OIL & GAS

(HEALTH & SAFETY IN E&P

OPERATIONS)
REGULATIONS, 1974
CH-2 RETURNS , NOTICES & RECORDS

 Annual returns on or before the 21st Feb to be

forwarded in Forms I, II, III, IV, V & VI.
 Well abandonment notice - 30 days before; on Form
VII. Send another notice 7 days after the P&A
 Notify to CIM if Well Manger is changed
 Notice of incidents (as notified in Section 20 of Mines
Act 1923) on form VIII
 Report minor or serious bodily injury incidents on Form
IX and occupational diseases on Form X
CH-3 MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION
 Appoint a competent person as Wells Manager
 A person may be appointed Manger of more than 1
fields
 Personal supervision shall be exercise by the Manger
 Appoint Safety and Welfare office for at every well/ field
with >250 persons are ordinarily employed.
 Appoint at every well or field, in writing, sufficient
number of competent persons to secure thorough
supervision of all operations and compliance of this act
and regulations.
 Whole procedure is defined in Section 17 (2) for the R&R of
supervisor including compliance with this regulation
CH-4-22 DRILLING RELATED SECTIONS
 Chapter 4 DERRICKS AND MASTS
 Chapter 5 GUYING OF DERRICKS
 Chapter 6 : DERRICKS PLATFORMS AND LADDERS
 Chapter 7: WEIGHT INDICATORS
 Chapter 8: STABBING BOARDS
 Chapter 9: SLIPS AND TONGS
 Chapter 10 CATHEADS
 Chapter 11 USE OF CHAIN ON CATHEADS
 Chapter 12 CATLINES
 Chapter 13 CROWN BLOCK, TRAVELLING BLOCK, HOOK & ELEVATOR
 Chapter 14 DRILLING LINE
 Chapter 15 ESCAPE LINES AND SAFETY SLIDES
 Chapter 16 PIPE STORAGE AND RACKING
 Chapter 17 PUMPS
 Chapter 18 DOG HOUSES
 Chapter 19 AIR OR GAS DRILLING
 Chapter 20 Well CASING
 Chapter 21 PRIME MOVERS
 Chapter 22 BLOWOUT PREVENTER REQUIREMENTS
CH-23 TRANSPORT BY PIPE LINES
 Apply on the transport of petroleum . Natural gas
transport by pipe line
 Specification for wall thickness and various conditions
 Where pipe lines are exposed, (at spans, trestles, and
bridge crossings), the pipe lines shall be reasonably
protected by distances or barricades
 Buried pipe lines shall be installed with a cover not less
than 60 cm. Where this cover provision cannot be met,
or where external loads may be excessive, the pipe line
shall be encased, bridges or designed to withstand any
anticipated external load.
CH-24 WELL HEAD TANKS (WHT)
 WHTs, before use shall be tested by water pressure for leakages.
The tanks shall also be retested after repairs.
 Filling and discharge lines to a WHT shall be fitted with valves
outside the retaining wall in addition to adjacent to the tank.
 Shall be electrically connected with the earth
 No flame type equipment shall be installed or operated within 90
m from a WHT.
 Safe access to the roof and safe walk-ways or platforms shall be
provided. In case of ladder, it should be with cage, ring or
equivalent protection
 The roof of tanks in service shall be externally inspected in 6
months and results recorded in a book

