minimum requirement for chemicals based on potential harm to your workforce and the environment.
3. Protection of your People - Your Exposure Control Plan (ECP) or Code of Practice (COP) must include those potential exposures from Simultaneous/Concurrent operations.

SDS & Chemical Management Solutions for the Oil & Gas Industry 

If you’re looking to elevate the health standards of your organization, get in touch with the experts at Chemscape Safety Technologies. We have extensive experience in the oil & gas industry and can provide you with SDS and chemical management software that meets your organization’s unique needs.