Advanced Diploma of

Electrical and Instrumentation (E&I)

Engineering for Oil & Gas Facilities
(DEI)

DEI Module 1 Supplementary Readings

01-01 Safety awareness

(1) Safety is a key issue in the O&G industry
(2) Handling of oil and gas products is a potentially dangerous business
(3) Every year fatal accidents are recorded in the world , a few of them
being catastrophic
(4) O&G companies have funded an international association with the
following mission:
(5) Representing the Upstream industry to international regulatory bodies
(6) Achieving continuous improvement in safety and health and
environmental performances
(7) Promoting awareness of Corporate Social Responsibility issues within
the industry and among stakeholders.
01-02 Electrical Safety hazards in oil & Gas field
Inappropriate or poorly maintained electrical equipment could become an
ignition source, posing a fire and explosion risk in the event of a release of
hydrocarbons or other flammable materials (e.g. hydrogen evolved from UPS
batteries, diesel aerosols, vapors from solvents and paints, etc).
The loss of electrical supply due to failure of electrical switchgear, cables or
other components can lead to lengthy down times costing the business
hundreds of thousands of pounds. Additionally the loss of electrical supply
could lead to dangerous occurrences e.g. failure of life support systems,
dangerous fumes entering the workplace etc.
In any high voltage installation comprising of cables, switchgear or control
gear, a
distinction can be made between the devices which carry out switching
operations (e.g circuit breakers, contactors) and the rest of the equipment
which performs a supporting role of connection, containment etc.
The latter components are only likely to need periodic inspection to ensure the
equipment is free from dirt, damp, and deterioration, such as corrosion of
metalwork and contamination of insulation. The switching devices and its
operating mechanism having moving parts subject to wear after extended
use, and contacts, arc control devices and arc extinguishing fluids that are
subject to deterioration at a rate depending on the design of the device and
the frequency of the switching operations. These will need a more frequent
and thorough inspections which will require the dismantling of parts of the
switching device.
Most of the safety issues identified with electrical equipment occur on aging
facilities where maintenance is lacking. However, there have been instances
of incorrectly rated hazardous area electrical equipment being installed in
hazardous zones on newer facilities.
01-03 Hazard identification of Electrical Equipment

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List of major electrical components installed in a oil and gas offshore rigs
Switch gears
Cables and cable trays
Diesel gensets
Electrical motors
UPS
Inverters
Shock protection,
Fire alarms
Gas Leakage alarms
Deck crane controls
Operators console
Computers
Lightings
Welding sets
Electrical hand tools, etc
All of the above are connected to a electrical grid with LV and HV lines and
many electrical hazards existing in this installations.
01-04 Identification of Safety Issues
Typical safety issues identified include:
(1) Fixed electrical equipment not suitable for the hazardous zone (i.e. not
correctly rated).
(2) Corrosion of electrical equipment (e.g. motors, instruments, junction
boxes, etc.) potentially compromising the hazardous area rating.
(3) Non-rated portable electrical equipment (e.g. hand drills, non-EX rated
lighting, etc.) used in hazardous areas.
(4) Poorly maintained hazardous area equipment e.g. damaged glands
and seals, broken conduit, missing labeling, mismatched color-coding,
exposed wiring, etc.
(5) Electrical wiring not appropriately terminated and, in some cases, still
live.
(6) Poorly maintained hazardous area electrical equipment dossiers or
registers and expired certification.
(7) Defective pumps and valves and other equipment are all subject of
electrical safety to corrosion. The corrosion of these metal components
found throughout the process lines can cause the fault of parts.
(8) Another electrical safety issue are the electrical wiring devices that
serve the pumping equipment. They too have wear and tear and the
industrys need for to minimize the possibility of unsafe
interchangeability is vast.
(9) Hot work is any work that involves burning, welding, using fire- or
spark-producing tools, or that produces a source of ignition. Welding
and cutting operations are common to drilling and servicing operations.
Test for flammable gases in the work area before starting any hot work.
Potentially hazardous areas include, but are not limited to, well heads,

