Health and Safety at Work (Petroleum Exploration and Extraction) Regulations 2016

  • This version contains corrections to regulations 39(b), 40(3) and 48(1) under section 25(1)(j)(i), (ii) and (iv) of the Legislation Act 2012.

Schedule 8 Information required in notice of well operations

rr 66(3)(a), 67(3)(a)

1

The name and address of the permit operator who manages or controls the well.

2

The name of the installation from which the well operation is to be carried out, and the name and address of the permit operator or the drilling contractor who manages or controls that installation.

3

The particulars of the fluids to be used to control the pressure of the well.

4

The particulars of any plant that is not described in the current safety case for the installation and that is to be used in connection with the well operation.

5

For an onshore non-production installation, a description, with scale diagrams, of—

(a)

the layout and configuration of its plant; and

(b)

any designated hazard areas.

6

The particulars of the type of well, its number, and the name of any field development of which it may be part.

7

A description of the well operation and a programme of work that includes—

(a)

the date on which each well operation is expected to commence and finish; and

(b)

the intended operational state of the well at the end of each well operation.

8

A description of—

(a)

any activities on or in connection with an installation during the well operation that may involve any major accident hazards; and

(b)

any major accident hazards; and

(c)

any control measures that are not described in the current safety case for the installation or, if applicable, the notice of combined operations that have been or will be taken to reduce the risks associated with any major accident hazards identified under paragraph (b).

9

For a well that is to be drilled,—

(a)

the particulars, with suitable diagrams, of—

(i)

the location of the top of the well; and

(ii)

the directional path of the well bore; and

(iii)

its terminal depth and location; and

(iv)

its position and that of nearby wells, relative to each other; and

(b)

the particulars of the geological strata and formations, and of fluids within the geological strata and formations, through which the well may pass, and of any major accident hazards that they may contain; and

(c)

the methodology for effectively monitoring the direction of the well bore and for minimising the likelihood and effects of intersecting nearby wells; and

(d)

a description of the design of the well, including—

(i)

any standards that have been applied; and

(ii)

the safe limits on its safe operation and use; and

(e)

verification by an independent and competent person (as part of the well examination scheme) of the well design and procedures or of any material change to the well design or procedures.

10

For an existing well,—

(a)

a diagram of the well; and

(b)

a summary of earlier operations in relation to it; and

(c)

the purposes for which it has been used; and

(d)

its current operational state; and

(e)

its state of repair; and

(f)

the physical conditions within it; and

(g)

its production capacity.

11

For a well that is to be suspended,—

(a)

the anticipated period for which suspension is required; and

(b)

the method of suspension; and

(c)

the details of any standards that have been applied; and

(d)

if the well is situated offshore, whether any seabed equipment will project above the seabed and, if so, how it will be marked at the surface of the sea; and

(e)

verification by an independent and competent person (as part of the well examination scheme) of the well suspension design and procedures.

12

For a well that is to be abandoned,—

(a)

a detailed programme of abandonment that indicates—

(i)

the sequence of operations; and

(ii)

the positions of cement or bridge plugs; and

(iii)

the method of setting in place and testing the integrity of plugs; and

(iv)

the details of any intention to recover casing, tubing, surface equipment, or down-hole equipment; and

(v)

the details of any debris to be left in the hole, and the plans for surface or seabed restoration; and

(b)

the details of any standards that have been applied; and

(c)

verification by an independent and competent person (as part of the well examination scheme) of the well abandonment design and procedures.

13

A description of how the well operator and the permit operator for the installation will co-ordinate their management systems so as to reduce the risks from a major accident.

Compare: SR 2013/208 Schedule 7