Local Efforts
Around the globe, LSO assets demonstrate their commitment to safety every day, whether by achieving outstanding results or continuously improving their processes.
In North Dakota, we deployed a routine task procedure program in 2019 to streamline permitting for routine tasks relating to energy isolation. The aim was to improve control of work and risk management and create efficiencies in pre-job planning for routine and low risk activities. We developed a standardized risk assessment matrix to assess routine tasks and identify which tasks could be risk assessed in advance. By doing the risk assessment at the outset, operators no longer need a permit for each routine task they conduct and thus can focus more attention on higher risk tasks. Specifically, if the task is verified to be low risk, a worker can proceed without a permit. However, if site conditions such as weather, simultaneous operations, changes in process temperatures or pressures warrant, additional site controls, such as following standard work instructions or proceeding through the permit-to-work process, may be required. We are planning additional improvements in 2020 to increase the effectiveness of this program and streamline daily planning.
At our North Malay Basin asset, we celebrated several notable safety milestones. Between May 2017 and September 2019, production operations at the asset achieved 1 million workhours with no lost time injuries (LTIs), completing activities such as hookup and commissioning, piping installation, start up, production and planned shutdown. In September 2019, our Tok Bali Supply Base reached four years LTI free, and in November 2019 our Kemaman Supply Base reached seven years LTI free. Both supply bases provide logistics for our North Malay Basin offshore production operations and have rigorous safety programs in place, including monthly safety and health committee meetings, safety walkabouts and hazard hunts on vessels and onshore bases, and contractor engagement and onboarding. These efforts were a driving force behind the asset being awarded the LSO CEO Award for Safety Excellence as well as the Offshore Self-Regulation Excellence Gold Award from the Malaysian Department of Occupational Safety and Health.
Process Safety
The aim of our process safety program is to prevent the unplanned or uncontrolled loss of primary containment of any material, including materials that are nontoxic and nonflammable (e.g., steam, nitrogen, compressed air), that could result in an incident such as an injury, fire, explosion, toxic release or environmental impact.
We focus on understanding and identifying key points within process safety systems that could impact asset integrity and the safe and proper operation of equipment. In particular, we address:
- Design integrity: reducing risks in the design and construction of facilities
- Technical integrity: inspecting, testing and maintaining hardware and software barriers
- Operational integrity: working within operational design parameters
Our approach to process safety involves identifying, managing and mitigating risks across LSO operations. We do this by raising awareness of risks among our workforce, providing strong safety leadership and maintaining a commitment to continuously improving our process safety procedures, systems and standards.
