SAUDI ARAMCO WORKOVER MANUAL

Drilling Technical Department September 2013

CHAPTER 10 HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

SECTION F EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING & DRILLS
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING & DRILLS

1.0 INTRODUCTION Back

1.1 Definitions
1.2 Objectives of Emergency Response Plans
1.3 Objectives of Drills

2.0 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

3.0 TYPES OF DRILLS / EMERGENCY PLANS

3.1 Well Control (BOP) Drills
3.2 H 2 S Release Emergency Planning & Drills
3.3 H 2 S Rescue Drills
3.4 Fire Attack Plans
3.5 Fire Drills
3.6 Man Down (Injury) Drills
3.7 (Offshore) Lifeboat Drills
3.8 (Offshore) Man-Overboard Drills
SAUDI ARAMCO WORKOVER MANUAL
Drilling Technical Department September 2013

CHAPTER 10 HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

SECTION F EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING & DRILLS
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING & DRILLS

1.0 INTRODUCTION

"Emergency planning" means considerably more than providing a first aid kit,
stretcher, or fire blanket. Instead, there must be written action plans detailing (to
the extent possible) those actions to be taken when an emergency occurs. This
will ensure more effective responses when it becomes necessary to face
extraordinary circumstances. The effectiveness of the plan will usually be
proportionate to the thoroughness and soundness of the planning effort.

Emergency response plans cannot anticipate every event. However, plans can
anticipate the types of emergencies that may occur, and plans can outline a
communications network and a decision-making process that provides support to
those who must handle the emergency. Those on the site will have to make many
decisions on the spot, based on the situation at hand. One purpose of the plan is
to take care of as many (administrative) issues as possible, to allow the site
commander to focus on the matters of prime importance.

The time devoted to the preparation of an adequate plan will enhance speedy
decisions and actions at the time of an emergency. It can result in lives saved and
limits to the extent of damage. The plan will provide the means for supervisors to
concentrate on solving major problems rather than spending an undue amount of
time trying to bring some organization out of chaos. A properly developed plan
includes procedures which enable people to make balanced and considered
decisions during an emergency. This opportunity to weigh and consider
beforehand reduces the need for spur-of-the-moment decisions. The plan also
makes it easier for supervisors to delegate in advance, to establish who does what,
and to save the precious time that otherwise would be wasted in deciding and re-
deciding actions to be taken during an emergency.

1.1 Definitions

Emergency: A dangerous situation, arising with little or no warning, and

causing or threatening death, injury, or serious disruption to people, property
or process. A condition needing immediate treatment to mitigate hazards and
minimize loss.

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Drilling Technical Department September 2013

CHAPTER 10 HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

SECTION F EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING & DRILLS
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Emergency Response Plan: An organized response, planned in advance

to counter a specific potential emergency that identifies the command
structure, lines of communication, and specific actions to prevent damage
and control the situation.

Drills: An on-site rehearsal of the emergency response plan that tests

the ability of responders to meet their responsibilities, and tests the plan itself
for effectiveness.

These definitions make it clear that the emergency

response plans are the critical feature. Drills are
conducted to provide practice, and to ensure the
emergency response plans are effective to meet the
possible emergency.

1.2 Objectives of Emergency Response Plans

a) Ensure the safety of workers, responders, and the public.

b) Reduce the potential for the destruction of property or for further

losses of products.

c) Assist response personnel to determine and perform proper remedial

actions quickly.

d) Reduce recovery times and costs.

e) Inspire confidence in response personnel, industry, and the public.

1.3 Objectives of Drills

a) Drills allow the Workover Foreman to evaluate the preparedness of

each individual participating in the drill. For large scale drills this
includes outside agencies and support services.

b) Drills provide practice for participants to perform their assigned tasks

and responsibilities, and to improve their proficiency and response
time.

c) Drills test the communications between the command center and the
local emergency scene.

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SAUDI ARAMCO WORKOVER MANUAL
Drilling Technical Department September 2013

CHAPTER 10 HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

SECTION F EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING & DRILLS
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d) Drills identify and correct shortcomings in the Emergency Response

Plans.

