Wellsite Permit to Work

Revision 2

Permit Holder & Work Party Training

Session Format
Presentation is in 3 Parts

Then a theory assessment

Part 1
Acknowledgments
Purpose
Scope
Definitions
Responsibilities
Objectives of the Permit System

Acknowledgments
What companies developed Revision 2 of the
Wellsite Permit to Work?

Some of the companies who assisted in the

development of Wellsite Permit to Work System
Santos Ltd
Rev 2

Origin Energy
Century Resources Ltd
Ensign
Eastern Well Service
Expro
Diversified
Arc Energy
Beach
Mitchell
Expertest

Purpose
What is the purpose of the Wellsite
Permit to Work System ?

The purpose is to
Plan and control work on Well Sites
Assist in carrying out work in
accordance with safe working
practices

Scope of the System

When does the Wellsite Permit to
Work System apply?

Wellsite Permit to Work applies when work is

carried out by the Operating Company and
associated Wellsite Contractors
On Australian Onshore Wellsites once handed
over by the Operating Companys Production group
Any other associated activities conducted by the
Wellsite Contractor

Scope of the System

When does this system not apply?

This system does NOT apply when

The Operating Companys Permit to Work
Procedures are applicable and/or takes
precedence.
Seismic operations are conducted that do not
impact on other operations or installations.
When construction activities take place in a
fenced off area separate from producing plant
and free of hydrocarbons.

Definitions
Wellsite Permit to Work
Sets out the work to be done, the precautions to be taken and specifies
all work conditions
Wellsite Permit Authority
The person authorized to issue Wellsite Permits to Work
Operator Representative
Represents the Operating Company responsible for the Wellsite work
Wellsite Permit Holder
The person who receives the Wellsite Permit to Work
Wellsite Work Party
The people whose work is covered by the Wellsite Permit to Work

Responsibilities

Permit Authority
Operator Representative
Permit Holder
Work Party Members

What are the responsibilities of a

Permit Authority?

Permit Authority
Issues permits
Shares responsibility with the Permit Holder
for defining scope of work in Section A
Defines in Section B the Precautions to be
completed for the work to be performed
Defines in Section C the ongoing Work
Conditions with the Permit Holder

Permit Authority
Ensure the Permit Holder and the
Work Party understand the Permit
to Work Conditions
Monitor the work carried out by
the Work Party
Complete Section D to issue and
close out Permits

What are the responsibilities of an

Operator Representative?

Operator Representative
Must ensure that all responsibilities of the Permit
Authority and Permit Holder have been satisfied and the
Permit to Work activities do not impinge on other
activities
Must be satisfied that Wellsite contractors have
appropriate procedures, JHAs conducted and personnel
appropriately trained
Where an Operator Representative has not been
assigned to a Wellsite activity, the Permit Authority must
be briefed by the Operating Companys Supervisor on
requirements pertaining to Wellsite Permits to Work

What are the responsibilities of a

Permit Holder?

Permit Holder
Shares responsibility with the Permit Authority
for completing the scope of work in Section A
of the Permit
Ensures the Work Party understands all the
Permit Precautions and Work Conditions
With the Permit Authority completes Section D
to accept and close out Permits
Satisfy themselves that all Work Precautions
are carried out in Section B of the Permit

What are the responsibilities of a

Work Party Member?

Work Party Member

Must understand the scope and
conditions of the Permit to Work,
sign that they understand and then
abide by them
If in doubt, stop work and ask

Objectives of the System

What are the objectives of
the System?

Objectives of the System

People, environment, equipment & product are protected

Safe working practices are followed whilst work is being
carried out
The work site is inspected and necessary precautions have
been considered and implemented before work
commences
Work is only performed on specified equipment
Location of people and type of work being carried out is
always known should an emergency occur
Persons carrying out work understand the conditions unde
which work may be carried out

Objectives of the System

Equipment to be worked on has been correctly prepared
for the work to be carried out
Correct protective measures are available and are being
used
Work being done is carefully monitored
The work site is left in a clean and safe condition upon
completion of the work
The details of non-completed work are documented and
communicated to the Permit Authority and Operator
Representative as appropriate
Equipment left unserviceable is correctly tagged and
identified to incoming shifts

End of

Part 1

Part 2

Number of Permit Authorities for a Wellsite

Permit Holder Qualifications
Different categories of Permits
Work not requiring a Permit

Issuing Permits
For each Wellsite, how many Permit Authorities are
responsible for work activities on that site?

There is only one Permit Authority

for each Wellsite

Permit Holder Qualifications

What must you do to qualify as a
Permit Holder?

Permit Holder Qualifications

Attend both Operating Company and contractor
safety induction sessions
Participate in the Permit Holder and Work Party
Training Session
Demonstrate an understanding of the Permit
Holder responsibilities
Demonstrate an understanding of site specific
regulations
Demonstrate an understanding of the JHA
system

Permits are issued for

Cold Work
Hot Work
Pressure Systems Work
Electrical Work
Explosive/Radioactive Work
Confined Space Entry
Work At Heights

Cold Work Permit

When would a Cold Work Permit
be required?

Cold Work Permits

Are required for work that is non-standard or
non-routine and is not covered by any other
Wellsite Permit Category

What is non-standard or non-routine? It is work that has a

health and safely risk and is not regularly performed. Examples
of such work are
One off activity that has the potential to injure personnel
or damage equipment
Any activity that personnel are not familiar with
Where a JHA does not exist or has not been performed
Any deviation or modification to existing procedures or
a JHA

And further examples of non-standard,

non routine work include
Isolation, override or disablement of standard safety
systems
Non-standard operations or maintenance of
equipment or plant
Any work at heights, not currently covered by an
approved SOP

And Finally
Scaffold erection on a Wellsite or camp site
Work in unguarded/unprotected areas
Work with chemicals for which personnel are
unfamiliar
Inspection or non-destructive testing of equipment or
plant during normal operations

The requirement for any Cold Work Permit may

be superseded by the use of an Approved Standard Operating
Procedure or a JHA

Excavations
I need to dig a hole, or pound in a stake, who do I see?

