Journey To Hebron – Safety, Security, Health & Environment

Canada’s greatest offshore oil assets lie 350 kilometers off its coast. It’s Newfoundland, it’s rugged, it’s powerful, and it’s where thousands of oil and gas people live as their second home. The Jeanne D’arc Basin of the Atlantic Ocean is a playground for ­sea­faring pioneers and ­courageous aviators. It houses one of the world’s largest oil platforms, known as ­Hibernia; it also boasts mega-oil projects such as Terra Nova and White Rose. Hebron is the next offshore project to come on stream with first oil expected before the end of 2017.

Hebron is a mega-oil project with heavy oil, estimated to produce more than 700 million barrels of recoverable resources. The field is located offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, 350 kilometers southeast of St. John’s, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Hebron co-venturers are several large energy companies: ExxonMobil Canada Properties (36%), Chevron Canada Limited (26.7%), Suncor Energy Inc. (22.7%), Statoil Canada (9.7%), and Nalcor Energy (4.9%). ExxonMobil Canada Properties is the Operator of the Hebron Project.The Hebron field will be developed using a standalone concrete gravity-based structure (GBS), much like its predecessor, the Hibernia gravity-base structure. The GBS will consist of a reinforced concrete structure designed to withstand sea ice, icebergs, and meteorological and oceanographic conditions. It will be designed to store approximately 1.2 million barrels of crude oil. The Bull Arm Site in Newfoundland is the primary construction site for the GBS, where the one for Hibernia had been built. With this type of mega project currently under construction, the primary concerns are safety, security, health, and the environment (SSH&E).

According to ExxonMobil’s safety standards, it is “committed to a responsible and ethical performance that protects the safety and health of employees, the people involved in its operations, its customers, and the public. As the Operator of Hebron, it is committed to conducting business in a manner that is compatible with the balanced environmental and economic needs of the communities in which it operates. This commitment requires compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, the construction of facilities that are designed and operated to a high standard, and the systematic identification and management of safety, security, health, and environmental risks.”

As stated on the hebronproject.com website, “the SSH&E considerations for the Hebron Project are extensive, thorough, and systematically implemented.” ExxonMobil explains its protocol and policies as follows:

These commitments are documented in the safety, health, environmental, product safety and security policies of the Operator. These policies are put into practice through a disciplined management framework called Operations Integrity Management System (OIMS). The OIMS framework establishes common worldwide expectations for controlling Operations Integrity risks inherent in its businesses. Operations Integrity addresses all aspects of the Hebron Project business, including security, which can impact safety, health and environmental performance.

The OIMS is a standard framework to manage Safety, Security, Health, & Environmental (SSH&E) risks to achieve consistent, reliable, and incident-free results. OIMS includes 11 elements, each with an underlying principle and a set of expectations.

• Management Leadership, Commitment, and Accountability.
• Risk Assessment and Management.
• Facilities Design and Construction.
• Information/Documentation.
• Personnel and Training.
• Operations and Maintenance.
• Management of Change.
• Third Party Services.
• Incident Investigation and Analysis.
• Community Awareness and Emergency Preparedness.
• Operations Integrity Assessment and Improvement.

The Hebron OIMS, as well as regulatory requirements, will require that numerous plans, programs, systems, and attendant processes and procedures be put in place to manage safety, security, health, and environment issues. These plans will include (but not be limited to) the following:

• Risk Management Plan (during design phase)
• Contractor SSH&E Management Plan.
• Safety Management Plan.
• Health Plan.
• Environmental Management Plan.
• Security Management Plan.
• Regulatory Compliance Plan.
• Competency Assurance System.
• Facility Integrity Management System.
• Maintenance and Reliability Program.
• Wellbore Management Plan.
• Waste Management Plan.
• Emergency Response Plan.
• Emergency Communications Plan.
• Oil Spill Response Plan.
• Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan.
• Ice Management Plans.
• Marine Incident Plan.
• Abandonment/Decommissioning Plan.

The Operator’s Policy is to the Following:

Design and maintain facilities, establish management systems, provide training and conduct operations in a manner that safeguards people and property. Respond quickly, effectively, and with care to emergencies or accidents resulting from its operations, in cooperation with industry organizations and authorized government agencies.

Comply with all applicable laws and regulations, and apply responsible standards where laws and regulations do not exist. Work with government agencies and others to develop responsible laws, regulations, and standards based on sound science and consideration of risk.

Conduct and support research to extend knowledge about the safety effects of its operations, and promptly apply significant findings and, as appropriate, share them with employees, contractors, government agencies, and others who might be affected.

Stress to all employees, contractors, and others working on its behalf their responsibility and accountability for safe performance on the job and encourage safe behavior off the job.
Undertake appropriate reviews and evaluations of its operations to measure progress and to foster compliance with this policy.

The Hebron Project team is committed to designing, building, installing, and commissioning a production facility that supports world-class SSH&E performance.

Plans for ice management, waste management, oil spill response, and contingency plans for emergency events will be developed and will build on those programs currently in place for the Grand Banks. The Operator will comply with all relevant federal and provincial legislation.

Source: “Safety, Security, Health, & Environment,” Hebron Project, http://hebronproject.com/safety,-security,-health,–environment.aspx.