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Standards For Wellsite Supervision of Drilling Completion and Workovers
Standards For Wellsite Supervision of Drilling Completion and Workovers
SUPERVISION OF DRILLING,
COMPLETION AND WORKOVERS
AN INDUSTRY RECOMMENDED PRACTICE (IRP)
FOR THE CANADIAN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
Edition 2
Sanction March
Date 2002
Copyright/Right to Reproduce
Copyright for this Industry Recommended Practice (IRP) is held by Enform, 2008. All rights
reserved. No part of this IRP may be reproduced, republished, redistributed, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted unless the user references the copyright ownership of
Enform.
Disclaimer
This Industry Recommended Practice (IRP) is a set of best practices and guidelines compiled
by knowledgeable and experienced industry and government personnel, and is intended to
provide the operator with advice regarding Standards for Wellsite Supervision of Drilling,
Comppletions and Workovers. It was developed under the auspices of the Drilling and
Completions Committee (DACC).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents ................................................................................................i
Acknowledgement ..............................................................................................1
Revision History ................................................................................... 1
Sanction ........................................................................................................1
Acknowledgements .......................................................................................2
2002 IRP Development Committee ......................................................... 2
Other Contributors ............................................................................... 2
7.1. Introduction .............................................................................................4
7.2. Scope .......................................................................................................5
7.3. Definitions................................................................................................6
7.4. Roles, Responsibilities and Duties ............................................................7
7.4.1. Operator and Prime Contractor ...........................................................7
7.4.1.1. Regulatory Compliance ............................................................ 7
7.4.1.2. Safety ................................................................................... 7
7.4.2. Wellsite Supervisor .............................................................................8
7.4.2.1. General Duties ....................................................................... 8
7.4.2.2. Safety ................................................................................... 8
7.4.3. Employer’s Supervision .......................................................................9
7.5. Requirements for Assigning Duties of Wellsite Supervisor .....................11
7.5.1. A Supervisor Must be Assigned .........................................................11
7.5.2. Agreement of Duties .........................................................................11
7.5.3. Identify Wellsite Supervisor ..............................................................11
7.6. Training Requirements ...........................................................................12
7.6.1. Wellsite Supervisor ...........................................................................12
7.6.2. Operator or Prime Contractor ............................................................12
7.6.3. Training Requirements ......................................................................12
7.6.4. Description of Training Courses ........................................................13
7.6.4.1. Safety Management and Regulatory Awareness for Wellsite
Supervision ..........................................................................13
7.6.4.2. Safety Management and Regulatory Awareness for Wellsite
Supervision (Refresher) ..........................................................13
7.6.4.3. Second Line Supervisor‟s Well Control ......................................13
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Revision History
SANCTION
This IRP has been sanctioned (sanction = review and support of the IRP as a compilation of
best practices) by the following organizations:
Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry
Saskatchewan Labour
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The following list of individuals participated in the development of this Industry
Recommended Practice (IRP) through the DACC sub-committee and/or one of several
working teams responsible for various components. Apologies to anyone who may have
inadvertently been missed.
2002 IRP Development Committee
Other Contributors
7.1. INTRODUCTION
Drilling, completions, and well workovers involve a wide variety of operations that often
require a number of contractors, technical services, and suppliers working together at the
wellsite. These operations must be planned and executed by qualified and competent people
at all levels to ensure the safety of workers and the public, the protection of the
environment, and the conservation of natural resources. The well owner or „operator‟
conducting these operations has overall responsibility for achieving these goals. The wellsite
supervisor representing the operator or prime contractor plays a key role by directing and
co-ordinating all employers at the wellsite to implement the planned work program. The
purpose of this IRP is to recommend minimum standards to ensure that the operator or
prime contractor provides competent supervision at the wellsite.
The impetus for the development of this IRP was a growing need to improve minimum
standards for safety management at the well site. Therefore, the primary focus during the
development of this IRP was on safety. However, compliance with legislation and industry
standards that relate to environmental protection and resource conservation is also a goal in
these qualification standards.
7.2. SCOPE
This IRP deals with well operations that are generally known in the industry as drilling,
completions and workovers. Minor well servicing on completed wells, which do not require
removal of the wellhead and do not require the installation of temporary blow out
prevention equipment to ensure well control during the operation, is beyond the scope of
this IRP. However, the responsibilities of the prime contractor, in terms of safety
management, are essentially the same for any operation involving two or more employers
at a wellsite.
The subject of the IRP is supervision at the wellsite by the prime contractor, which is usually
the operator. Each employer or contractor at the well site must also provide competent
supervision for their employees. Responsibilities of an employer‟s supervisor are discussed
relative to the duties of the prime contractor‟s supervisor. Specific qualification
requirements for supervisors of other employers at the wellsite are not part of this IRP.