See the Permit Authority who will decide

if a Permit is required

Hot Work Permits

When is a Hot Work Permit required?

Hot Work Permits

Is required for work, within 15 metres of a well, which
could generate an ignition source, such as fire, naked flame,
heat or spark

Examples of Hot Work

Welding, soldering
Burning, flame cutting, flame heating
Grinding
Use of electrical hand tools, power driven cutters, or
running internal combustion engines, such as found in
forklifts and portable pumps with diesel or petrol engines
that are not fitted with approved devices for use on a
wellsite
Lighting fires of any kind

Examples of Hot Work

Use of non-intrinsically safe electrical devices
Use of cameras containing batteries
Transfer of diesel or crude oil to or from road
tankers
Potential to generate static electricity

Pressure System Work Permit

When is a Pressure System Work Permit required?

Pressure System Work Permits

Is required for any work involving equipment which is
usually under pressure, may be under pressure, or any
work involving pressurized operations

Includes
Any pressure tests
Leak off and formation integrity tests
Work on an accumulator unit and any associated
pressure lines or pressure equipment
Work on blow out preventers and any associated
pressure lines or pressure equipment

Further includes

Fracture or Acid stimulations

Chemical injection into wellheads for inhibition
Work on pumps and any associated pressure lines
Work on any hydraulic systems
Work on any air pressure systems

Electrical Work Permit

When is an Electrical Work Permit required?

Electrical Work Permits

Is required for work on any electrical circuit or
equipment, and MUST be carried out by persons
holding Formal Electrical Qualifications

Includes
Work on generators
Work on electrical panels
Work on SCR units (Silicon Controlled Rectifiers used
to power some drilling rigs)
Work on electric monitors
Work on electrical circuits which are not in electrical
sub-stations, and includes repair, maintenance or
connection

Explosive/Radioactive Permit
When is an Explosive/Radioactive
Work Permit required?

Explosive/Radioactive Permits
Is required whenever explosives or radioactive substances
are to be used or handled
For example

Perforating
Radioactive logging
X-ray equipment
Some non-destructive testing

Confined Space Entry Permit

When is a Confined Space Entry
Permit required?

Confined Space Entry Permit

Is required whenever a persons upper
body or head enters into a confined space.

A Confined Space is:

Is not intended or designed primarily as a place of work
May have restricted means of entry and exit
May have inadequate ventilation and/or atmosphere
which is either contaminated or oxygen deficient
Is at atmospheric pressure during occupancy

Confined Space Entry Permit

Examples include some frac and mudtanks, well cellars,
flare pits, trenches and turkeys nests

Confined Spaces Form

Work not requiring a Permit

Can work be performed without a Permit?

Permits are not required for

Routine operations (work that is regularly performed and
has no particular health or safety risk)
Minor maintenance work carried out by trained competent
personnel as agreed with the Permit Authority provided an
appropriate Risk Hazard Analysis (such as JHA or
Stepback) has been performed
Initiating of an Emergency Response and only as directed
by the Permit Authority or Operator Representative

Permits are not required for

(Continued)

Hot work carried out in an approved maintenance

workshop
Cold or hot work carried out in camp area provided that an
appropriate JHA or Stepback has been performed
Routine rig up or rig down of third party equipment if
approved procedures are followed and not specifically
covered by some other permit
Surveillance activities performed at a wellsite once the
well has been handed over via an approved well handover
procedure

End of Part 2

Part 3
Duration of a Permit
Steps involved when issuing a Permit
The Wellsite Permit

Permit Duration
How long can a Permit last?

Permits remain valid until

End of a Work Partys shift

The nominated expiry time on the Permit
Work is suspended, or delayed due to shift change
The Permit Holder is no longer available
The sounding of an emergency alarm
Cancelled by the Permit Authority
Cancelled by the Operator Representative
Work is completed

Permit Issue
When I require a Permit, how do
I go about getting one?

Permit Issue
Firstly, notify the Permit Authority
Secondly, a site inspection and safety briefing
may be required
Thirdly, the Permit is prepared

Flow Chart/Decision Tree

Acrobat Document

Wellsite
Permit To Work Form

Section A - Scope

Section D Permit Issue/Permit

Close Out

Section C Ongoing Work Conditions

Wellsite
Permit To Work
(Section B)

Fire Watcher
I need a Fire Watcher for a
job and have a person in mind.
What must they know?

Fire Watcher
Must be familiar with the job being done
Must be alert for any fire outbreak and take
immediate action
Does not allow other work not specified by the
Permit to proceed
Have fire extinguishers/fire hoses ready, and be
trained to use them

Work Precautions
What protective measures should I consider
before commencing work?

Locks and Danger Tags

I will be putting my hands on to equipment
that needs repairing. Can I lock out that
equipment and tag it?

Locks and Danger Tags

YES

Gas Testing
I am using continuous gas monitoring and the
monitor alarm sounds.
What should I do?

Gas Testing
STOP work immediately
Initiate Emergency Response

Vehicle Entry
I need to drive my vehicle within 15 metres from the
wellhead.
Before doing so, who do I need to see?

Vehicle Entry
The Permit Authority

The End