Spill prevention has been one of our D&C OE focused areas for many years. In 2014, there were 5 recordable spill events (2 overboard, 2 spill to secondary containment and 1 spill from well control event). Multiple actions have been taken by Chevron, our Rig Partners and Service partners’ leaders and workforce resulted in zero recordable spills in 2015 YTD.
An analysis of 3 year data on spill events was conducted recently to identify causes of the spills and improvement opportunities. Common causes identified from this analysis are as follows:
• 43% - Incident Investigation and Follow up Action: Recommended actions from major spill event investigation were not acted on or closed.
• 22% - Safe work procedures/safe practices not followed.
• 21% - Inadequate Procedure: Inadequate procedure such as obsoleted hose register or procedure.
• 14% - Equipment failure or spill prevention equipment not available.
To sustain our ability to prevent spills we need to continue our focus and take proactive actions:
• Ensure that lessons learned from spill incidents are communicated to affected parties and that actions or recommendations from the lessons learned are acted on.
• Assess spill risks during job planning process; e.g., JSA, pre-job meeting.
• Review existing hose management program including design/certification, purchase date, storage practice, installation and inspection requirement
• Review inspection and maintenance programs to ensure critical liquid handling equipment such as hoses, pipes, tanks inspected and maintained according to PM system. Data indicated that hoses or connection failed before their life time (Many hoses failed approximately 1 or 2 years after the replacement). This become another challenge for drilling rigs on the quality of hoses.
• Supervisor to conduct verification and validation to confirm the existence and effectiveness of spill control safeguards such as LOTO, hose management procedures, etc.
Achieving spill incident free operation depends on our people onsite who use the equipment, procedures, processes as well as strong support and commitment from D&C leadership.