OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

AND SAFETY AND

ENVIRONMENT AT THE
BOREHOLE

Benito lvarez Garca
INTRODUCTION

Crude oil is the term used for oil that is taken
straight out of the ground. It is a "fossil fuel," which
means that it formed from organic remains over a
period of millions of years. It can be refined into
various forms of energy such as gasoline, diesel
fuel and heating oil.

Crude oil is processed at refineries and transformed
into useable petroleum products. The cost of
transporting and moving crude oil to refineries, plus
processing fees, greatly affects the final cost of
petroleum products. Motor gasoline constitutes
about half of the total volume of products produced
from crude oil.

SEARCH FOR OIL AND NATURAL
GAS
Oil and natural gas resources
have been buried in the bowels
of the earth for tens of millions
of years. To locate them above
ground, engineers have to look
for a number of clues. But to
confirm the presence of a
useable deposit, they need to
dig several kilometers down; Its
search requires knowledge of
geography, geology and
geophysics. The oil usually
found in certain types of
geological structures such as
anticlines, fault traps and salt
domes, which are low in some
areas and very different
climates.


After selecting an area of interest, different types of geophysical surveys and
measurements are performed in order to obtain an accurate assessment of subsurface
formations, named:

Gravimetric Surveys. As the masses of dense rock increase the pull of gravity , gravity
meters are used to obtain information about underlying formations by measuring tiny
differences in gravity .

Seismic Surveys. Seismic surveys provide information on the general characteristics of the
subsurface structure.

Radiographic Surveys. Radiography is the use of radio waves to obtain information similar
to that provided by seismic surveys.

Stratigraphic Surveys. The stratigraphic analysis sampling cores from subsurface rock
layers to see if they contain traces of gas and oil.

Magnetometric prospection. Variations of the earth's magnetic field are measured with
magnetometers suspended an airplane , in order to locate sedimentary rock formations.

Aerial photogrammetric Surveys. Pictures taken with special cameras from airplanes
provide three-dimensional views of the earth , which are used to identify geological
formations that may have oil and natural gas.
When the surveys and measurements indicate the
presence of formations that may contain oil layers ,
exploration wells are drilled to determine whether or not
oil or gas, if any, if accessible and can be obtained in
commercially viable quantities.
CRUDE OIL

Petroleum is a naturally
occurring, yellow-to-
black liquid found in geologic
formations beneath
the Earth's surface, which is
commonly refined into various
types of fuels. It consists
of hydrocarbons of various
molecular weights and other
liquid organic compounds.
A fossil fuel, petroleum is
formed when large quantities of
dead organisms,
usually zooplankton and algae,
are buried
underneath sedimentary
rock and subjected to intense
heat and pressure.
Oil and natural gas are
found throughout the
world, both on land and
under water, as follows:

Intercontinental basin in
the western hemisphere
Middle East
Indonesia and the South
China Sea
Northern and Western
Africa
North America
Far East
North Sea

DRILLING

Percussion drilling or cable. The
oldest method of drilling is being
performed by percussion or cable.
It is a slow and limited depth
method, which is rarely used.

Directional drilling. Directional
drilling is a rotary drilling technique
that guides the drill along a curved
path as the hole gets deeper

Electroperforation and
turboperforation. Most turntables,
winches and pumps heavy drilling
equipment are usually driven by
electric motors or turbines, allowing
greater flexibility in operations and
drilling telecontrolled
Abandonment. When oil and
natural gas are no longer
productive, usually wells are
plugged with cement to prevent
leaks or flows to the surface and
protect the strata and groundwater.

Drilling methods

Rotary drilling. Rotary drilling is
the most common method used to
drill both exploration and
production, to depths exceeding
7,000 m

Rotopercutante drilling. The
rotopercutante, or by rotation and
percussion drilling is a combined
method to create a series of rapid
impact blows that allow the drill bit
and simultaneously crush earth.

Rigs. The big rigs are installed in
place of drilling towers or laptops
have articulated (folding) to
facilitate handling and installation.


WORKING CONDITIONS, HEALTH AND
SAFETY


Drilling machines are
one of the most
dangerous hand
operated pieces of
equipment. Following
safety procedures
during drilling operations
will help eliminate
accidents, loss of time,
and materials. Listed
beside are safety
procedures common to
most types of drilling
machines.


Never make any adjustments while
the machine is operating.
Never clean away chips with your
hand. Use a brush.
Keep all loose clothing away from
turning tools.
Make sure that the cutting tools are
running straight before starting the
operation.
Keep all guards in place while
operating.
Ease up on the feed as the drill
breaks through the work to avoid
damaged tools or workplaces.
Remove all chuck keys and
wrenches before operating.
Always wear eye protection while
operating any drilling machines.

Work on rigs normally requires a minimum team of 6 people: the
driller and his second, three assistants and cabrestantere under the
command of a site manager or foreman that is responsible for the
progress of the drilling work. Drillers must know the capabilities and
limitations of their equipment. Other staff working in the oil fields are
geologists , engineers, mechanics, drivers , maintenance personnel
, electricians, pipeline operators and laborers.

Drilling requires close
teamwork and a lot of
coordination to perform
tasks safely and in a timely
manner . Because of these
and other requirements, you
need to pay attention to the
mood and the health and
safety of workers . Adequate
periods of rest and
relaxation, nutritious food
and hygiene and
appropriate
accommodations, air
conditioning in hot, humid
climates , and heating in
cold climates , are essential.


The main occupational risks
related to exploration and
production operations are
the exposure to diseases by
geographic and climatic
aspects , the stress of
having to travel long
distances by water or
difficult terrain , and
personal injury . Physical
isolation of the places of
exploration and its distance
from the base camps , and
long periods of work
necessary on offshore
drilling platforms and in
remote locations on land,
may bring psychological
problems.

Some chemicals and materials that may be present in
potentially dangerous amounts, including the following:

Crude oil , natural gas and hydrogen sulfide.
Heavy metals , benzene and other contaminants present
in the oil.
Asbestos , formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid and other
chemicals and hazardous materials.
Naturally occurring radioactive materials and equipment
with radioactive sources.

SECURITY


Drilling and production are
carried out in all weathers
and in varying weather
conditions. Drilling crews
have to work in difficult
conditions, exposed to noise,
vibration, bad weather,
mechanical breakdowns and
physical hazards. There is a
risk of slipping and falling
from high places to climb the
tower and drilling. The
operation quickly couple and
uncouple drill pipe requires
training, skill and precision by
the workers to do it safely
again and again.

Among the emergency medical services of drilling rigs and
production platforms marine should include the necessary
equipment for a small dispensary or clinic, staffed by a qualified
physician who is kept on board . The type of medical service
provided is determined by the availability , range and quality
services available on earth. Evacuation may be by boat or
helicopter, or a doctor can fly to the platform or to provide
medical advice by radio doctor board when necessary.
Planning procedures and
emergency drills are
important for the safety of
workers and offshore
drilling rigs. Each type of
emergency may be
assessed (fire or
explosion , emission of
toxic or flammable gases,
or the need to abandon a
platform) and to develop
plans specific reaction.
Workers need to be
trained in the proper
actions to be carried out
in emergencies and are
fully aware of the
equipment used.

THE END
THANK YOU