Safety and Environmental Department

DOCUMENT GUIDE / Guide Document
Sce émetteur N° livre N° chapitre Rév.
GE P352 1 6.1 0
SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT Page
OFFSHORE SAFETY - GENERAL A

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GE 1 - Rév.5 - F/ANG
0 18.10.96 G. BERTRAND M. MORVAN P. LEFEBVRE

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REVISIONS DU DOCUMENT / Document revisions

GE P352 1 6.1 0
B
OFFSHORE SAFETY - GENERAL
CONTENTS
1. FOREWORD
2. FACILITIES - REMINDER
3. FACILITIES - INTEGRATION IN ENVIRONMENT - LAYOUT
3.1 INTEGRATION IN ENVIRONMENT
3.2 LAYOUT
Appendix 1 Applicable Codes and Standards for offshore facilities

Appendix 2 Assessment of utilization of a temporary safety refuge
Appendix 3 Orientation study for LP flare (ELF Exploration ANGOLA, COB P1)
GE2R
-év4.F
-A
/NG
GE P352 1 6.1 0
OFFSHORE SAFETY - GENERAL 1
1. FOREWORD
Offshore operation is very similar to onshore operation. The essential difference lies
in the problems in connection with the marine environment, relative isolation and
special working conditions. Isolation of offshore facilities in a hazardous and hostile
environment leads to the installation of more elaborate and numerous safety
requirements compared to onshore facilities and to the installation of life saving and
evacuation facilities. Abandoning a platform, even under fair meteorological
conditions is a hazardous and even critical operation.
The purpose of this document is to define the major options and parameters for the
purposes of safety of life and of property to be taken into account at project design
stage. It may be divided into two parts:
facilities and their integration in environment / layout
platforms themselves.
This document should be considered as an aid for decision taking but it does not
pretend to solve all specific problems attached to each unit in the petroleum industry.
It should be noted that the final facilities are the result of optimized combination of
various conflicting issues and that they may never reach perfection from the safety
point of view. But it is necessary that the Contractor and the Owner should be
notified of the hazards to be taken into account in the design.
2. FACILITIES - REMINDER
Their purpose is field development and they are defined by process criteria. They may
include the following:
Producing wells, injection wells,
Oil/gas separation units,
Gas processing units,
Gas compression units,
Water injection,
Utilities (fresh water, chlorination, compressed air, etc.),
Power production,
Technical buildings (substation, control room, offices, etc.),
Living quarters,
Flare, vents,
Storage facilities (immersed or floating),
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Export facilities (oil pipeline, gas pipeline),

Loading facilities,
Logistics (handling, transfer of materials and personnel, marine and air resources,
etc.)
The layout of these facilities vary as follows according to the costs directly attached to
water depth, location:
Single platform for high depth sea (such as in the North Sea),
Multiple platforms joined by bridges for low depth sea (such as in the Gulf).
The various types of platforms are the following:

Fixed, anchored at sea bottom (metal jacket or concrete structure),
Jack-up type, such as TPG 500,
Semisubmersible platform (mobile),
Loading buoy.
Remark:
Production/processing facilities may be grouped on a floating support (barge, converted

tanker, etc.).
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3. FACILITIES - INTEGRATION IN ENVIRONMENT - LAYOUT
3.1 INTEGRATION IN ENVIRONMENT
3.1.1 ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA
The following list of environmental criteria is not restrictive:

Seismicity,
Meteorological characteristics:
Temperature,
Hygrometry,
Wind conditions (distribution over 360 °, force > 2 m/s and < 2 m/s) (Note 1),
Snow, frost,
Fog,
Sand,
Lightning,
Cyclone, tornado,
Marine characteristics
Sea water depth,
Water temperature,
Range of tides,
Range, direction of swell (Note 2),
Marine current force, direction (Note 2),
Salinity,
Fauna, flora (if applicable),
Traffic,
Air traffic,
Political hazards (war, attack, etc.)
Examination of these criteria, after establishing the order of precedence, is an essential

