Effective engagement on process safety fundamentals in challenging times
Olivia K. Cary A B and Nick Netscher AA Esso Australia Pty Ltd, Docklands, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: olivia.cary@exxonmobil.com
The APPEA Journal 61(2) 540-543 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ20048
Accepted: 18 March 2021 Published: 2 July 2021
Abstract
Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd (EAPL) and BHP Billiton Petroleum (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd own a range of offshore and onshore hydrocarbon production facilities, which have been operated by EAPL for over 50 years. Over this time, EAPL has lived a rich history of process safety experiences, and developed a range of processes and systems to manage process safety risks. Despite technical system refinement and advances across industry we continue to experience process safety events, and manage risks with plant both at the start and end of its lifecycle. Many of our major hazards are inherent to our operations, and do not become lower risk with lower product price or field activity levels. It is therefore critical that we maintain a laser focus on managing process safety risks during this time of unprecedented change, and find impactful opportunities to engage with operations, maintenance and technical teams on their role in process safety. To this end, EAPL have commenced a journey of scenario based process safety management and applying it to our most significant risks. The outcome has been a step change in process safety literacy across our business, an increased awareness of safe operating conditions and a workforce engaged in managing safeguard health. This study shares how a scenario based approach can leverage a traditional safety case and safety management system approach and make process safety personal:
Simplifying communication of higher risks and the equipment and processes that keep us safe
Clarifying safeguard ownership and responsibilities for safeguard health management
Embedding safeguard health management in routine operations and maintenance tasks
Strengthening critical safeguards which mostly depend on human performance to be effective
Keywords: ALARP, major accident events, process safety, risk assessment, risk controls, safeguards, scenario management.
Olivia Cary is the Process Safety Engineer leading the implementation of a scenario based process safety program for EAPL’s Gippsland Basin assets. Olivia graduated from Monash University in 2008 B.Eng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, and has worked in the oil and gas industry for over 10 years, supporting both EAPL’s Gippsland Basin Assets and ExxonMobil’s Papua New Guinea assets during that time. Prior to her current role, her experiences include machinery engineering, project management and business planning. |
Nick Netscher is the Risk and Process Safety Lead supporting EAPL’s Gippsland Basin assets. Nick graduated from the University of Queensland in 2008 B.Eng (Hons) in Mechanical and Space Engineering, and has worked for over 10 years in the oil and gas industry with EAPL. Prior to his current role, his experiences include project design and construction management, operations integrity, facilities surveillance and reservoir engineering. |
References
CCPS (Center for Chemical Process Safety) and EI (Energy Institute) (2018). ‘Bowties in Risk Management: A Concept Book for Process Safety’. (American Institute for Chemical Engineers, John Wiley & Sons: New Jersey.)Kerin, T. (2020). Taming the wild river rapids: How process safety can apply outside the process industries. Process Safety Progress 39, e12088.
| Taming the wild river rapids: How process safety can apply outside the process industries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
