Abstract
Although companies systematically introduce management systems to improve performance and reduce major accident risks, gaps remain. The mismatch between HSE management system and practical HSE works, line and HSE departments and HSE requirements and actions exerts significant negative impact on the effectiveness and efficiency of HSE management. Under these circumstances, operational management system (OMS), barrier management system (BMS), process safety management and asset integrity management are all studied and applied in an oilfield. The oilfield experienced nine years of development, and the production capacity increased from 4,000 to 400,000 barrels per day. Almost 7,000 people were working in the oilfield during peak time from around 40 countries. During such a development, HSE management was extremely challengeable, and a practical and integrated HSE risk management model was pursued and established.
This paper describes a method of HSE risk management integration called safety net model. The model physically segregates oilfield facilities into individually managed areas or grids. A safety grid is the basic unit of a safety net, and the safety net comprises a series of correlative and interactive safety grids from bottom to up. OMS, HEMP and BMS are the bases of safety net model. Each safety grid complies with the principle of twin orientations: the identification of HSE hazards and assessment of HSE risks and the formulation and substantiation of systematic risk control measures. Specifically, the safety grid has two sets of basic components: hazard, output and time (HOT) and authority, boundary and control (ABC). HOT refers to hazard orientation, and ABC refers to risk control orientation. Two sets of components define attributes of each safety grid. The risk profile is assessed for each grid, in which technical safety and consequence studies are introduced to visually represent at risk locations. Overlaying contours and process boundaries as typical examples result in a simplified model that enables area owners to recognise risks, controls and mitigations so that they can introduce suitable risk reduction measures for safe operations. Through components (HOT ABC) of each safety grid, OMS and BMS are introduced to operational sites and positions directly and easily. Six components are connection points of every safety grid, and all safety grids are knitted to an integrated safety net.
The implementation of safety net model contributes to good HSE performance of the oilfield studied, and the resulting performance is recognised and appreciated by local government and funding parties.
This paper focuses on how to communicate the information in compliance with the principle of twin orientations from safety studies recorded in OMS and BMS to the safety grid. Comprising safety grids, safety net model is an applicable and practical carrier of integrated HSE risk management.