2.0 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

a) All rigs shall develop emergency response plans against those emergencies
that can be reasonably foreseen, including fire, injured personnel (man
down), H 2 S release, H 2 S poisoning, and kicks.

b) Each rig will designate a primary and back-up command center, continually
manned during the emergency by the Workover Foreman or senior
Toolpusher. The command center must be readily identifiable to both outside
responders and the drill crew.

c) Each workover rig shall conduct regular drills to ensure that all personnel are
fully able to carry out their assigned duties.

d) Each drill will have a maximum acceptable response time. The rig crew
must complete their assigned tasks within this time limit. If crews are not able
to respond within the time limit, drills must be conducted more frequently until
the crew is able to meet the time limit.

e) During drills, the Workover Foreman shall observe and verify that:

i. The emergency response plan is adequate to address the emergency.

ii. There are adequate numbers of knowledgeable people in appropriate
areas to ensure the Workover Foreman will get the information he
needs to make informed decisions on how to counter the emergency.
iii. Each responder in the drill carries out his assigned duties competently,
quickly, with confidence, and reports in to the command center as
appropriate.

f) Following each drill, the Workover Foreman shall conduct a debriefing with
the rig crew, outlining both what was well done and what needs improvement.
If necessary, the Workover Foreman and the Toolpusher shall develop and
implement action plans to ensure an adequate response.
3.0 TYPES OF DRILLS / EMERGENCY PLANS

3.1 Well Control (BOP) Drills

a) Each crew shall conduct a BOP drill at least once per week
(depending on the type/duration of workover). The Workover

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Drilling Technical Department September 2013

CHAPTER 10 HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

SECTION F EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING & DRILLS
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Foreman will decide if more frequent BOP drills are required to

ensure adequate response.

b) BOP drills will be varied to cover all possible kick scenarios, including
on bottom, hoisting, running in the hole, out of the hole, trip drills with
different size pipe (or collars) in the hole, wireline logging, cementing,
etc.

c) The Workover Foreman will time crew response during BOP drills
and verify they meet minimum requirements.

d) BOP drill procedures should ensure that adequately trained

individuals are posted to check on and report on the status of the
following key areas:

• Kill line
• HCR position
• Choke manifold set-up
• Choke position(s)
• Stack configuration
• Stack closing pressure
• Pit gain
• SIDPP & SICP, (all gauges)
• Mud weight in and out
• Shaker box
• Pump strokes
• Mixing hopper & mud supply

e) Each BOP drill will be documented on both the IADC sheet and the
Saudi Aramco morning report. Documentation will include the type of
BOP drill (e.g. pit, trip, etc.) and the response time to secure the well.

f) Further details regarding BOP drills will be found in the Saudi Aramco
Well Control Manual.

3.2 H 2 S Release Emergency Planning & Drills

a) Every person boarding an offshore rig must be able to don breathing

apparatus and breathe bottled air within 45 seconds.

b) Every person who may be required to work on a land rig must be

able to don breathing apparatus and breathe bottled air within 45
seconds. All other persons working near a land rig must be able to
recognize the H 2 S alarm and know to proceed to the safe briefing
area.

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Drilling Technical Department September 2013

CHAPTER 10 HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

SECTION F EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING & DRILLS
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c) Each crew of each rig operating in a known or suspected H 2 S area

will conduct an H 2 S drill at least once per week. The Workover
Foreman will decide if more frequent H 2 S drills are required to ensure
adequate response.

d) The H 2 S drill will be announced by the standard siren & strobe light
alarm. There must be no prior warning of the drill.

Note: The rig PA system shall immediately and repeatedly

announce “This is a drill! This is a drill!”

e) H 2 S drill procedure will include the following:

i. Masking up and breathing bottled air for those crew members

whose assigned tasks require breathing apparatus.

ii. Requiring all non-essential personnel (i.e. no specific assigned

tasks in the drill) muster at upwind safe briefing area.

iii. Conducting a head count or other means to account for all

personnel.

iv. Rescuing procedures for rescuing potentially injured persons

from the H 2 S contaminated site or vicinity (see “H 2 S Rescue
Drills” below).

f) Following the drill, the contractor Toolpusher and the Workover

Foreman shall randomly select (non-essential) crew members
mustered at the safe briefing area and verify that they know how to
don and breathe from breathing apparatus.

g) Each H 2 S drill will be documented on both the IADC sheet and the
Saudi Aramco morning report. Documentation will include the
response time (to complete the drill).