element in the efforts to reach an acceptable overall safety level in facilities.
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Notes:
1. Wind direction is indicated towards the observer (receiving wind)
2. Marine Current is indicated from the observer
Outside the criteria necessary for the calculation of mechanical strength of facilities,
environmental criteria, atmospheric conditions in particular, condition the design of
platforms, their respective position, their layout, and evacuation conditions, which are a
major issue.
3.1.2 ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS AND EVACUATION
The decision to evacuate the platform results from the comparison between two
hazards:
Maintaining personnel aboard under the conditions created by the hazardous
situation,
Evacuation of personnel under current atmospheric conditions.
Assessment of risks attached to evacuation under adverse atmospheric conditions

leads to determine:
the location, quantity and characteristics of resources involved in evacuation (boats,
inflatable life rafts and rescue boats if necessary),
fire resistance characteristics (tightness, stability) required for living quarters or
technical facilities which are considered as withdrawal places (called T.R.,
Temporary Refuge, in the North Sea), while awaiting more favorable atmospheric
conditions.
In the last case, specific studies will be necessary as a function of residence time
(Note 1) and will deal with the following issues:
Stability of structures and partitions in case of fire,
Preservation of means of communication,
Resources to be implemented to fight confinement (heating/cooling/Food
rations/drinks).
Maintaining breathable air (Note 2).
Note 1 : Time not specified by regulations. It is defined with the Client, and, if
necessary, with Authorities, as a function of safety studies.
Note 2 : Reference :
study carried out within the scope of N'KOSSA project - NKP barge
(Appendix 1).
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3.1.3 ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS AND INCIDENT SPREAD
In the case of facilities integrated on a single platform, the main spread agent in case
of incident is wind. Consequently, one will endeavour to have crossing wind (1) or
prevailing wind blowing from safe areas to hazardous areas (2).
FLARE
PW (1)
D P U LQ PW (2)
PW (1)
Key:
D Drilling (wellhead, etc.)

P Processing (Production)
U Utilities
LQ Living quarters
PW Prevailing wind
In the case of a complex including several platforms, the sea environment involves
two constraints of prime importance: the marine currents and the wave regime.
Actually, incident spread depends on the ability to drift of a oil slick, either ignited or
not, and on whether this slick may be held up/recovered.
In case of slick drift, the wind also is a major factor, as well as currents, to
determine the direction of this drift (combination of two directions).
Regarding the wave regime, it allows slick holdup and recovery operations or not
(limit: according to the type of equipment used, wave height, swell and frequency of
recurrence).
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3.1.4 INTERFERENCE WITH MARITIME TRAFFIC
Except in the North Sea where a safety area is preserved around platforms
(approximately 1/4 sea mile) in which navigation is prohibited and where means are
provided to control compliance with this law, most fields are not protected by any
regulations.
However, it is still necessary to study the hazard involved by damaged ships or ships
which cannot be manoeuvred, in particular when the facilities are in the vicinity of heavy
traffic shipping lanes or of loading buoys.
To minimize these hazards, the platform should expose, as far as possible, its smallest
surface on the wind, the swell and the fair current.
If a fishing area is present in the vicinity of facilities, experience has demonstrated that it
is very problematical to preserve easily removable equipment or fuel on unmanned
platforms, due to theft problems.
3.1.5 EXTERNAL SAFETY SERVICES
As early as at the outset of the project, it is recommended to obtain from the Owner
information on its philosophy regarding the duties and organization of its tender fleet.
The permanent presence of boats equipped for fire fighting allows:

fire fighting systems to be somewhat limited on the platform,
evacuation to be carried out under acceptable safety conditions.
3.2 LAYOUT
3.2.1 GENERAL
Considering the hazards specific to facilities in oil industry, compliance with essential
safety principles must be a permanent concern:
Grouping of all equipment items involving equivalent hazard levels in a same
geographical area.
Location of each area in relation to others so that any hazardous area should be
located downwind any less hazardous area.
Concrete partitions between these areas, if possible while preserving suitable
natural ventilation.
Gas sources located distant from ignition sources.
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API RP2G classifies equipment into six sets corresponding to six geographical
areas for installation which may be classified into three groups corresponding to of
hazard levels. This classification is indicated in table 1 below.
Besides, table 2 mentions compatibility criteria among the various types of sets.
TABLE 1
HAZARD
GR.1 GR.2 GR.3
GROUPS
Sets of facilities TYPE 1 TYPE 2 TYPE 3 (1) TYPE 4 TYPE 5 TYPE 6
Well heads Hydrocarbon Petroleum Hydrocarbon Rotary machinery Living quarters
(drilling and/or production and product storage production and and utilities
production) processing facilities processing
equipment with equipment with
neither direct heating
combustion
machines nor
burners
Main facilities Well head Separators Liquid or Exchan- Gaseous or Living
Chokes Sump liquefied gers and liquefied quarters
and equipment hydrocarbon hydrocar- hydrocarbon Utilities area
manifolds (atmos- tanks bon compressors Control room
Headers pheric or heaters Liquid or Switch board
pressu- with direct liquefied room
rized) heating hydrocarbon Any
Pig traps Flares A pumps equipment
Exhangers handling no
and heaters hydrocarbon
heated by driven by
heat carrier Power electric motor
fluid generators Water
Hydrocarbon actuated by treatment
metering heat engine and/or water
equipment Any injection unit
Liquid B equipment
hydrocar- item handling
bon tanks no hydrocar-
(less than bons driven by
15 m 3) heat engine
(1) Three types :

inside the platform leg
onshore
storage vessels moored on the field (converted tankers).
TABLE 2
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COMPATIBILITY CRITERIA
SETS OF TYPE 1 TYPE 2 TYPE 3 TYPE 4 TYPE 5A TYPE 5B TYPE 6

FACILITIES
COMPATIBLE COMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE
TYPE 1
COMPATIBLE COMPATIBLE COMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE COMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE
TYPE 2
INCOMPATIBLE COMPATIBLE COMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE
TYPE 3
INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE COMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE COMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE
TYPE 4
INCOMPATIBLE COMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE COMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE
TYPE 5A
INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE COMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE COMPATIBLE COMPATIBLE
TYPE 5B
INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE INCOMPATIBLE COMPATIBLE COMPATIBLE
TYPE 6
GE P352 1 6.1 0
3.2.2 METHODOLOGY
The ideal solution from the safety point of view would be to group facilities involving an
equivalent hazard level on a separate platform. Thus, the facilities would form a group of
platforms connected by bridges the length of which would depend on safety distances
required according to the results of a quantitative risk analysis.
This solution is not realistic since installation costs incurred, for instance, as a function
of the sea water depth, would be excessive.
On the basis of these cost requirements, intermediate solutions will be adopted by the
preliminary project designer who will determine the optimum number of supports.
Then, safety requirements must be taken into account to adjust the respective position
of platforms and/or of facilities borne by platforms.
For this purpose, a number of approved criteria, based on elementary principles

common to most offshore oil well sites, will be considered.
3.2.2.1 Elementary principles
a. Facilities
All the sets indicated in table 1 form three areas, or dissociable parts.
Area 1 - Abbreviation Z.P. (Well Area)
Type 1 set is mainly represented by drilling (including ancillary facilities) and/or
well heads.
Derrick forming an obstacle to airplane navigation
Area widely open for active protection through external means.
Area 2 - Abbreviation Z.T. (Process Area)
Represented by sets 2, 4 and 5A, oil and gas processing units.
Obstacles: cranes, turbine stacks.
The flare, either permanent or not, represents the most likely potential ignition point.
It is an obstacle to airplane and maritime navigation (isolated structure).
Area 3 - Abbreviation U.Q. (Utility, Living Quarters)
Represented by sets 5B and 6. Utilities and living quarters.

