Kuwait Oil Company's Major Activities - Report Example

3.0 KOC major activities 3.1 Explorations The vision at KOC is to have safe exploration of oil resources in Kuwait with the aim of maximizing the benefits from oil and gas reserves through a cost effective approach. through engagement of competent staff and with sound Kuwait leadership and with most current technologies being put into use, this has put KOC as among the leading companies globally with regards to exploration oil resources and delivering high quality products that satisfies the customer. 3.1.1 KOC exploration group teams There are four group teams at KOC and there mandates are as follows A-This is the exploration operations team which is mandated with planning, supervising and conducting geophysical activities that are needed in the exploration process of hydrocarbon products both off-shore and on-shore. B- Is the team that is involved in the exploration studies that play important role of identifying the areas that could be abundant in oil and gas be it onshore or off-shore. C- This is the prospect evaluation team that 9is responsible for conducting all studies that are needed in the evaluation of the prospects as regards risk analysis and it plays the role of deciding the best location of exploration infrastructure. D- team D is in charge of discoveries promotion and its task is supervision of production tests and promotion of discoveries in field development with Conceptual Development plan (CDP)all this aiming at reduction in Exploration-to-Production cycle. 3.1.2 Challenges in exploration activities The exploration group has brought forward what can be termed as ambitious objective that is part of KOC 2030 strategy that aims at having the highest level of oil and gas production at this point. Searching for gas and oil in Jurassic and Permian has plunged the group into reservoirs that are very unconventional involving high drilling risks, traversing high temperature and pressure regions with complexities associated with cracked carbonates being encountered. High efficiencies are anticipated at KOC through ensuring that there is involvement of all disciplines and them having all the relevant information in the entire exploration cycle. This is to be achieved by putting in place new technical, logistical and management projects. The major interpretation challenges are precise mapping of the intra reservoirs in the Cretaceous formations and the associated lateral formations, and also mapping and identification of stratigraphic traps. In the oil and gas exploration the challenges are in the imaging and mapping of the Jurassic fractured reservoirs and the deep prospecting. In the Jurassic section and deeper, the deep, sour and the HTHP prevailing conditions present as very big challenge for the industry. There are a number of new technologies that are under evaluation at KOC and these are believed will be a solution some the challenges encountered. These include high resolution and wide-azimuth seismic surveys ; utilization of high channel recording in terms of seismic acquisition systems, ; measurement of reservoir property and Direct Hydrocarbon measurement, detecting fractures and mapping, predicting pore pressure, multi-component seismic surveys and also seismic surveys in full field 4D 3.1.3 Health Safety Environment The major aim of the Exploration group is ensuring that there is a sound working environment for the contractors, Group’s representatives as well as the general population and also the interests of all the neighboring groups are to be put into consideration. The exploration activities that is likely to have effect on the general population and the environment at general the penetration operation and seismic securing. The exploration groups is highly concerned with these potential effects likely to be felt by groups and environment and it is thus focused on coming up with solutions of minimizing any unfavourable consequences that are subjected to individual and the environment in general as a result of the exploration activities. There are a variety of procedures that are aimed at ensuring that there is no harm to workers, clients, population and the environment have been put in place. The methodologies subscribe to different national and KOC Health, Safety and Environmental principles. They include the staff being prepared, review of security and apparatus site visits and crisis practices where each representative is given full responsibility and familiarity. Following the arrangement made at KOC, there is advancement of the Exploration Group towards confirmation to ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management System (EMS) and OHSAS 18001:2007 for Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS). This is regarded as being a benchmark with regards to KOC’s objectives of being at the helm with regards to provincial HSE Leadership (Exploration, 2012). During the internship the accidents that had occurred previously in the company were brought into focus with the aim being to show what caused these accidents and how they could be avoided in future. There was a presentation on functionality of a fire extinguisher and a highlight on flammability limits. The interns were enlightened on the importance of MSDS in avoidance of explosion, where there was emphasis on the need of having the pressure being checked and the needle having to be green. The weight is the indicator that is used in verifying that the equipment is fully charged. PASS technique (P-Pull, A-Aim, S-Squeeze, S-Sweep) is applied before the pin can be released and the recommended distance one is to be away from the fire being extinguished was 8-10 feet. 3.2 Drilling At KOC the