Development of Risk-Based Field Spacing Guidelines for Kuwait Oil Company KOC

Abstract

Currently, the process safety risk associated with the siting, layout, segregation and spacing of the facilities and equipment is managed through the application of a series of standards developed long ago, when the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) (the Company) oil and gas operations were less complex, and the presence of associated H2S was relatively low. In terms of Building Risk Assessment (BRA), there is no specific company standard or procedure to reflect the best practices to be followed on this subject. However, international standards, mainly API 752 and 753, are followed for the siting and design of buildings located within the facilities. Additionally, the Company have embarked in an aggressive plan to substantially increase production by 2040 and beyond. This means that existing oil and gas fields will continue to be developed over the next two decades, which will entail a tendency to congestion, both in the fields and in the facilities layout. In order to successfully contribute to underpin the significant increase in activity and infrastructure required to safely achieve production growth for 2040 and beyond, the Company have decided to improve the approach to siting and layout by undertaking the development of world-class best practices to provide risk-based guidelines for field spacing. Clearly, the Company realized that optimum location (siting) and layout minimizes material and construction costs, but more importantly, significantly reduces risks, and hence, increases process safety throughout the facility's life cycle. It also allows for building inherent safety into the design of plants and facilities. It is also very important to mention that optimum location (siting) and layout of the facilities will clearly result in an enhanced use of land, which in turn contributes to an adequate management of this limited resource in the State of Kuwait. Considering all the above, the proper management of process risks derived from siting and layout has been identified as of key importance for the safe operation and success of the company's activities, both at present and particularly in the near future. This paper describes the process of developing the risk-based guidelines for field spacing, including the methodology, criteria, consequence modelling, etc. that was undertaken for KOC to create look-up tables, graphs, to facilitate layout in a consistent manner throughout all project phases from concept selection, when relatively little is known, through detailed engineering.