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fuel tanks, mud tanks, tank batteries, gas separators, oil treaters, or
confined spaces where gases can accumulate.
Hot Work, Fire, and Explosive Hazards
Welding, Cutting and Brazing
Cylinder Storage
Grinding
Well Site Ignition Sources

Workers performing hot work such as welding, cutting, brazing, soldering, and
grinding are exposed to the risk of fires from ignition of flammable or
combustible materials in the space, and from leaks of flammable gas into the
space, from hot work equipment.
Potential Hazard: Getting burned by fires or explosions during hot work.
Possible Solutions: The basic precautions for fire prevention are:

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Perform hot work in a safe location, or with fire hazards removed

or covered.
Use guards to confine the heat, sparks, and slag, and to protect
the immovable fire hazards.
Do not perform hot work where flammable vapors or
combustible materials exist. Work and equipment should be
relocated outside of the hazardous areas, when possible.
Make suitable fire-extinguishing equipment immediately
available. Such equipment may consist of pails of water, buckets
of sand, hose, or portable extinguishers.
Assign additional personnel (fire watch) to guard against fire
while hot work is being performed. Fire watchers are required
whenever welding or cutting is performed in locations where
anything greater than a minor fire might develop.
Fire watchers shall:
(1) Have fire-extinguishing equipment readily available and
be trained in its use.
(2) Be familiar with facilities for sounding an alarm in the
event of a fire.
(3) Watch for fires in all exposed areas, try to extinguish
them only when obviously within the capacity of the
equipment available, or otherwise sound the alarm.
(4) Maintain the fire watch at least a half hour after
completion of welding or cutting operations to detect and
extinguish possible smoldering fires.
01-05 Fire and Explosion of flammable gases
There are a number of potential sources of fire for flammable gases and
liquids on the drill site. It is necessary to provide for a general fire safety
program which could pre-empt potential hazards of fire and explosion.
Potential Hazard:
Fire and explosions of flammable gases or vapors from:
Internal-combustion engine sparks
Open flames from any source
Smoking
Welding operations
Electric power tools
Two-way radios
Vehicles with catalytic converters
Portable generators
Possible Solutions:
Provide spark arrestors for internal-combustion engines.
Post "NO SMOKING" signs wherever a flammable gas or vapor
hazard exists.

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Locate "spark producing" equipment or facilities well away from

potential hazard areas.
Prohibit vehicles with catalytic converters from the immediate
vicinity of the rig.
Prohibit open flames from the vicinity of the rig.
01-06 Safety Legislations and Protocols-Oil and Gas Safety
Oil and Gas compliance requires a review of all applicable parts of the WCAct
(Workman Compensation Act) and Regulations, as well as the "Safety
Principals" of Planning, Training and Workmanship.
Some of the existing Protocols and Compliance processes and the
responsibilities are illustrated below:
Protocol in Oil and Gas fields
(a)

WorkSafeBC Safety Officer Inspection Protocol

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Protocol

The Officer must wear all PPE including:

Safety headgear

Protective eye wear/screen

Hearing protection

Hi-visibility apparel (vest) as

Safety footwear needed

Gloves as needed

FRC clothing

Weather-related gear when appropriate (rain, snow, cold)

Chemical resistant clothing and gloves as needed
Accessing the Worksite Protocol

Review all posted signage, check in and radio use instructions, and site
hazard signs (e.g., Sour Gas H2S) prior to entering

Follow road protocol; no cell phone use while driving

When stopping, use the appropriate communication procedures for

traveling on resource roads (radio frequency)

Drive to the posted speed limit or current conditions

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Park out of the way and identify self to the Prime Contractor (PC),
Producer/Producer'
s Rep before proceeding

Receive site orientation or obtain a guide for the visit

Follow all the Employers safety rules, where these rules surpass
WorkSafeBCs own internal safety program
Pre-Inspection Protocol

Plan the inspection (Firm file check, EFS)

Ensure site is active and obtain site orientation

Inspection Protocol

Be professional and respectful

Keep accurate/complete field notes (blue Officer Notebook) including:

 Location of worksite and number of workers on site
 Names of persons who accompanies you