endeavor is being a world-class example with regards to penetrating productivity, HSE, administration of asset and in adapting to new technologies. Drilling is a very important at KOC and indeed in any company involved in oil and gas exploration. Drilling at KOC is conducted expertly and cost effectively. This is securely done and with environment friendly manner whether off-shore or on-shore. Adopting to new technologies plays a critical role in achieving the desired improvements I the operations undertaken at KOC. Here the aim is at providing drilling and services at high safety level, efficiently and cost effectively. In undertaking drilling, there is to be guarantee that the customer’s needs are met in timely and cost effectively. Drilling activities are to be performed security provision and guarantee to environment protection (Land and Offshore). New Technology as seen as being vital when it come to accomplishing these desirable within operations (Drilling , 2012). 4.0 Inspection and corrosion Corrosion is likely to be experienced on a pipe whether the pipe is in ground, it is submerged in water or in the air as long as the pipe is not adequately protected. Without proper maintenance in place, there will be deterioration of the pipeline. With corrosion there is weakening of the pipeline and this make it a great hazard in transportation of risky materials such as oil and gas. Technology is expected to be an enhancement to the structural life of the pipeline making it to last much longer if the there is proper connection of the pipeline and good attention is paid to the pipeline during its service life. While oil is being produced the safety of man need to be taken as a priority as well taking good care of the facilities and the environment at large. With the oil industry being highly sensitive , and with large volumes of hazardous products being dealt with at KOC there strict, highly technical and widely experienced Inspection and Corrosion Teams who are in charge of evaluating, inspecting and performing test on the facilities at KOC. This is by employing and facilitation of non-destructive testing edge cutting technologies. This ensures integrity of the plant and that the environment at KOC facilities is hazard free without leaks and any unfortunate incidents being put at bay. Performance of inspection at KOC is aimed at providing safer work environment, reducing down-time, ensuring plant integrity, ensuring there is optimal Predictive Maintenance procedures, increasing efficiency in production. High efficiency means increased earning, low expenditure on maintenance through early detection of defects before catastrophic failures occurrence and quality standards being implemented and energy consumption being reduced. 4.1 Non destructive testing Non-destructive Testing (NDT) is where there is utilization of what is referred to as noninvasive techniques in the determination of the status (integrity) of a material, a component or a structure or is the quantitative measure of some characteristic of a component; simply stated is inspection without harming. The technique (NDT) may be put into use when it comes to inspection of raw products such as extrusions, forgings and castings or it may be used for inspection after secondary processing including welding, heat treatment, plating and machining or it may be for In-Services Damage Inspection including Cracking “HIC, SCC & SSC” , Erosion/Wear, Corrosion, Heat Damage etc. 4.2 Inspection technologies at KOC 4.2.1 Visual testing With visual inspection the inspectors eyes are used as looking for the defects. There may be also some special tools being used for gaining access so that one can be able to have a close inspection of the area of interest on an object. Usually visual examiners have to use procedures ranging from those are very simple to those that can pass as very complex. In welding visual weld inspection is considered to be a very important method and will come first and any other method follow later. 4.2.2 Magnetic particle testing In magnetic particle testing we have two types: visible & fluorescent and wet & Dry. These are used in the inspection of ferrous materials to establish the presence of any surface or subsurface defects that could be resulting to the existence of magnetic flux leakage to be experienced outside the material. These involves use of ferrous colored particles which are 5m in diameter and these particles will stick to a surface point where there is defect making it clearly visible. The test involve utilization of the dry/wet, colored/fluorescent particles together with other range of tools that ensures high standards are achieved. 4.2.3 Liquid penetrant testing Liquid penetrant inspection (PT) may be the visible or fluorescent type and the test is used for detecting open to surface type of defects in non-porous materials. These defects usually will be brought about during the process of manufacturing, in machining process or in-service phases in part life. The test uses the capillary action of a dye that penetrates through the material and when detected on a target point it will be a clear manifestation the material has defect. 4.2.4 Infrared testing Infrared testing involves all NDT applications which are wide and effective. Some of the areas where these is involved at KOC is energy auditing, checking if there is any loose electrical connections, detection of surface flows, detection of gas leakages, energy leak detection, checking insulation, water leakage detection, detection of mechanical overload among other things. The infrared tests are expected to be standard at KOC just as in any other heavy industry and are a must in fulfillment of insurance procedures. Read More

