Permit To Work Systems In The Oil & Gas Industry – Unique Challenges

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In many ways the Oil and Gas industry is like any other industry - it has many elements which are hazardous and it has an obligation to maintain standards in health, safety and environmental impact.

However, when we consider the fact that a large amount of activity within the sector takes place offshore we need to include a very specific set of circumstances which increase risk and place extra pressure on personnel

You're possibly aware of the kind of offshore locations I'm talking about, but they could include:

Drilling Rigs

Drilling rigs are the essential tools for extracting oil and gas from beneath the ocean floor. There are two primary types: semi-submersible and jack-up. Semi-submersible rigs are massive floating structures that are partially submerged to provide stability. They are ideal for deepwater drilling operations. Jack-up rigs, on the other hand, have extendable legs that can be lowered to the seabed, providing a solid foundation for drilling in shallower waters. These rigs are crucial for exploring and developing new oil and gas fields.

Production Platforms

Production platforms are fixed structures that are installed on the seabed to facilitate the extraction, processing, and storage of oil and gas. They come in various designs, including fixed platforms, compliant towers, and tension leg platforms. These platforms are equipped with complex machinery and systems to separate oil and gas from water, remove impurities, and store the extracted hydrocarbons for transportation.

FPSO - Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading

FPSOs are large floating vessels that combine production, storage, and offloading capabilities. They are often used in remote or deepwater fields where it is impractical or uneconomical to install fixed platforms. FPSOs can process oil and gas on board, store the produced hydrocarbons in their tanks, and then offload them to tankers for transportation to refineries.

Diving Support Vessels

Diving support vessels are specialised ships that provide logistical and operational support for underwater activities. They are equipped with diving chambers, decompression chambers, and other facilities to support divers working on offshore installations. These vessels are essential for maintaining and repairing underwater structures, conducting inspections, and performing salvage operations.

Supply Vessels

Supply vessels are multipurpose ships that transport essential supplies and equipment to offshore platforms and rigs. They carry everything from food and water to drilling tools and machinery. Supply vessels also provide logistical support for offshore operations, such as transporting personnel and waste.

Survey Vessels

Survey vessels are equipped with advanced technology to gather data about the seabed and the surrounding environment. They use sonar, seismic equipment, and other instruments to map the ocean floor, identify potential oil and gas reservoirs, and assess environmental conditions. Survey data is critical for planning and executing offshore exploration and development projects.

Trenching Vessels

Trenching vessels are used to create trenches in the seabed to bury pipelines and protect them from damage. They are equipped with powerful jets or cutters that can excavate trenches of various depths and widths. Trenching vessels are important for ensuring the long-term integrity and safety of subsea pipelines.

Offshore oil and gas

Unique Challenges of the Offshore Environment

Step into any of these environments and you'll find people busy doing broadly the same jobs you'd find onshore - maintaining/modifying equipment, making repairs, performing installations, inspecting assets. The big difference is that they're surrounded by the ocean which can make just about any task much harder.

The offshore industry relies heavily on effective permit to work systems. However, the unique environment and conditions of offshore operations present a distinct set of challenges for implementing and maintaining these PTW systems.

1. Remote Locations and Limited Resources: Offshore platforms are often situated in remote, isolated areas, far from onshore support and emergency services. This can make it difficult to obtain timely assistance in case of emergencies or to ensure that all necessary resources, such as specialised equipment or personnel, are readily available.

2. Harsh Weather Conditions: Offshore operations are subject to extreme weather conditions, including storms, high winds, and heavy seas. These can disrupt work activities, create safety hazards, and make it challenging to maintain a consistent and reliable PTW system.

3. Dynamic Work Environments: Offshore platforms are constantly evolving as new equipment is installed, modifications are made, and production activities change. This dynamic environment can make it difficult to keep PTW procedures up-to-date and ensure that all personnel are adequately trained and informed. Space considerations usually mean that systems have to be built to fit in  the minimum amount of space - which makes it all the more critical to have effective task management in place.

4. Language and Cultural Barriers: Offshore operations often involve a diverse workforce from different countries, with varying levels of language proficiency and cultural backgrounds. This can create communication challenges and misunderstandings, particularly when it comes to safety instructions and PTW procedures.

5. Fatigue and Stress: The demanding nature of offshore work, coupled with long hours and potential isolation, can lead to fatigue and stress among workers. This can impair judgment, increase the risk of accidents, and make it difficult to adhere to PTW procedures.

Choosing A Permit To Work System In the Oil & Gas Industry

To meet the unique challenges of the Oil and Gas industry, a Permit to Work system needs to meet the following criteria:

Flexibility - The system must to be able to deal with any permit type and allow users to create and edit their own question sets to suit their needs.

Isolations management - Creation and management of isolations is a safety critical feature which is particularly relevant offshore where people live and work amongst extremely high-hazard systems.

Visibility - Permit information needs to be immediately available to all involved personnel, with tight controls over access permission

Integrity - Data should be stored securely and be regularly backed up. The increase in cloud based applications means that it is no longer necessary to have to install and maintain expensive servers to host a PTW system.

 

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