Professional Documents
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Document ID PR-1961
Security Unrestricted
Revision 1.0
Keywords: This document is the property of Petroleum Development Oman, LLC. Neither the whole nor
any part of this document may be disclosed to others or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form by any means (electronic, mechanical, reprographic recording or otherwise)
without prior written consent of the owner.
Revision: 1.0
Petroleum Development Oman LLC Effective: Nov-10
i Document Authorisation
Authorised For Issue – November 2010
ii Revision History
The following is a brief summary of the 4 most recent revisions to this document. Details of all
revisions prior to these are held on file by the issuing department.
Refer to Appendix 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 6
1.1 Background ...................................................................................................................... 6
1.2 Purpose ............................................................................................................................ 6
1.3 Scope ............................................................................................................................... 6
1.4 Distribution / Target Audience .......................................................................................... 6
1.5 Changes to the Document................................................................................................ 6
1.6 Step-out Approval ............................................................................................................. 7
1.7 ALARP .............................................................................................................................. 7
2 Roles and Responsibilities ..................................................................................................... 8
3 Process Leak Management ................................................................................................... 9
3.1 Performance Standard ..................................................................................................... 9
3.2 Definition for Weeps and Seeps ....................................................................................... 9
3.3 Direct Response to Hydrocarbon Releases ..................................................................... 9
3.4 Delayed Repair of Weeps / Seeps ................................................................................. 10
3.5 Process Leak Management Charts ................................................................................ 11
3.5.1 Categorising the Leak ................................................................................... 11
3.5.2 Address the Leak .......................................................................................... 11
3.5.3 Repair the Leak ............................................................................................ 12
3.5.4 Register of Temporary Leak Repairs ........................................................... 13
3.6 Incident Recording and Reporting .................................................................................. 13
Appendix 1 - Monitoring Sheet for Weep / Seep Leaks (Delayed Repair) .................................. 14
Appendix 2 - Abbreviations.......................................................................................................... 15
Appendix 3 – Reference Material ................................................................................................ 16
Appendix 4 - User Feedback Page ............................................................................................. 17
1 Introduction
1.1 Background
High level response procedures for Oil or Gas pipeline leaks is covered in PR-1066 -
Emergency Response Document Part III Contingency Plan Volume III - Production
Operations Sections 3.1.5 and 3.1.6. The details in these sections are for a major
emergency i.e. pipeline failure, where the immediate involvement of the Local
Emergency Base Controller (LEBC) would be notified and appropriate actions followed
as described in these sections.
Leaks within the facilities or in the immediate area of the facilities that would be
identified by operations as a normal part of their working routine are not effectively
covered in the Emergency Response Document and therefore a requirement exists to
address this situation and put in place contingency for dealing with such incidents.
1.2 Purpose
To provide concise instructions for indentifying, quantifying and addressing hydrocarbon
leaks within the facilities and associated flowlines.
NOTE: A sound awareness of the requirements of PR-1066 - Emergency Response
Document Part III Contingency Plan Volume III - Production Operations Sections 3.1.5
and 3.1.6 is required when using this procedure.
1.3 Scope
The scope of this procedure is;
To ensure a uniform approach is applied to dealing with hydrocarbon leaks and
seeps / weeps
To fulfil the PDO Corporate requirement for reporting leaks
To ensure the safety of personnel and assets at all times when investigating
leaks
1.7 ALARP
ALARP is the acronym for ‘As Low As Reasonably Practicable’ which simplified means,
‘reducing the risk to a level at which the cost and effort (time and trouble) of further risk
reduction are grossly disproportionate to the risk reduction achieved’. Full Compliance
to PDO Standards and Procedures is a key element in achieving ALARP.
For more details refer to ALARP Definition
WARNING: Personnel shall not investigate any gas leak, which has initiated a
process or station Shutdown, until the Production Coordinator has given
authorisation that the area is safe to enter.
A minimum of two persons shall investigate, appropriate PPE and safety
equipment i.e. SCBA, masks, face visors etc, shall be worn as necessary. One
person must be an authorised gas tester and carry a portable flammable gas
detector to detect the leak. This shall be in compliance with PR-1154 - Gas
Testing Procedure. The investigation team will remain in close proximity of each
other. The personal monitors shall ensure that each person’s atmosphere is
monitored as breathable. This will help identifying borders of Hazardous Zone.
If at any time the monitors alarm, either because the breathable atmosphere
reaches 10% LEL, or through detection from the leak, then the area shall be
evacuated and the location recorded.
Once the leak is detected; surrounding area should be barricaded and marked
with adequate warning signs. Considering the wind direction gas detection shall
be established outside the barricaded area to insure limitation of exposure.
NOTE: When investigating a suspected hydrocarbon leak, radio contact shall be
maintained with the Station Control Room or Production Supervisor / Coordinator
overseeing the operation.
The investigation team shall ensure that they are safe at all times whilst
investigating the source of the leak and that they have identified a direct escape
route in the event that the situation deteriorates. If any portable gas detector fails
(or cannot be trusted), the team will evacuate to a safe area and replace it.
3. If the source of the leak cannot be located or conditions surrounding the leak get
worse then the investigation team shall be recalled and the situation re-assessed.
This may require handing the incident over to the LEBC as detailed in PR-1066 -
Emergency Response Document Part III Contingency Plan, Volume III Production
Operations
Hydrogen ≥100ppm H2S measured at ≥5ppm and <100ppm H2S Rotten eggs smell or
Sulphide 1m from leak (or further measured at 1m from leak <5ppm H2S measured at
away) (or further away) 1m from leak
Crude oil > 60ltrs < 60ltrs <4 drops per minute
(excluding OR OR OR
water cut) >0.2ltrs/s for > 5 minutes 0.2ltrs/s for < 5 minutes <1 litre per 24 hour period
NOTES:
1.) A leak is ANY escape of fluid or gas from a process system
2.) Water injection systems include DWD, SWD and pressurised water injection
Pipeline Off- Pipelines TA-2 to approve Pipelines TA-2 to approve Approved by Prod./Maint.
and On-Plot Coordinator
Actions and repair shall Clamping
be evaluated case by Pipelines TA-2 to approve
case and authorised Partial replacement wrapping / clamping
after approval by the
Operations Manager Composite wrapping Tightening of flanges
using FCP process.
Clamping
Partial replacement
Composite wrapping
Flowline Off- Static Mech. TA-2 to Static Mech. TA-2 to Approved by Prod./Maint.
Plot approve approve Coordinator
Partial replacement
Composite wrapping
Appendix 2 - Abbreviations
To: UOP7