There are a number of new technologies that are under evaluation at KOC and these are believed will be a solution some the challenges encountered. These include high resolution and wide-azimuth seismic surveys ; utilization of high channel recording in terms of seismic acquisition systems, ; measurement of reservoir property and Direct Hydrocarbon measurement, detecting fractures and mapping, predicting pore pressure, multi-component seismic surveys and also seismic surveys in full field 4D 3.1.3 Health Safety Environment The major aim of the Exploration group is ensuring that there is a sound working environment for the contractors, Group’s representatives as well as the general population and also the interests of all the neighboring groups are to be put into consideration.

The exploration activities that is likely to have effect on the general population and the environment at general the penetration operation and seismic securing. The exploration groups is highly concerned with these potential effects likely to be felt by groups and environment and it is thus focused on coming up with solutions of minimizing any unfavourable consequences that are subjected to individual and the environment in general as a result of the exploration activities. There are a variety of procedures that are aimed at ensuring that there is no harm to workers, clients, population and the environment have been put in place.

The methodologies subscribe to different national and KOC Health, Safety and Environmental principles. They include the staff being prepared, review of security and apparatus site visits and crisis practices where each representative is given full responsibility and familiarity. Following the arrangement made at KOC, there is advancement of the Exploration Group towards confirmation to ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management System (EMS) and OHSAS 18001:2007 for Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS).

This is regarded as being a benchmark with regards to KOC’s objectives of being at the helm with regards to provincial HSE Leadership (Exploration, 2012). During the internship the accidents that had occurred previously in the company were brought into focus with the aim being to show what caused these accidents and how they could be avoided in future. There was a presentation on functionality of a fire extinguisher and a highlight on flammability limits. The interns were enlightened on the importance of MSDS in avoidance of explosion, where there was emphasis on the need of having the pressure being checked and the needle having to be green.

The weight is the indicator that is used in verifying that the equipment is fully charged. PASS technique (P-Pull, A-Aim, S-Squeeze, S-Sweep) is applied before the pin can be released and the recommended distance one is to be away from the fire being extinguished was 8-10 feet. 3.2 Drilling At KOC the endeavor is being a world-class example with regards to penetrating productivity, HSE, administration of asset and in adapting to new technologies. Drilling is a very important at KOC and indeed in any company involved in oil and gas exploration.

Drilling at KOC is conducted expertly and cost effectively. This is securely done and with environment friendly manner whether off-shore or on-shore. Adopting to new technologies plays a critical role in achieving the desired improvements I the operations undertaken at KOC. Here the aim is at providing drilling and services at high safety level, efficiently and cost effectively. In undertaking drilling, there is to be guarantee that the customer’s needs are met in timely and cost effectively.

Drilling activities are to be performed security provision and guarantee to environment protection (Land and Offshore). New Technology as seen as being vital when it come to accomplishing these desirable within operations (Drilling , 2012). 4.0 Inspection and corrosion Corrosion is likely to be experienced on a pipe whether the pipe is in ground, it is submerged in water or in the air as long as the pipe is not adequately protected.

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