This area usually includes the helideck at the top.
In case of incident which cannot be controlled, living quarters are used as

refuge awaiting evacuation and/or external aid.
All functional areas above may be installed on separate or common supports.
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b. Environment
Meteorological and marine characteristics, mainly the wind conditions, i.e. direction
and velocity (V < 2 m/s or = V > 2 m/s), direction of the fair current and of swell.
c. Ignition/spread
The location of hot points should be upwind facilities involving a flammable gas
and/or liquid release hazard (see section 3.1.3.). A position at right angle in relation
to the facilities is recommended for the flare.
However, facilities with a perpendicular position to prevailing wind is acceptable.
d. Evacuation
Prevailing wind and fair current should be taken into account for the location of
evacuation facilities with a view to remove boats as far as possible from hazardous
facilities (well area in particular).
Considering that boats are very sensitive to wind action, this last criterion will take
precedence over current in most cases.
Motor boat located with stem towards the open sea, at right angle with the platform
or in an angle of the platform.
e. Collision
Wind and swell are the main factors concerning collision hazard in case of
presence of ships which cannot manoeuvre or of ships dragging their anchors.
In order to minimize this hazard, facilities should present a minimum surface to the
prevailing wind, and the same rule is applicable to ships which come alongside to
serve facilities.
f. Air service
As a rule, helicopters land or take off into the wind. Cross-wind landing is
possible, but in this case, the load and wind velocity limit access to the
helideck.
The angle of the approach (usually 210 °) should be free of any obstacle higher
than helideck level over a 1 km radius.
Obstacles which are usually met are:
flares, ignited or not,
turbine and heat engine exhaust (turbulence and lift reduction),
radio masts, drilling derricks, cranes (boom excluded, in the opposite case
procedures are implemented during helicopter motions).
Such basic data should be completed by requirements set out in local

regulations governing civil aviation.
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g. Drilling equipment approach
It concerns optimization of the well area position.

Two types of drilling or well servicing equipment should be considered:
Drilling boat , semisubmersible platform,
Jack-up platform.
The first type (floating support) should never be perpendicular to the swell and to
prevailing wind.
For the second type of equipment, the approach and departure of the equipment
item will take place when the sea is calm and preferably with cross wind .
3.2.2.2 Analysis of the layouts
Each layout project will be submitted to examination of the above mentioned safety
principles.
The examination of each principle will assess safety issues as a function of

environmental constraints in terms of:
Positive :P
Acceptable :A
Negative :N
The most suitable layout will be that for which no negative issue will be found after
studying each criterion separately.
Note:
A study made within the scope of the COBO contract is attached for information as
Appendix 2.
Legend for the following sketches is :
U.Q. = Utilities or Living Quarters
ZT = Process area (Production)
ZP = Well area
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.
O
.
= Flare (direction of the flame)
= Lifeboat (or rafts)
H = Helideck
... = Supply boat and boat landing
= Tendering or semisubmersible
= Jack-up platform
Remarks : Areas represented may be areas on integrated platforms or on independent platforms

GE P352 1 6.1 0
1. IGNITION / SPREAD
UQ ZT ZP
ο UQ UQ
PREVAILING
WIND
ð ZT ο ο ZT
O ZP ZP
ZP ZT UQ
*
N N A
* After study of radiation and/or smoke dispersion