While the focus of the IRP is the wellsite supervisor, it must be recognized that the
responsibilities are basically those of the operator and/or the prime contractor. Therefore
the operator and/or prime contractor must have a good understanding of these
requirements and a clear agreement with the wellsite supervisor as to how these obligations
will be met.
These recommendations are based on regulatory compliance and due diligence. The specific
requirements for the work planned in drilling, completions, and workover operations vary
widely and part of the operator‟s due diligence is to assign competent supervision for the
specific work being supervised. This IRP does not attempt to define supervisor competency
requirements for every type of job but does describe the minimum steps the operator or
prime contractor should take in making this determination.
7.3. DEFINITIONS
The following basic principles and definitions are used throughout this IRP. Please refer to
the diagram in Appendix A: Levels of Control and Responsibility for Safety Management for
further clarification.
Prime Contractor: When workers from more than one employer are working at a wellsite
then one party must have overall responsibility for safety at that wellsite and co-
ordination of all employers to carry out the planned work. In Alberta this party is known
as the „prime contractor‟ and this term will be used throughout this IRP. In other
jurisdictions this specific term may not be used, but the legislation has similar
requirements and responsibilities for this function.
Operator: The owner of the wellsite is the prime contractor unless he has specifically
assigned this responsibility to another party by written agreement and has taken steps
to ensure that the party is capable of fulfilling all the duties and responsibilities required
of a prime contractor. When a well has more than one owner, the owner who is assigned
as the operator has the responsibilities of prime contractor. Generally this is the licensee
of the well. The term „operator‟ will have this meaning throughout this IRP.
Wellsite Supervisor: The term wellsite supervisor is commonly used to describe the
individual who is representing the operator or prime contractor at the wellsite and is
generally responsible for directing all employers at the wellsite. The wellsite supervisor is
therefore the representative of the prime contractor at the wellsite. This is the job
function and the meaning of the term „wellsite supervisor‟ that is the subject of this IRP.
Other commonly used terms for this person are „consultant‟, „company man‟, and
„engineer‟ (the use of 'engineer' must be avoided unless the individual is a registered P.
Eng.).
Employer: In this document this term means any company that has one or more
employees at the wellsite. This includes „drilling contractors‟ and „service companies‟ or
'sub-contractors' commonly referred to in the industry. It also includes any small
contractors or businesses that have one or more people doing work at the wellsite
whether they are employees, owner operators or self employed workers.
Use employers at the wellsite that have an effective safety program in place for their
own operations that meets the requirements for a basic safety program as described
above, including safe work procedures for the work they do. All independent or self-
employed workers who do not have their own safety program must be included in
the safety program of the prime contractor or another employer on site.
Co-ordinate the efforts of all employers at the wellsite. Ensure all employers,
supervisors and workers know what their role and responsibilities are for the work
planned. Ensure all safety procedures are compatible.
Verify that all employers are providing their workers with training and supervision
that addresses the tasks and hazards of the work they do at the wellsite.
It is not the prime contractor‟s role to do this training and supervision directly but
only to check that employers do provide supervision in a manner that meets
legislated requirements as a minimum. However, if a worker is a direct employee of
the prime contractor and reports to the wellsite supervisor, then the wellsite
supervisor is responsible for the training and supervision as per Section 7.4.3
Employer‟s Supervision.
Inform all employers of any known hazards related to the specific wellsite, the
planned program or the materials supplied by the prime contractor. Ensure that
procedures are in place to eliminate or control these hazards.
Ensure that site-specific emergency response procedures are in place and that all
employers and workers know these procedures and are prepared to follow them.
Monitor activity at the site to verify compliance with applicable legislation and safe
work procedures.
7.4.2.2. Safety
In terms of safety management, the duties of the wellsite supervisor, as the representative
of the prime contractor, should include the following:
Identify themselves at the wellsite and ensure they can be easily located and
contacted at all times. An alternate competent representative of the prime
contractor must also be identified who can be contacted if the wellsite supervisor
becomes incapacitated or inaccessible for any reason.
Check that all employers on the wellsite have an effective safety program and safe
work procedures.
Check that all employers understand and agree to follow all requirements of the
prime contractor's safety program that are not already met by their own safety
program.
Provide for wellsite orientation of all employers and visitors on arrival at the wellsite.
Co-ordinate the efforts of all employers at the wellsite. Resolve any discrepancies
between safe work procedures before starting the work.
Identify and document the name of the on-site supervisor for each employer prior to
starting any work.
Review and clarify the roles and responsibilities of all employers and on-site
supervisors prior to doing any work.
