New Zealand adopts new HSE regulations for workplace safety
New Zealand has announced the implementation of new regulations that will raise the standard for workplace safety in petroleum E&P. The Health and Safety in Employment (Petroleum Exploration and Extraction) Regulations 2013 replace the 1999 version and came into effect on 30 June.
IADC actively participated in consultation during development of the regulations, which align with those in the UK and Australia. The regulations strengthen the management of hazards, as well as safeguards associated with drilling. This includes ensuring well integrity at every stage of an operation by requiring an installation safety case, a well operations notice and a well examination scheme.
Key NORSOK Standards updated
Standards Norway has announced the availability of updated versions of two key drilling standards, NORSOK D-010, well integrity in drilling and well operations, revision 4, and NORSOK D-002, well intervention equipment, revision 2.
The revision of NORSOK D-010 was driven by the need to address issues stemming from the Macondo incident for the Norwegian industry. Like the newly issued API Standard 53, NORSOK D-010 provides guidelines for technical and operational barriers to prevent loss of well control but is tailored to expectations for operations on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
The standard focuses on establishing well barriers by use of well barrier elements, their acceptance criteria, and their use and monitoring of integrity during their life cycle. It also covers well integrity management and personnel competence requirements. The standard does not contain any well or rig equipment specifications.
Supplementing D-010, the revised D-002 is intended to provide common requirements for well intervention equipment across all exploration and production companies and service companies operating on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. D-002 has been updated to reflect the well barrier terminology in the new D-010, provide expanded requirements for safety heads, update and reduce external references and provide further specification of test requirements for pressure control equipment.
Standards Norway also recently issued a revised NORSOK C-004, helicopter deck on offshore installations, edition 2.
Updated guidance is provided regarding the environmental effects and turbulence, helideck location, materials and fabrication, limited obstacle sector segment lines, subzero condition, helideck lighting, helideck drainage, and passive fire protection.
Comment period on lesser prairie chicken listing extended
IADC, along with nine other industry organizations, issued a letter to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) regarding the listing of the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species.
The associations urged the FWS to extend the deadline for a final listing decision by six months to allow stakeholders to comment on the potential impact. The associations again reiterated their claim that listing the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species is unwarranted.
If the lesser prairie chicken is listed, limits on drilling may be placed on wellsites in Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
This action has the potential to affect IADC members who drill wells in affected areas that are subject to FWS regulations pertaining to the conservation of species and operate in areas identified as a habitat for the lesser prairie chicken.
On 26 June, the FWS informed Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) that it will grant a six-month extension on comments before making a final ruling.
Click here to access a copy of the New Zealand legislation.
Click here to download copies of the NORSOK standards.