 This chapter further describes complete requirements for the

tank entry
CH-25 RETAINING WALLS RW)
 Each WHT / group shall be surrounded by a RW of a net
capacity not less than the total capacity of the tank or tanks
 RW shall be maintained in good condition and the area
encompassed by it shall be graded to one corner and be kept
free from grass weeds and other extraneous combustible
material.
 At least one means of safe access shall be provided over RW
to the GL within the walled area.
 If RW is over 1m provide one emergency exit . It shall be a
stairway, walkway, fixed ladder or ramp.
CH-26 SOUR GAS AND CRUDE
 Connect well producing sour gas to a flare stack
 Where a PRV, rupture disk or burst plate is installed on a
separator, dehydrator or other pressure vessel which receives
production from a sour gas well, they shall be connected to
the flare stack. In case of oil connect to an open tank
 The flare stacks shall be atleast 12 m high and suitable guard
to prevent the wind from extinguishing the flame - ensure
system for continuous ignition of any flare.
 At no working place concentration of H2S shall be allowed to
exceed a limit of 20 ppm
 Measure H2s once in 24 hours and recorded in a book.
CH-26 SOUR GAS AND CRUDE
 If H2S exceed 20 PPM, all persons shall be withdrawn
and the place fenced
 No person shall be readmitted until that working place
has been inspected by the manager
 Reports of withdrawal and re-admittance shall be recorded
 All person shall wear suitable BAs during corrective actions.
 Follow an emergency procedure approved by CIM in
the event of an un-controlled emission of oil or gas.
 During all E/D drillings in sour areas sufficient number
of suitable BAs shall be available
 Persons dipping tanks or entering areas where H2S
may present shall be accompanied by a person.
 No person shall go to a cellar, pump or valve box of or
connected to a H2S well unless he is using BA.
CH-27 HEATERS AND TREATERS
 Each H/T shall be located at a site not less than 90 meters
horizontally cross-wind from the well-head.
 Sampling connections, if provided shall be at a safe and
convenient place and on the side opposite to the fire box.
 Any oil present in the fuel gas shall be removed
 Fuel valve shall be located at one side of the fire box and a
safe distance to prevent burns in case of flash back.
 H/T to be lighted by a torch or pilot light.
 Before lighting or relighting, fire box shall be purged
 No work repair until all sections are bled off gas and fluids.
 Air intakes of the burners shall be fitted with flame arresters.
CH-28 GAS COMPRESSORS
 All building housing G/C shall be constructed of non-combustible
materials, ventilated
 Provide min of 2 clear exits for each operating floor of a compressor.
 Use flameproof. fixtures and wiring
 Suction stream to a compressor shall be protected against
introduction of entrained liquids into the compressor until by
provision of scrubbers. The scrubbers shall be provided with
efficient liquid removal facilities and a gauge glass.
 Provision for the cut off the gas supply to the compressor.
 Provisions b/d the gas in the compressor and the piping to a safe
 Compressor prime mover shall be provided with an over speed
protection device.
 Pressure relief or other suitable protection devices of sufficient
capacity shall be installed and maintained on every gas compressor
and on pipeline within the compressor building.
 The relieving devices shall be vented to a safe location
 All gas piping shall be tested after installation
 All emergency valves and controls shall be identified by
conspicuous signs.
CH-29 SEPARATORS
 Shall be clearly marked with max working pressure and shall be
anchored to a concrete foundation.
 Each separator shall be equipped with at least one safety valve set
not to exceed the maximum working pressure and if also equipped
with burst heads, these shall be set at pressure not to exceed 1.5
times the max working pressure. Outlets for both relief devices shall
extend at least 2.5 meters above working floor level.
 Each separator shall be provided with a pressure gauge and a
clearly visible liquid level gauge, marked with mac allowable fluid
level, and a dump valve which if being automatic shall also be
supplemented with one of manual type.
 Each separator shall be provided with such arrangement that the
inflow can be bye-passed immediately when so required.