Check that all employers on site are providing their employees with the training and
supervision described in Section 7.4.3 Employer‟s Supervision
Ascertain the number of inexperienced workers and review job execution plans with
the employer to ensure these workers receive adequate supervision.
Identify hazards related to the specific wellsite, the planned program or the materials
provided by the prime contractor. Inform all employers of these hazards and ensure
proper controls are in place before the work begins.
Ensure that well control and blowout prevention measures meet regulations and
operator's requirements.
Monitor the work performed by all employers to verify compliance with safety
legislation as well as safety program requirements.
Monitor the wellsite for proper use, handling, storage, and maintenance of personal
protective equipment by all workers.
Check that the procedures for handling, transportation, disposal, storage, and use of
all hazardous substances, follows applicable regulations and safe practices.
Implement detection and control of Hydrogen Sulphide and other hazardous gases to
prevent harmful exposure of workers or the public.
Implement detection and control of any flammable substances that may be emitted
from the well or surface facilities, to prevent accidental fire or explosion. Consult IRP
18 Fire and Explosion Hazard Management
Direct work to be stopped when an unsafe act or condition is identified. Resume work
only after the hazard is removed or safe procedures have been established.
Inform all workers of the employer's safety program requirements and ensure these
requirements are followed.
Ensure workers are aware of their rights and responsibilities under OH&S legislation,
including their right and obligation to refuse to do unsafe work.
Provide workers with instruction and training on safe work procedures for the
assigned tasks, including rules from relevant safety legislation.
Conduct frequent inspections of the wellsite to ensure workers are following safe
work practices and applicable OH&S regulations.
Identify hazards, inform all workers and the prime contractor of the hazards.
Establish procedures to remove or avoid the hazards and ensure these steps are
followed.
Stop work when an unsafe act or condition is identified and take action to ensure
conditions are safe before work is resumed.
Ensure all hazardous materials to be used in their work have been identified and that
workers are given instruction as required by WHMIS legislation.
Ensure the proper use and maintenance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Ensure that site-specific emergency response procedures are in place and that all
workers are prepared to follow them.
A sample form for posting the name and basic duties of the wellsite supervisor as well as
the name of an alternate contact for the prime contractor is given in Appendix B Notice of
Wellsite Supervisor (sample).
*Note The requirements for renewal of certification for each course vary.
Except where denoted by **, the courses recommended were developed by Enform to meet
the standards specified by industry. Certificates are issued by Enform and accepted by
regulators as proof of “adequate training”. Some Enform courses can be “franchised” which
means that outside instructors can be certified by Enform so that the course can be taught
outside of Enform, and successful students will receive the Enform certificate. This process
can be used if companies wish to include Enform courses in their own in house training.
Record of all formal education and year each was completed, if available
List of references starting with the last three employers (or back five years) and
including:
o name
o check that all employer on-site supervisors are performing their duties
o monitor work to ensure safe work procedures and regulations are followed
o direct the detection and control of H2S, flammable emissions and other
hazardous atmospheric conditions
Emergency Response
Environmental Protection
Well Control
7.8.1. DOCUMENTATION
Good management practices require that results achieved must be compared to the goals
and expectations on a regular basis in order to identify performance gaps and opportunities
for improvement. The performance of wellsite supervisors must be monitored and evaluated
as part of this process. New supervisors should be evaluated more frequently than
supervisors with proven track records.
Wellsite Supervisor
Represents prime
contractor directs all
employers at wellsite
Contractor
Employer’s Hired by prime
supervisor contractor
Owner/operator
Employer’s Service, Self
Supervisor employed worker Sub-contractors,
Rig Manager Services, Suppliers
Hired by contractor
Employer’s
Services
Employer’s supervisor Hired by prime
Employer’s Service Company contractor
supervisor
supervisor
Drillers
Service Hand Small Contractors –
Does job on Owner Operated
Employee Employee site on Employer’s
Services
Hired by prime
Rig Crew Rig Crew contractor‟s supervisor contractor
equipment Service Hand Employee
-works alone Does job on site Crew member
Employee or with for his company Suppliers - Materials
Employee Employee Purchased by by prime
Rig Crew helpers works alone
Rig Crew Crew member contractor
Identify hazards related to the specific wellsite, the planned program or the
materials provided by the prime contractor. Inform all employers of these hazards
and ensure procedures are in place to control these hazards.
Ensure the following site specific hazard controls meet requirements and standards:
well control and blowout prevention
all employees receive supervision and training from their employer as per IRP
Volume 7 Standards for Wellsite Supervision of Drilling, Completions and Workovers
The supervisor is knowledgeable about and experienced in all of the matters listed above.
Assigned By:__________________________ (representative of operator/ prime contractor)
Contact phone #s:__________________ (work) __________________(cell)