Emergency Drills

The Importance of Emergency Drills in Oil & Gas Operations

Introduction

Health and safety is of utmost importance in the oil and gas industry, as people’s lives, property and the environment must be safeguarded at all times. Performing emergency drills regularly is one of the of the most vital aspects of safety management. We conduct emergency drills which helps prepare workers in the best possible manner to respond effectively to dangerous situations like well control incidents, fires, H2S (Hydrogen Sulfide) exposure, evacuations, etc. These drills mitigate the risks involved with drilling and production activity, while ensuring that HSE regulations are upheld.

1.1 Emergency Drills

1.1.1 On-Site Emergency Response Plan (ERP)

On-site emergency response plan (ERP) for specific operational risks, including overflow, well kicks and blowouts, shall be prepared by DOD (Drilling and Operations Department). The ERP should outline:

✅How to identify possible hazards

✅Response processes for different emergency scenarios

✅Personnel roles and responsibilities.

✅Communication protocols.

✅Interaction with other emergency response networks.

The good thing is that a well-developed ERP makes you prepared to respond quickly and efficiently to an emergency.

1.1.2 HSE Supervisor Role – Emergency Drills

This accurate HSE Supervisor works on organizing and overseeing emergency drills. They are responsible for:

✅Well drills to encounter the avoided blowout.

✅Conducting firefighting drills for training personnel in fire emergencies.

– H2S prevention or exercises to assess if a worker can respond safely to toxic gas exposure.

✅Scheduling evacuation drills for workers on how to safely leave the site.

✅Logging and keeping of all emergency exercise.

✅Conducting common exercises helping to ensure adherence to industry standards and regulative requirements, as well as raising safety awareness.

1.1.3 HSE Supervisor Supervision and Guidance

✅Continuous HSE Supervision for Emergency Drills This includes:

✅Making sure all staff are aware of their roles in an emergency.

✅Evaluating the drills and where they can improve.

✅Collaboration with management to modify ERP routines according to drill results.

1.1.4 Drill Well Control Tests – Written

The HSE Supervisor will conduct a series of well control short written tests to ensure a high degree of competency is maintained on the rig. These tests:

✅Assess awareness on well control fundamentals amongst drillers and tool pusher

✅They should be upskilled and kept abreast with best practices.

✅Recognize the gaps in knowledge and provide specific sessions to tackle them.

✅Improve the efficacy of well control drills

✅Personnel trained in well control are less likely to have blowouts and other well-related disasters.

1.1.5 Keeping Track of Emergency Drills

NOTE: All records of emergency drills must be kept for at least one (1) year. These records should include:

✅Date and time of the drill.

✅One type of emergency drill performed

✅Personnel involved.

✅What worked well, and what could have been better.

✅Corrective actions taken.

✅Documenting drills enables tracking of their effectiveness and serves as a basis for continuous improvement of the process.

1.1.6 Well Control Drills Based on Downhole Conditions

✅Well control practice should match down hole conditions. This ensures that:

✅Specialized personnel are trained to handle unique scenarios faced in wells.

✅Making drills more authentic is key to their effectiveness.

✅Emergency preparedness aligns with on the ground operational realities.

1.1.7 Conduct of Emergency Drills

To stay in a high state of readiness, the following emergency drills will be conducted at prescribed intervals:

1) Firefighting Drill

Conducted once every shift.

• Trains personnel how to use fire extinguishers, fire blankets and suppression systems.

Tests the efficiency of desired response to fire seasons that align with reality.

2) Escape or Abandonment Drill

Conducted once every shift.

Makes sure that workers know where the escape routes and assembly points are.

Provides guidance to employees for evacuation if an emergency occurs.

3) Well Control Drill

Conducted once every shift.

Before nipple-down of the wellhead.

Hold only one per well to evaluate response readiness.

This is to ensure that well kicks and blowouts are managed in the proper manner.

4) H2S Prevention Drill

Performed weekly for positive H2S during downhole activity.

If H2S is not observed, performed each shift every six months.

Educates and trains employees to be aware of H2S hazards and how to respond to them through personal protective equipment (PPE) and gas detection devices.

Conclusion

One of the key elements of HSE management in the oil and gas industry is conducting emergency drills. With a structured schedule for drills, a conducive drill lead chart that can help manage the participation of employees during drills, and being responsible in implementing their duties, it allows companies to level up workplace safety in the workplace and even prevent accidents while maintaining the industry regulations. This regular training and assessments help all personnel to be trained and prepared to respond to the emergency situations, which can ultimately lead to the reduction of operational threats and protection of lives and property.

Incorporating best practices during emergency drilling not only improves safety; it also increases operational efficiency, an essential piece of oil and gas industry standards.