 In case the separated gas is being discharged to a flare stack, a
competent person shall always be in attendance at the separator
unless the separator is full automated.
CH-30 SEPARATORS
 Flare pits and stacks shall be located atleast 90 m horizontally cross-
wind or down-wind from the process units, tanks or any source of
HC
 No person shall enter a flare pit to light the flare
 Reliable and safe means in a gas free area on upwind side shall be
provided for remote ignition or re-ignition of flare pits and stacks.
 No person shall, without proper equipment, enter any area where
flare has become accidentally extinguished until tests establish that
the area is free of HC.
 All sources of ignition in the flare pit and surrounding areas shall be
extinguished while any vessel is being drained to the flare pit unless
this system is designed and constructed to prevent flash back.
 Flare stacks shall in no be 9 m high from the surrounding
topography and shall be properly supported.
 Blow lines to flare necks shall be securely anchored at the end and
at all points
 Suitable and adequate means shall be provided to continuously
separate liquids from the inflammable gas before being discharged
to the flare stack.
CH 31-35 Relates to Well Works
 CHAPTER 31 - WELL STIMULATION
 CHAPTER 32 – SWABBING
 CHAPTER 33 - GUN PERFORATION
 CHAPTER 34 - DRILL STEM TESTING
 CHAPTER 35 - OFFSHORE OPERATIONS
CH-36 PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FIRES
 All area within a radius of 90 meters of a well or WHT etc shall
be designated as hazardous areas by displaying sufficient
number of warning notices.
 No person shall carry any match, smoking apparatus or any
apparatus except authorized in ptw.
 No electric light bulbs shall be changed or electric fittings altered
in a hazardous area while the current is on.
 Trailing cables shall not be used within a hazardous area unless
they are of armored type
 Suitable and accurate instruments to measure toxic gas or
vapour.
 All electrical equipment, fittings, hand lamp or torch installed
or operated within a radius of 15 meters of haz zone shall be
intrinsically safe
CH-36 PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FIRES
 All plant and machinery including steel derrick and masts
shall be effectively earthed.
 No person shall make naked light or fire or weld in hazardous
area except under a valid permit
 Pyrophoric iron sulphide shall be kept damp with water until
buried or otherwise made harmless.
 Disposal of waste inflammable liquids shall be done only by
burning in flare pits and of inflammable gases or vapour by
burning in flare stacks.
 Oily rags, cotton waste and other refuse shall be removed out
of hazardous area and destroyed.
CH-37 FIRE FIGHTING AND EQUIPMENT
 In every area in which operations for, or subsidiary to the winning of oil or
gas are carried on, there shall be provided at suitable points and on adequate
scale fire extinguishers of proper type and adequate refills for such
appliances shall be maintained in stock. The decision of the Chief Inspector
shall be final on any question arising out of this regulation.
 353. For the purpose of dealing with fire, sufficient number of hydrants with
fog nozzles and adequate lengths of hose pipes shall be provided for each
vulnerable point at a distance of not less than 90 meters. The hydrants shall
be connected to a source which can deliver at least 5000 liters of water per
minute at 7 kg/sq cm nozzle pressure and so maintain during whole time the
fire fighting operations are being conducted.
 A lay out diagram of fire fighting services shall be prominently displayed.
 Each and every equipment installed or maintained in compliance with
regulations 350, 352, and 353 shall be tested or examined at least once in
every week and also when an inspector so requires.
CH-36 PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FIRES
 All plant and machinery including steel derrick and masts
shall be effectively earthed.
 No person shall make naked light or fire or weld in hazardous
area except under a valid permit
 Pyrophoric iron sulphide shall be kept damp with water until
buried or otherwise made harmless.
 Disposal of waste inflammable liquids shall be done only by
burning in flare pits and of inflammable gases or vapour by
burning in flare stacks.
 Oily rags, cotton waste and other refuse shall be removed out
of hazardous area and destroyed.
CH-37 FIRE FIGHTING AND EQUIPMENT

