Pumping Diesel

By: Brigham Forbush

Well Services Safety Standards / Field Scenario

Schlumberger Private

It is 2:00 AM, you are on a rig offshore and the client

has just ask you to get ready to pump 100 bbls of
diesel in his well at 6 o'clock in the morning.

Field Scenario / Pumping Diesel

The questions we will consider:

Schlumberger Private

- Which Well Services or OFS Standard do you refer to?

- What do you propose to do about this?
- What precautions do you take?
- Do you need an exemption?
- Night or Day? Can you pump at night or have to wait until day
time?
- Store Diesel in an open tank or in a closed tank?

Which Well Services or OFS Standard do you refer to?

Primary WS Standard to refer:

This Standard contains a wealth of knowledge about pumping diesel

and other fluids including the how and what to do.

Schlumberger Private

WS QHSE Std 30: Mixing and Pumping Combustible and

Flammable Fluids

What do you propose to do about this?

1. Gather job information using the Combustible and Flammable
Fluids Supplemental Data Sheet.
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What do you propose to do about this?

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What do you propose to do about this?

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2. Do not accept the job if the fluid is listed in section 30.7:

Unsafe fluids and conditions
The fluids in the following table are expressly prohibited from being
pumped by Well Services personnel and equipment.

Gasoline

Petroleum Naphtha

Acetone

Any flammable gas: produced gas, propane, butane, LNG,

LPG, etc.

What do you propose to do about this?

Unsafe fluids continued...
Fluids with unknown vapor pressure (VP) or flash point (FP)
Crude oil with VP greater than 4 psi (27.6 kPa)
Any other fluid with VP greater than 4 psi (27.6 kPa).

Schlumberger Private

What do you propose to do about this?

3. Determine the Well Services Fluid Flammability Rating (FFR) of
all combustible and flammable fluids and mixtures.
Schlumberger Private

What is a Fluid Flammability Rating (FFR)?

A system of classifying fluids based on their ability to ignite, as determined by this
standard. Fluids are classified as either:
LowRisk
MediumRisk
HighRisk.
ExtremeRisk.
The Fluid Flammability Rating is determined by using the vapor pressure and
flash point of the fluid.

What do you propose to do about this?

How are these classifications defined?

Medium Risk

High Risk
Extreme Risk

Definition
VP less than 2.0 psi (13.8 kPa) and FP from 100 degF (37.8
degC) to 200 degF (93.3 degC)
.
VP less than 2.0 psi (13.8 kPa) and FP less than 100 degF
(37.8 degC) or,
VP from 2.0 psi (13.8 kPa) to 3.0 psi (20.7 kPa) and FP greater
than 100 degF (37.8 degC)
.
VP from 2.0 psi (13.8 kPa) to 3.0 psi (20.7 kPa) and FP less
than 100 degF (37.8 degC)
.
VP from 3 psi (20.7 kPa) to 4 psi (27.6kPa).

Schlumberger Private

Rating
Low Risk

What do you propose to do about this?

A visual chart for
the FFR
Schlumberger Private

What do you propose to do about this?

We must find out both the vapor pressure (VP) and the flash point
(FP) to establish the Well Services FFR.

The VP and FP of any manufactured or refined fluid, such as

diesel, can be taken or determined from the MSDS supplied
with the fluid.

Schlumberger Private

How can we find out this information?

What do you propose to do about this?

Also, there is a chart in WS Standard 30.

Note: All the VP values in this table is based on the measurement at the
temperature at 25 degC. For any ambient temperature above 25 degC, the VP
must be measured.

Schlumberger Private

Name Diesel
Vapor Pressure Nil
Flash Point:
degF 100 to 130
degC 38 54
Well Services FFR
Low
Specific Gravity <1.0

What do you propose to do about this?

Should we store diesel in an open tank or in a closed tank? Points to
conseder:
If it is in a open tank there is a greatly increased chance for
ignition.

In a closed tank, will the vapour pressure pose a threat?

Therefore a closed tank would be the safest storage option.

Schlumberger Private

What do you propose to do about this?

4. Answer the questions on the Operating hazard questionnaire.
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We will be able to establish the operating hazard rating (OHR) by answering these
questions as either, YES or NO.
1.Is the area in which the fluids will be mixed and pumped well ventilated?
2.Is water or diesel available to pressure test and flush all lines?
3.Are Well Services personnel the only personnel involved in the mixing and
pumping operation, including transferring, heating, etc?
4.Is it clear there will be no simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) being performed in
the area during the entire mixing and pumping operation?
5.Will the job be performed during daylight hours, or with adequate lighting
to provide good visibility, including mixing and pumping?

What do you propose to do about this?

The job will have to be

delayed slightly so that we
are pumping during
daylight hours.

Schlumberger Private

5. Determine the
Flammability Risk Code

What do you propose to do about this?

6. Take all reasonable steps to reduce the risk to a lower level.
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This will be specific to

your situation and
environment.
As an Example: in
Williston, most locations
have a flare which must
obviously be avoided.

What do you propose to do about this?

7. Document the Flammability Risk Code in QUEST, based on
the level of risk identified.

Use Management of Change (MoC) when FRC is Green, Yellow, Red or

DeepRed and the requirements in this standard is in compliance.

Use an exemption when the FFR is Extreme Risk or when you cannot comply
with this standard or another standard.

In this scenario we would not need to get an exemption!

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QUEST is used to document all mixing and pumping of combustible or

flammable fluids.

Learning Objectives
Actions taken for a Green Risk Code
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What precautions do you take?

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In all operations involving the mixing and pumping of flammable and

combustible fluids there is a heightened risk of fire. Precautions must
be taken to ensure that the required fire-fighting equipment is
available, working and that personnel are trained to use it.

What precautions do you take?

General precautions to take:
Equipment should be place in such a position to minimize the flow of the
flammable fluid past any ignition sources during the operations.

Keep all non-involved personnel stationed at the muster point or safe area.

Except for the persons operating the equipment, no person is permitted to be

in the restricted access area during mixing and pumping of flammable fluid.

Stop all engines and other ignition sources that are not necessary for the
pumping operation.

Do not place any flammable fluids in pump unit displacement tanks.

Clear communication is required in case of emergency.

Schlumberger Private

What precautions do you take?

Our scenario take place offshore. Any Offshore operations will be
supported by the rigs or vessels fire-fighting equipment.

The fire fighting capability must be determined

The equipment must be confirmed to be in a working order.

The number of trained personnel to operate the fire-fighting equipment is

sufficient.

The plan must be documented and attached to the QUEST Management of

Change (MoC) document.

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Prior to loading any flammable or combustible material onto any vessel that
the operation shall be performed from: