14ATCE Tech Sess 43 SPE 170812 Final

SPE 170812
Ensuring The Safety Of Onsite Personnel And

Neighboring Community During Workover And Welltesting Activities With A High H2S Risk Potential - A Case
Study
Hughes Warwick Stanley, OMV Petrom; Andrea Ferrante and Elie Daher, United Safety
Slide 2
The Challenge of Sour Gas

Hydrogen sulfide attacks the respiratory and CNS
of the victim resulting in death at around 1000 ppm.
Slightly heavier than air. Communities situated

downwind are at high risk.
Ensure the safety of personnel and neighboring
community by following industry standards.
SPE 170812 Ensuring The Safety Of Onsite Personnel And Neighboring Community During
Workover And Well-testing Activities With A High H2S Risk Potential - A Case Study
Hughes Warwick Stanely, Andrea Ferrante and Elie Daher
Slide 3
The Site
Found 8% H2S and 24%
CO2
Located 250 meters away

from nearby village
Population: approximately
4,500
A failure or gas release
could have severe
consequences.
Google map of 20 Adjud Exploration Well
Slide 4
Solution
Prevent exposure by:
Regular monitoring to
ensure no pressure build up
in the annulus or tubing.
Develop a site-specific
Emergency Response Plan
(ERP) and define
Emergency Planning Zone.
Conduct extensive H2S training.
Demonstrate competence through onsite and offsite drills.
Win support and confidence of local stakeholders.
Slide 5
Solution: Planning Phase

September 2012
Review of 20 Adjud
project and initial
HAZID and Needs
assessment.
November 2012
Definition of
vocational training
needs, gap analysis
and breathing air
equipment needs
assessment.
October 2012
First draft for site
and public
protection Gas
Detection Layout to
be reviewed upon
EPZ availability.
January 2013
Operator full HAZID
exercise involving
partners, contactors
and subcontractors.
December 2012
Monitoring Wind
Speed and
Direction.
March 2013
Safety company
conducts intensive
H2S/ERP training
campaign prior to
start of project.
February 2013
Finalize EPZ and
ERP, customization
of H2S detection
and protection
measures.
Slide 6
Solution: Identifying the EPZ and EAZ

Emergency Planning Zone
Emergency Awareness Zone
EAZ (600 meters)
Nearest
Village
To town 2 Km.
To village 1 Km.
Slide 7
Solution: Wind Direction Study
Wind speed and direction data

as component for dispersion
models
Wind data was considered in
locating briefing (muster) areas.
Two areas were selected as safe
briefing (muster) areas.
Conducted four months of monitoring to make statistically

valid conclusions.
Slide 8
Solution: Monitoring and Detection Equipment

Fixed H2S monitoring and detection
system
Audible and visual warning alarms
Emergency battery power back-up
Multi-gas detector
Measure atmospheric concentrations up
to 300 ppm
H2S and SO2 Monitor
Placed close to the houses and village

area
Personal H2S monitors for all personnel

Slide 9
Solution: Warning and Alarm Systems

Location of H2S warning alarms, audible and visual:
Drillers console (audible and light)
Engine's area (audible and light)
Mud pit area (audible and light)
Living quarters (audible at all levels)
Main office of the rig (audible and light)
Shale shakers area (audible and light)
Wellsite perimeter fence alarm sirens

112 dB with three activation buttons
Manually activated by the Well Services Supervisor
Slide 10
Solution: Proper Training

H2S Awareness &
Emergency Response
Training of personnel and
local firefighting brigade
Proper equipment
maintenance
Community outreach and
education
Date of
Training
March
2011
April
2013
May
2013
Venue/
Location
20 Adjud
Well
20 Adjud
Well
20 Adjud
Well
Total No. of Participants
No. of
Participants
161
227
37
425
Slide 11
Solution: Offsite and Onsite Drills

One drill every three days.
Emergency H2S drills conducted prior
to entry into a known, unknown or
suspected H2S zone.
Prior to special operations such as
venting, wireline, coiled tubing, and
well-testing operations.
20 emergency H2S muster, man
down and evacuation drills
conducted while testing.
Drills
Emergency muster
Use of Self-Contained
Breathing Apparatus
(SCBA)
Use of cascade system
Rescue procedure
Emergency evacuation
procedures
Slide 12
Emergency Levels and Response Strategies

Category 1
Low alarm condition
10ppm H2S and/or
2ppm SO2
Stop work,
investigate alarm
Report incident and
remedy
Return to work
Category 2
High alarm condition or
danger to life condition at
the rig site
20ppm H2S and/or
5ppm SO2
Stop work, investigate
alarm
Remedy if possible
Return to work
Evacuate well site if
necessary
Shut in well if
necessary
Stop flaring if
necessary
Ignite rig if necessary
Category 3
High alarm, danger
outside rig site
20ppm H2S and/or
5ppm SO2
Stop work and
investigate alarm
Remedy if possible
Return to work
Evacuate well site if
necessary
Shut in well if
necessary
Stop flaring if
necessary
Ignite rig if
necessary
Evacuate village as
necessary
Slide 13
Emergency Response Guideline

Level 1
Evaluation
Criteria
Within
Monitoring
Zone
Evaluation
Criteria
Within
Monitoring
Zone
Isolation
Personnel
H2S / SO2
Monitoring
Observation
Post
Entry Control
Point
Level 2
Level 3
1ppm H2S
2 9 ppm H2S
10 ppm H2S
Alert mode and monitor

concentrations.
Monitor concentrations and

request to Shelter-in-Place.
Immediate evacuation must

take place.
1ppm SO2
2 ppm SO2
5 ppm SO2
Advise public to evacuate

area on a voluntary basis.
Evacuation of the area should Evacuation is mandatory.

begin.
Roadblock set up at site

security checkpoint.
Roadblocks set up based on

wind direction within EPZ or
at outer edge.
Roadblocks set up based on

wind direction at outer
perimeter of the EPZ. May
expand into the EAZ.
Only authorized personnel Authorized personnel within
Authorized personnel within
on site.
affected area.
EPZ.
Within the well location, set Within the well location, set up mobile monitor based on wind
up mobile monitor around
conditions and direction between wellsite and public.
wellsite.
Determine outer perimeter of plume.
Personnel requested to be mobile. Follow evacuation routes
Alert Standby
and remain in contact with H2S Safety personnel to
determine the extent of zone expansion.
Alert Standby
Slide 14
Results: Active Role of Community

Engaged local mayors office
Voluntary
evacuation at Level 1 for special needs residents

Mandatory evacuation at Level 2
Provide Shelter Reception Center
Engaged ISU Vranca

Produced
an ISU intervention plan.

Informs public in the Emergency Awareness Zone
Evacuation starts with closest communities/situated downwind.
Win support of local community

Offsite
drills showed competence in emergency response.

Evacuation as primary protection measure.
Well-testing and workover operations ran smoothly.
Slide 15
Conclusion
Value of continuous personnel training
Continuous improvement improves workforce efficiency reducing
operating costs through lesser incidents and productivity losses.
Increased public confidence in operator

Practice transparency. Communicate risks involved in operations.
Emergency drills showed competence to respond appropriately in
case of emergencies.
Setting a new benchmark for safety in the region

Establish a working relationship with a dedicated safety solutions
provider to lead the safety program implementation and improve
the reputation and overall sustainability of the Oil and Gas
industry.
Slide 16
Works Cited
American Petroleum Institute. API Recommended Practices 49 Recommended Practice for Drilling and Well Servicing
Operations Involving Hydrogen Sulfide. Washington, D.C.: API, 2001.
American Petroleum Institute. API Recommended Practices 55 Recommended Practice for Oil and Gas Producing and Gas
Processing Plant Operations Involving Hydrogen Sulfide. Washington, D.C.: API, 2005.
American Petroleum Institute. API Recommended Practices 68 on Oil and Gas Well Servicing and Workover Operations
Involving Hydrogen Sulphide. Washington, D.C.: API, 1998.
ECD. Commission Directive 2009/161/EU of 17 December 2009. Official Journal of the European Union: L 338,
87-89. 2009. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32009L0161&from=ENlex.europa.eucontent/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32009L0161&fro
m=EN (accessed March 31, 2014).
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing eTool: General Safety and Health
Hydrogen Sulfide Gas. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/oilandgas/general_safety/h2s_monitoring.html_br (accessed
March 7, 2014).
Pachiu L., Mustaciosu R., and Dudau R. Oil and gas regulation in Romania: Overview. Energy and Natural Resources MultiJurisdictional Guide (2014).
http://uk.practicallaw.com/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&
blobwhere=1247833806217&ssbinary=true (accessed April 15, 2014).
Slide 17
Acknowledgements / Thank You / Questions

Warwick Stanley Hughes
Senior Completions Engineer
OMV PETROM S. A.
Petrom City
4th Floor, B 500
No 22 Coralilor, Sector 1
Bucharest, Romania
Mob: 0040 (0) 732 820 202
Email: Hughes.Warwick@petrom.com
Andrea Ferrante
Business Development Manager
Servizi Integrati di Sicurezza S.r.l.
United Safety Int. Group
Via Mare Adriatico 72/E 65010
Spoltore (PE) Italy
Tel: +39 085 4971521
Fax: +39 085 4973121
Mob: +39 348 7071 906
Email: andrea.ferrante@sisworld.net

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SPE 170812

Ensuring The Safety Of Onsite Personnel And

The Challenge of Sour Gas

Slightly heavier than air. Communities situated

Located 250 meters away

Google map of 20 Adjud Exploration Well

Solution: Planning Phase

Solution: Identifying the EPZ and EAZ

EAZ (600 meters)

Solution: Wind Direction Study

Wind speed and direction data

Conducted four months of monitoring to make statistically

Solution: Monitoring and Detection Equipment

H2S and SO2 Monitor

Placed close to the houses and village

Personal H2S monitors for all personnel

Solution: Warning and Alarm Systems

Wellsite perimeter fence alarm sirens

Solution: Proper Training

Total No. of Participants

Solution: Offsite and Onsite Drills

Emergency Levels and Response Strategies

Emergency Response Guideline

Alert mode and monitor

Monitor concentrations and

Immediate evacuation must

Advise public to evacuate

Evacuation of the area should Evacuation is mandatory.

Roadblock set up at site

Roadblocks set up based on

Roadblocks set up based on

Results: Active Role of Community

evacuation at Level 1 for special needs residents

Engaged ISU Vranca

an ISU intervention plan.

Win support of local community

drills showed competence in emergency response.

Increased public confidence in operator

Setting a new benchmark for safety in the region

Acknowledgements / Thank You / Questions

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