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Enhancing Process Safety in Upstream Operations

Process safety is of paramount importance in upstream oil and gas activities where the prevention of unplanned and uncontrolled loss of containment events is crucial. Originally published in 2011 and now in its third edition, IOGP Report 456 – Process Safety – Recommended Practice on Key Performance Indicators (KPI) provides valuable guidance to upstream companies on the use of Key Performance Indicators to effectively manage process safety.

Key updates and enhancements in 3rd Edition.

Aligning with API RP 754: the new edition builds upon the framework and definitions outlined in API Recommended Practice (RP) 754, which focuses on process safety indicators in the refining and petrochemical industries. It incorporates changes from the latest edition of API RP 754 (August 2021). This alignment ensures consistency and facilitates a unified approach to process safety across different sectors of the industry.

Updated Definitions: To enhance clarity and precision, the report introduces new and updated definitions for various terms. These include primary and secondary containment, direct cost, indoor release, unsafe location, and well operations. By providing clear definitions, the report helps standardize the understanding and application of these terms within the industry.

Revised Hazard Classification: Recognizing the distinct nature of corrosive loss of primary containments (LOPCs) compared to flammables and toxics, the material hazard classification for corrosive agents has been modified. This modification ensures that the classification aligns better with the other hazard classes, taking into account the localized effects of corrosive events.

Improved Consistency: IOGP 456 places a greater emphasis on maintaining consistency with the language used in API RP 754. By aligning the terminology and framework, the report enables easier adoption of process safety practices and indicators, facilitating effective communication and collaboration between organizations.

Expansion of Process Safety Event Classification: The current edition updates and expands the list of process safety event (PSE) tier classification examples. These examples, adapted for upstream operations from API RP 754 and reporting from IOGP Member Companies, provide practical illustrations of various PSEs and their classification. They offer valuable insights into event categorization, enabling organizations to better understand and report process safety events consistently.

Enhanced Well Operations Classification: IOGP 456 provides greater clarity on the classification of process safety events related to well operations. Additionally, it introduces a classification system for Well Control Incidents (WCIs), aiding IOGP Members in reporting these events more consistently. By standardizing the classification process, the report enables accurate analysis and benchmarking of well-related process safety incidents.

Insights from the 2021 Process Safety Leading Indicators Survey: To further enrich the report, IOGP incorporates insights from the 2021 process safety leading indicators internal survey conducted among IOGP Member Companies. By drawing on the experiences and practices of industry experts, the report offers valuable perspectives on leading indicators and best practices for enhancing process safety performance.

The classifications provided in this edition will apply to recorded PSEs from 2023 onwards, helping organizations align their reporting practices with industry standards and benchmarks.

It is available to download from the IOGP Publications library.

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