Professional Documents
Culture Documents
SIMULTANEOUS OPERATIONS
(SIMOPS)
Table of Contents
1. Purpose .................................................................................................................. 1
2. Scope ........................................................................................................... ……...1
3. Definitions...................................................................................................... ……..1
4. Introduction..................................................................................................... …....2
5. Responsibilities............................................................................................... …....3
6. Procedure ............................................................................................................... 5
7. Competency Requirements .................................................................................. 10
Supplements
Supplement 1: Simultaneous Operations Flowchart ...................................................... 12
Supplement 2: Example SIMOPS Hazards and Conditions Register ............................. 13
Supplement 3: Example SIMOPS Matrix (Partial).......................................................... 14
Supplement 4: Example SIMOPS Conditions / Mitigations (Partial) ............................... 15
Supplement 5: 2nd Example SIMOPS Matrix (Partial) .................................................... 16
Supplement 6: 2nd Example SIMOPS Conditions / Mitigations ....................................... 17
Simultaneous Operations
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this Safety Management Guide (SMG) is to provide a methodical process
that will assist Saudi Aramco proponent organizations in determining whether or not
Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS) plans are required, help the proponent develop
appropriate plans and also help with managing the work by applying effective risk
management techniques. SIMOPS agreements and plans are used to protect all involved
personnel, company assets and the environment.
2. SCOPE
This Safety Management Guide applies to all Saudi Aramco (SA) facilities (onshore and
offshore), project sites and support facilities where simultaneous activities may occur.
Some examples where SIMOPS may take place include construction within an existing
facility, during commissioning activities, upgrades, start up, expansion projects, major
plant shut downs, turnarounds, drilling, workover, pipeline work, laydown yards,
workshops, seismic, subsea and well intervention, etc.
3. DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this document, the following terms and definitions apply:
3.3 Lower Flammable Limit (LFL): The minimum concentration of a fuel vapor in
air mixture, below this concentration level the mixture is too lean to burn; therefore,
ignition will not occur. If a vapor/air mixture is above the LFL, a fire or explosion
is likely in the presence of an ignition source.
3.3 Procedure: The specified steps that are performed to accomplish a task.
3.4 Qualitative Risk Assessment: A method of hazard analysis that uses descriptive
scales or ranking schemes (e.g., high/medium/low) to define the magnitude of
potential consequences and the probability that those consequences may occur.
Qualitative analysis is generally used for an initial screening to identify risks that
require more detailed analyses. It can also be used where the level of risk does not
justify or where numerical data is insufficient for a quantitative analysis. (SMG 02-
002-2010 Qualitative Risk Assessment)
3.5 Readiness Review: This review is held involving key representatives from
relevant parties and Subject Matter Experts to assure Saudi Aramco managers that
all SIMOPS hazards have been identified and appropriately mitigated prior to
beginning work.
3.6 Rupture Exposure Radius (RER): For toxic effects, the rupture exposure radius
refers to the horizontal distance from a leak source to specified levels of hydrogen
sulfide (H2S) concentration in parts per million (ppm). Concentration thresholds to
be considered are 30 ppm and 100 ppm. For a flammable gas hazard, with no toxic
gases in its composition, the RER refers to the horizontal distance from a leak
source to ½ the Lower Flammable Limit (LFL).
3.7 SIMOPS Coordinator: The single point of contact for all SIMOPS activities to
be conducted. This position is not required for all SIMOPS projects but is advisable
for major project work with a high number of SIMOPS activities or high risk
activities such as but not limited to: total plant shutdown or up-grade, onshore well
work, offshore well work, hook up and commissioning of major projects with other
nearby activities such as laying pipelines or flowlines and drilling/workover with
two or more rigs on the same drill site/well pad. See section 5.6 of this document
for more details.
3.8 Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS): The activities of two or more work groups
working near each other where the actions of one work group may affect the safety
of the adjacent work group personnel, company assets or an adjacent operating
facility.
3.9 SIMOPS Matrix: This document encompasses all activities to be executed by the
various organizations, work groups and contractors. It provides recommendations
for the elimination and mitigation of workplace hazards and control measures
required to undertake simultaneous work.
3.10 SIMOPS Plan: This plan clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the parties
involved in the work. It establishes or identifies which operations take priority over
others and who has the overall decision-making authority. It also establishes
emergency response protocols, the overall Work Permit process, daily
communication requirements, highlights the hazards along with the appropriate
elimination, mitigations and / or control measures to be used.
4. INTRODUCTION
As outlined in the Saudi Aramco Safety Management System, safe and reliable operations
are Saudi Aramco’s primary operational objectives. This guide assists organizations in
identifying potential simultaneous activities and the elements needed to establish a specific
SIMOPS Plan. Effective planning will decrease the level of risk associated with SIMOPS
by:
Limiting the number of simultaneous activities and simultaneous work where
there is a high risk of an incident or where schedules can be changed to
5. RESPONSIBILITIES
The following describes the typical assignment of responsibilities to individuals
(organizational positions) for implementing a proponent’s Simultaneous Operations Plan.
5.3.1 Communicate with all parties to recognize and evaluate and resolve
potential SIMOPS conflicts.
5.3.2 Ensure strict compliance with the agreed upon coordination schedule /
sequence of work and the safe management of simultaneous activities.
5.3.3 Conduct and participate in SIMOPS risk assessments, inspections and
monitoring.
5.3.4 Ensure that the SIMOPS precautions and activities can be achieved within
the current schedule.