3.3 H 2 S Rescue Drills

a) Each crew of each rig operating in a known or suspected H 2 S area

will conduct an H 2 S rescue drill at least once per month (as part of
their weekly H 2 S drill). The Workover Foreman will decide if more
frequent H 2 S rescue drills are required to ensure adequate response.

b) There must be no prior warning of the drill, nor any warning

whatsoever that someone is missing. It is critically important to

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SAUDI ARAMCO WORKOVER MANUAL
Drilling Technical Department September 2013

CHAPTER 10 HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

SECTION F EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING & DRILLS
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

verify that the standard H 2 S drill procedure is adequate to identify who

is missing and locate and rescue him.

c) H 2 S Rescue Drills will proceed as per normal H 2 S drills, with the

following additions:

i. Rig management will assign one crew member to act as an

“H 2 S victim” and place this individual at an appropriate
location.

ii. No other crew member will be given advance notice of either

the drill or that someone may be missing.

iii. Following their normal H 2 S drill procedure, the rig crew must
be able to identify that someone is missing, locate the
missing person, and rescue him by bringing him to the safe
briefing area and administering appropriate first aid within 7
minutes after the alarm first sounded.

3.4 Fire Attack Plans

a) On each rig (land and offshore), the workover contractor will develop
written site–specific Fire Attack Plans for each of the following areas:

i. Engine rooms or skids.

ii. SCR rooms.

iii. Fuel tank storage areas.

iv. Rig and camp accommodations.

v. Any other site on the rig where a fire may be reasonably

thought possible.

b) In addition to the above, each offshore rig will develop Fire Attack
Plans for the following areas:

i. Pit room.

ii. Accumulator deck.

iii. Helideck.

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CHAPTER 10 HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

SECTION F EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING & DRILLS
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c) The Workover Superintendent is responsible to ensure that adequate

Fire Attack Plans are in place for each rig under his supervision.

d) As a minimum, Fire Attack Plans will include the following:

i. Identify the primary and secondary Fire Attack Team that will
fight and contain the fire (the secondary Fire Attack Team is
held in reserve in case the primary team needs relief or
assistance).

ii. Identify the Fire Attack Team composition (consisting, as a

minimum, of a commander, 2 fire fighters, and one
messenger).

iii. Identify specific fire-fighting equipment and procedures to

fight the fire in that specific area.

iv. Identify the maximum acceptable response time for the Fire
Attack Team to assemble and begin to fight the fire.

v. Include procedures for conducting a head count or other

means to account for all personnel.

vi. Include rescue procedures for rescuing potentially injured

persons from the fire site or vicinity.

e) The drilling contractor shall provide adequate training to ensure his

personnel are competent to perform their assigned tasks.
3.5 Fire Drills

a) Each rig will conduct a fire drill at least once per quarter. The
Workover Foreman will decide if more frequent fire drills are required
to ensure adequate response.

b) Fire drill locations will be varied to provide practice in all Fire Attack
Plans.

c) The Workover Foreman will observe and time crew response during
fire drills and verify that the Fire Attack Plan and Fire Attack Teams
are adequate to address the fire risk.

d) Each fire drill will be documented on both the IADC sheet and the
Saudi Aramco morning report. Documentation will include the

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Drilling Technical Department September 2013

CHAPTER 10 HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

SECTION F EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING & DRILLS
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location and type of fire drill and the response time to assemble and
begin to fight the fire.

3.6 Man Down (Injury) Drills

a) Each rig will develop a Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Plan that

complies and coordinates with Saudi Aramco GI 1321.015 (Request
for Air Medical Evacuation). Even if air medevacs are unlikely, GI
1321.015 contains other critically important procedures to ensure a
rapid and effective response to a medical emergency.

b) Each rig will have the telephone number of the following posted in the
rig clinic, the rig office, and the radio room (if applicable, e.g. offshore
rigs):

i. Nearest medical facility.

ii. Nearest Saudi Aramco medical clinic.

iii. Saudi Aramco Aviation.

c) Each rig will develop Man Down (Injury) Drill procedures to address
and treat an immobilizing injury occurring anywhere on the rig
location, including an immobilized injured man on the monkey board.