 Name of Supervisors and workers (Union if applicable)

 Equipment type(s), serial and model numbers

If necessary record statements of Supervisor and Workers

Take photographs and measurements as required

Camera use/hot work permit as needed

Collect any information that would serve as a memory tool

Post-Inspection Protocol

Complete inspection report

If required and appropriate, visit firms office to discuss issues requiring

further attention

Follow provincial/regional administration processes

Carry out normal inspection follow-up
01-07 Compliance processes
Inspection Process
Targeted field visits
Inspection protocol to be followed

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Oil and Gas field officer guide provided for additional guidance
IR (Inspection Report) to validate assessment of compliance, to
include: Responsibilities and Safety Principles
Copy of IR reviewed by Lead Officer/SRO.
Follow routine administration process.
Follow up visit with IR documentation dealing with Safety
Principles, Responsibilities and other significant issues are to be
carried out
01-08 Safety Responsibilities of Personnel
(1) Regional Managers
Demonstrates commitment to process
Ensures officers receive instruction, tools direction, equipment,
and training as needed
Identifies % of field time for oil and gas in region and as it
applies to each Oil and Gas Officer.
Ensures an effective targeting process.
Reviews activity monthly to ensure appropriate activity levels are
met. Takes action as needed
Reports regional activities to Compliance Manager as/when
requested.
(2) Lead Officers/SROs
Takes on regional support role where appropriate.
Periodically reviews officers IRs and provides feedback.
Provides support and mentoring to officers as required.
Ensures Compliance Manager is aware of region-specific issues
or initiatives.
(3) Field Officers
At all times, follows process and protocols, including
administration.
Demonstrates support and commitment by following the
process.
Ensures personal contribution of oil and gas field time meets
regional expectations.
Provides personal input into targeting process.
Supports colleagues.
Participates to better process and system.
Utilizes all information & tools available to help ensure a
consistent approach is taken for all officers in the industry.
(4) Compliance Manager
Sets expectations within % of oil and gas field time provincially.
Keeps regional field officers informed of other supporting
initiatives and other regions issues and initiatives.
Meets periodically with Lead Officers/SROs.

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DEI Module 1 Supplementary Readings

Recommends and participates in viable training or education for

officers.
Reports periodically to Senior Management.
Deals with provincial stakeholder concerns.
01-09 Compliance Standards
Standards and regulations impact
Country regulations must be met in all the cases requiring the
knowledge of many different laws (European, American,
Russian, Chinese)
Electrical equipment and installations are technically defined on
the basis of STANDARDS (terms of reference)
Use of STANDARDS is a must to make sure to get an expected
Quality, to allow comparisons between equipment coming from
different manufacturer nationalities
Selection of the STANDARDS to be used is of the utmost
importance
The Compliance standards vary from country to country, but in general the
following standards are being followed in oil and gas fields
(1) OSHA-29 CFR 1910.252(a)
(2) API-RP 54,RP 500, RP 505
(3) ATEX ('
ATmosphre EXplosive'
) Standard
ATEX is a recent EU safety legislation based on requirements of the
European Directive 94/9/EC for equipment as well as compliance with
99/92/EC for workers.
Use of the Intrinsically safe standard EN60079-11
(4) IEC Standards (International Electro-technical Commission) 79-10
(5) CENELEC (Comite Europeen de Normalisation Electrotechnique)
Standards 50014 and 50020
(6) NEC (National Electrical Code) Standards 60204
(7) NFPA 70E-2004, Section 110.8, and 79

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DEI Module 1 Supplementary Readings

Photo 1 Damaged Conduit and Exposed Wiring Photo 2 Poorly Maintained Light Fitting in
Process Area

Photo 3 Corroded Junction Box on Pump Motor Photo 4 Loose Wiring (Not Appropriately
Terminated)

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Photo 5 Exposed Wiring (pulled out of gland)

Photo 6 Corroded Junction Box

Photo 7 Poor Dressing of Cables

DEI Module 1 Supplementary Readings

WHITE PAPER ON PROPER ELECTRICAL SAFETY

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