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2. EVACUATION
Ship drifting towards the well area and/or the flare should be prevented.
UQ ZT ZP
UQ UQ
o
PREVAILING
WIND ð ZT o o ZT
o ZP ZP
ZP ZT UQ
A P
P
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3. HELICOPTER APPROACH
UQ N
H ZT ZP
H ZP
o UQ
PREVAILING
WIND ð ZT o o ZT
o ZP
H UQ
ZP ZT
H P P
UQ
A
Free area (approach area
Obstruction area
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4. COLLISION
Supply minimum surface area exposed to wind and swell.
P
•••
UQ ZT ZP
ο
UQ ZP
ð ο ο
•
•
PREVAILING ZT ZT
•
WIND
•
ο ZP UQ
ZP ZT UQ
A
P
P
•
•••
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5. DRILLING EQUIPMENT APPROACH
a . Tender rig or semisubmersible
UQ ZT ZP
ο UQ ZP
PREVAILING
WIND ð ZT ο ο ZT
ο ZP N UQ
ZP ZT UQ
N
P
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b. Jack-up platform
UQ ZT ZP
ο UQ ZP
PREVAILING
WIND ð ZT ο ο ZT
A ο ZP P P UQ
ZP ZT UQ
GE P352 1 6.1 0
APPENDIX 1
APPLICABLE CODES & STANDARD FOR OFFSHORE FACILITIES
(later)
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APPENDIX 2
ASSESSMENT OF UTILIZATION TIME OF A TEMPORARY SAFETY REFUGE
Study carried out within the scope of N'KOSSA contract
(The master copy of this document is available in the Safety and Environmental Department)
GE P352 1 6.1 0
APPENDIX 3
ORIENTATION STUDY FOR LP FLARE
Study carried out within the scope of COB P1 contract for ELF Exploration ANGOLA
(The master copy of this document is available in the Safety and Environmental Department)

Safety and Environmental Department

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DOCUMENT GUIDE / Guide Document

Sce émetteur N° livre N° chapitre Rév.

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT Page

OFFSHORE SAFETY - GENERAL A

0 18.10.96 G. BERTRAND M. MORVAN P. LEFEBVRE

REVISIONS DU DOCUMENT / Document revisions

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT Page

3. FACILITIES - INTEGRATION IN ENVIRONMENT - LAYOUT

3.1 INTEGRATION IN ENVIRONMENT

Appendix 1 Applicable Codes and Standards for offshore facilities

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT Page

OFFSHORE SAFETY - GENERAL 1

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT Page

OFFSHORE SAFETY - GENERAL 2

Export facilities (oil pipeline, gas pipeline),

The various types of platforms are the following:

Production/processing facilities may be grouped on a floating support (barge, converted

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT Page

OFFSHORE SAFETY - GENERAL 3

3. FACILITIES - INTEGRATION IN ENVIRONMENT - LAYOUT

3.1 INTEGRATION IN ENVIRONMENT

3.1.1 ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA

The following list of environmental criteria is not restrictive:

Examination of these criteria, after establishing the order of precedence, is an essential

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT Page

OFFSHORE SAFETY - GENERAL 4

1. Wind direction is indicated towards the observer (receiving wind)

2. Marine Current is indicated from the observer

3.1.2 ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS AND EVACUATION

Assessment of risks attached to evacuation under adverse atmospheric conditions

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT Page

OFFSHORE SAFETY - GENERAL 5

3.1.3 ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS AND INCIDENT SPREAD

D Drilling (wellhead, etc.)

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT Page

OFFSHORE SAFETY - GENERAL 6

3.1.4 INTERFERENCE WITH MARITIME TRAFFIC

3.1.5 EXTERNAL SAFETY SERVICES

The permanent presence of boats equipped for fire fighting allows:

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT Page

OFFSHORE SAFETY - GENERAL 7

(1) Three types :

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT Page

OFFSHORE SAFETY - GENERAL 8

SETS OF TYPE 1 TYPE 2 TYPE 3 TYPE 4 TYPE 5A TYPE 5B TYPE 6

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT Page

OFFSHORE SAFETY - GENERAL 9

For this purpose, a number of approved criteria, based on elementary principles

3.2.2.1 Elementary principles

Represented by sets 5B and 6. Utilities and living quarters.

In case of incident which cannot be controlled, living quarters are used as

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT Page

OFFSHORE SAFETY - GENERAL 10

Such basic data should be completed by requirements set out in local

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT Page

OFFSHORE SAFETY - GENERAL 11

g. Drilling equipment approach

It concerns optimization of the well area position.

3.2.2.2 Analysis of the layouts

The examination of each principle will assess safety issues as a function of

Legend for the following sketches is :

U.Q. = Utilities or Living Quarters

ZT = Process area (Production)