 Each and every equipment shall be tested or

examined at least once in every week and also
when an inspector so requires.
 Sufficient number of persons trained in the use of
Fire Fighting equipment provided
 Fire fighting drills shall be carried out at least once
a week.
 Fire blanket shall always be kept readily available
for use of persons affected by fire.
CH-37 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

 No person shall be allowed

 to work without safety hat where risk of head injury exists
 to handle hazardous chemical liquids, powders or vapours
unless he is provided with and wearing a splash-proof safety
goggles, rubber apron, mask gloves and suitable footwear.
 where a danger of injury to the eye from flying or falling particles
or objects exists, unless he is provided with and wearing an
impact type safety goggles.
 to perform electric or acetylene gas cutting or welding or to be
present near such operations unless he is provided with and
wearing a suitably shaded safety goggles.
 handle rough or moving surface unless he is provided with and
wearing suitable hand gloves.
 work at any place where there is a reasonable danger of foot
injury, unless he is provided with and wearing suitable safety
shoes.
 while wearing neckties, gauntlet type gloves and baggy, loose or
ragged clothing shall be allowed to work or be present around
moving machinery.
CH-38 BREATHING APPARATUS
 No person shall be allowed to enter any place where toxic
vapours are present or deficiency of O2 unless he is using
suitable BAs.
 If there is risk that atmosphere is likely to become toxic,
sufficient number of BA shall be always available – also
adequately trained.
 Canister and filter type masks shall be used as BAs only in
that toxic atmosphere and shall not be used in a place where
the O2 is less than 17 %.
 Do not use fresh air hose mask unless he is wearing a safety
belt with a life line and another person is appointed with no
other duties except to be in constant communication
 The air being supplied to the mask whether from atmosphere,
storage cylinder or compressor shall be tested to be free of
toxic vapours.
 No person, wearing a SCBA, shall enter a toxic atmosphere
unless he is accompanied by another person wearing a BA.
CH-39 SAFETY BELTS
 Person working 4 m or more AGL, shall wear a safety belt to a
properly secured tail rope of length not more than 2 m. Seat
belt not required if adequate railings and toe boards.
 Persons entering confined spaces shall wear a safety belt
attached to a tail rope tender by another person
 Each safety belt, its rope and the object to which the safety
belt rope is secured shall be strong enough to withstand
strain of 100 kg dropping from distance of two meters.
 The safety belts shall be of harness type kept in good
condition at all times.
CH- 40 MISCELLANEOUS
 Every valve on a pipeline which is not of rising spindle type shall
have an indicator to show clearly whether it is open or closed.
 Before a well is brought in, a well-head assembly of adequate rating
shall be installed.
 If a well is to be shut-in and the BHM is in excess of the max safe
operating pressure, a gauge shall be installed at the WHA and shall
be in observation till the shut-in pressure well stabilizes.
 Pipelines for different fluids or having different pressures shall be
differently colored at the valves .
 Provide adequate illumination at all times.
 Lamps shall be equipped with reflectors or shields to minimize glare.
 Substantially constructed and securely fastened wire cages or
equivalent shall be installed on lamp fixture.
 All lamp fixtures, 2 m or more above the level of a floor shall be
provided with safety lines
CH- 40 MISCELLANEOUS
 Every cellar and every stairway, and ladder to a cellar shall be
substantially constructed and shall be kept in a safe condition.
 Where persons enter cellar, entry and exits shall be kept
unobstructed, clean and free from water, oil and drilling fluids.
 The cellar on every well shall be provided with exits as follows-
 (a) The exit from a cellar > 3m deep shall be by means of a stairway,
ramps, or combination of both, The exit shall be at least 1 m wide and
shall have a vertical clearance of 2 m ;
 (b) The exit from a cellar that is < 3m , may be by means of a fixed
ladder. ladder shall extend to 0.5 m above the top of the cellar;
 (c) The slope of an exit ramp shall not exceed twenty degrees
 (d) The width of an exit ladder shall be at least 30 cm in the clear.
 No well shall be allowed to remain unplaced after such well is no
longer required for the purpose it was drilled or converted.
 A well shall be so abandoned that all pressure zone of oil, gas and water
are isolated and no pressure exits at the well-head.
 A steel plate shall be welded over the end of the surface casing in order
to completely close off the end.
CH- 40 MISCELLANEOUS
 Any place in or about an excavation which is dangerous shall
be kept properly fenced.
 Every fly-wheel and all exposed and dangerous parts of
machinery, shall be kept fenced.
 Guards shall be provided-
 for dangerous parts of any machinery;
 for all drive sprockets and chains, the guards being sufficiently
strong to withstand the shock of breaking chains; and
 Under the lower portion of the main drive chain, the guard being
sufficiently close to reduced flapping.
 The guards shall be maintained in portion except when it is
necessary to remove them for the purpose of maintenance
 All electrical conductors which may be a source of danger
shall be efficiently guarded.
CH- 40 MISCELLANEOUS
 Where it is necessary to prevent danger to any
person, every WHT and mud or water reservoir tank
shall be securely fenced.
 Person handling radioactive materials shall be
provided a dosimeter during such handling
operations
 Record of the radiation dose to be maintained.
 Vessels used to contain high pressure liquids or
gases shall have recorded on them the date of
expiry
CH- 40 MISCELLANEOUS
 No person in a state of intoxication shall be
employed
 CIM may by an order in writing, relax or after the
provision of any regulation for any well or class of
wells, subject to any specified conditions. If he is
satisfied the technical difficulties exist in
compliance with such regulation:
 Provided that by a like order he may revoke such relaxation
and such order shall be final.
 The Oil Fields Regulations, 1950, are hereby
repeated.