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CHAPTER 10 HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

SECTION F EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING & DRILLS
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d) As a minimum, Man Down (Injury) Drill procedure will address the

following:

i. Prompt notification of the Medic.

ii. First aid at the injury site.

iii. Placing and securing the injured person in a basket

stretcher.

iv. Transferring the injured person to the rig clinic.

e) Each rig will conduct a Man Down (Injury) Drill at least once per
quarter. The Workover Foreman will decide if more frequent Man
Down (Injury) drills are required to ensure adequate response.

f) Each rig will conduct a vertical rescue drill, for example getting an
immobilized injured man safely down from the monkey board, once
per year.

Note: A suitably weighted dummy must be used to simulate the

injured person.

g) The Workover Foreman will observe and time crew response during
Man Down (Injury) drills and verify that the procedures are adequate
to provide prompt and effective treatment.

h) Each Man Down (Injury) drill will be documented on both the IADC
sheet and the Saudi Aramco morning report. Documentation will
include the location and type of drill and the response time to bring the
injured person to the clinic.

3.7 (Offshore) Lifeboat Drills

a) Each offshore rig will conduct a lifeboat drill within 24 hours of a crew
change, and at least once per month. The Workover Foreman will
decide if more frequent lifeboat drills are required to ensure adequate
response.

b) Lifeboat drills must include everyone aboard the rig, with the possible
exception of only those crew members absolutely essential to
maintain a safe watch over the ongoing operation.

c) Lifeboat drills may be combined with fire and/or H 2 S drills.

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CHAPTER 10 HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

SECTION F EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING & DRILLS
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d) The maximum acceptable response time for lifeboat drills must take
into account the possibility that evacuation may have to proceed in a
hazardous H 2 S environment. Therefore, everyone aboard the rig
must be able to muster to their boat stations and enter their boats
with enough time left to lower the boats and sail to a safe upwind
area before their SCBA’s run out of air. With a standard 30-minute
SCBA, everyone must be aboard their assigned boat within 12
minutes of the alarm first sounding.

e) Fully occupied lifeboats shall not be lowered into the water as part of
the boat drill. (Testing and operating the boats shall be done as
routine maintenance items.)

f) Lifeboat drill procedure must include the following:

i. Command center manned by senior rig management.

ii. Immediate and repeated PA announcement “This is a drill!

This is a drill!”

iii. Two trained and competent lifeboat men assigned to each

lifeboat.

iv. Headcount procedure to verify/report to the command center

that all persons are accounted for.

v. Search and rescue procedure to locate all missing persons.

vi. Maximum acceptable response time for all persons to report

to their boat stations.

vii. Verification that everyone aboard the rig is capable of

entering the lifeboat and securely fastening his seat belt
while wearing both a PFD and SCBA.

g) Each lifeboat drill will be documented on both the IADC sheet and the
Saudi Aramco morning report. Documentation will include the
response time for all aboard to muster to their assigned boat stations.

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CHAPTER 10 HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

SECTION F EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING & DRILLS
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3.8 (Offshore) Man-Overboard Drills

a) Each offshore rig will develop Man-Overboard rescue procedures

and train a sufficient number of crewmen to effect a safe and prompt
rescue.

b) Each offshore rig will conduct a man-overboard drill at least once per
quarter. The Workover Foreman will decide if more frequent man-
overboard drills are required to ensure adequate response.

c) A suitably weighted dummy will be used to simulate a man

overboard.

d) Man overboard drills will involve either (or both) the standby boat or
the rig’s own rescue boat, depending upon equipment available on
that specific rig.

e) If no standby boat is readily available, the rig must launch a rescue

boat to retrieve the dummy.

f) Each man-overboard drill will be documented on both the IADC sheet

and the Saudi Aramco morning report. Documentation will include the
response time to rescue the man overboard.

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