5.3.5 For expansion projects, ensure SIMOPS are part of the deliverables.
The SIMOPS Coordinator is the single point of contact for all work to be executed.
He ensures that the simultaneous activities / work is allowed and all requirements
stipulated in the SIMOPS Matrix are met prior to the execution of the work. He will
work with all organizations and work groups to resolve conflicts and facilitate the
ongoing work to ensure the optimization of the schedule to ensure the best possible
chance of meeting deadlines and target dates.
5.6.1 Provide regular updates to the management concerning the progress of the
project and any unforeseen or unplanned delays or events. The schedule of
updates should be determined by the project manager.
5.6.2 Coordinate and communicate with other areas, projects, contractors and
sub-contractors to evaluate and help resolve potential SIMOPS conflicts.
5.6.3 Participate in reviews of the implementation of the SIMOPS Plan and check
that agreed upon controls are in place.
5.6.4 Coordinate and communicate all agreed upon changes to the SIMOPS
matrix with all affected parties prior to starting work.
5.6.5 Serve as the single point of contact for all permits to be issued for SIMOPS
work to ensure that the work can commence safely.
6. PROCEDURE
The following steps describe the basic process of developing SIMOPS plans:
6.1 Identify the need for SIMOPS and assembling the team.
6.1.1 Once the need for SIMOPS has been identified (see definition), a meeting
should be held to discuss possible schedule changes to eliminate the need
for SIMOPS.
6.1.2 If SIMOPS cannot be avoided then all affected parties should develop
detailed job plans and time lines so that an effective risk assessment can
take place.
6.1.3 Identify all the organizations that will be present conducting activities on
site or will be directly involved in the operations.
6.1.4 Identify all organizations that (although may not be present on-site at the
time of the work) may be affected by any unplanned event during the
operations.
6.1.5 Identify organizations that own equipment or hardware on-site and that are
authorized to shut-in / Lock-Out the energy sources.
6.1.6 Assemble the team to develop the SIMOPS Plan by nominating
representatives from each organization identified in the previous steps.
6.1.7 Each organization will identify the activities to be conducted onsite within
the timeframe of proposed SIMOPS activities and identify the required
schedule for such activities.
6.2 Once the team is assembled, the following activities take place:
6.3 If SIMOPS involves equipment or hardware with live processes, the following
additional steps are recommended:
6.3.1 Explore the possibility and impact of shutting-in or shutting down the
process or equipment during the entire operation or partially during critical
activities.
6.3.2 If the equipment and/or processes cannot be shut-in or shut-down during the
operations, request a dispersion model analysis from LPD for credible
release scenarios.
6.3.3 Based on dispersion model results, define contingency plans for Shelter-In-
Place and/or escape routes.
6.3.4 Consider the possibility of conducting a Quantitative Risk Assessment
(QRA) for major projects to assist management in the decision making
process.
6.3.5 Rank all possible contingency plans giving the highest rank to the safest
plan.
6.3.6 Provide a cost-effective evaluation of contingency plans.
6.3.7 All procedures must be in compliance with GI 6.012.
6.4 A formal SIMOPS Plan shall be written to ensure the SIMOPS is conducted
properly.
6.4.2 Items that should be resolved when developing the SIMOPS Plan:
NOTE: Any deviation from the approved SIMOPS plan and/or Matrix is
required to go through a formal Management of Change process to
ensure all affected parties are formally notified of the change in the
plan. Refer to LP SMG 05-001-2006 Management of Change.
6.6 Obtain signature approval from all affected Managers for SIMOPS.
6.7 Conduct a Kick-off Meeting prior to starting operations with all organizations
participating and affected by the SIMOPS and make a final review of the
SIMOPS Plan to validate or resolve any pending issues such as:
6.8 Conduct the SIMOPS work. The SIMOPS Coordinator should make notes of issues
and concerns that arise during the execution of the work to compile the lessons
learned for future work.
6.9 After the work is complete, a close out meeting should be held to finalize, document
and communicate the lessons learned.
7.1 The hazard assessment group must be a group of Subject Matter Experts (SME),
experienced and knowledgeable of the operations related with his organization.
7.2 The SIMOPS Coordinator must be a person with experience at least in the operation
providing the major risk during the SIMOPS.
Supplement 1
Supplement 2
Left Column: List of Activities and operations from the organization that potentially will expose other
groups to hazards
Top Row: Organization / Activities being potentially affected by the operations listed on left
Column if carried out simultaneously
Column 1: Identified Hazards (it is recommended to use HAZOP terminology)
Column 2: Consequences from identified hazards for credible scenarios on top row organization’s
personnel, activities, processes and assets
Column 3: Current Safeguards in place from the organization in left column against the identified
hazards
Column 4: Do current operating conditions allow SIMOPS between these two organizations (Yes /
NO)
Column 5: If answer in column 3 is NO, describe which conditions, if implemented, would allow
SIMOPS between these two organizations. (This columns will be the base for the
development of the conditions matrix later)
Column 6: Recommendations to achieve or implement the conditions described in column 5
Column 7: Party or parties responsible to complete the actions described in column 6
Supplement 3
Left Column: List of Activities and operations from the organization that potentially will expose
other groups to hazards
Top Row: Organization / Activities being potentially affected by the operations listed on left
Column if carried out simultaneously
Internal Cells: For each combination of two activities from top row and left column, provide the
restriction or condition code (from the Condition matrix in Supplement 4) the allows
these two activities to be carried out simultaneously or be classified as “N/A” (Not
Acceptable” if the activities cannot overlap at any time
Supplement 4
Supplement 5
Supplement 6