Post on 18-Dec-2021
transcript
COMPLYING WITH THE NEW OSHA SILICA
STANDARD – OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS
AIHA Rocky Mountain Section
Fall Technical Conference – Silica Panel – September 20, 2016
Pablo Sosa, CSP
2 Bureau Veritas
Introduction
► Name: Pablo Sosa
► Occupation: Consultant with Bureau Veritas
► Certification: Certified Safety Professional
► Background: Retired Air Force Veteran. Worked various Health Safety and Environmental roles in Aerospace, Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, and Research and Development labs.
3 Bureau Veritas
Overview
► Present a timeline for Oil and Gas Operations from 2011 to 2013 leading up to changes with the Silica Standard.
► Provide Initial Monitoring Data
► Provide Controls Attempted and results
► Provide Engineering Control from Sierra Dust Control which helped achieved compliance.
► All monitoring was done using an aluminum cyclone. The exception is the OSHA monitoring which used a Dorr Oliver. All results were compared against a calculated PEL and the New OSHA Silica PEL of 50 ug/m3.
4 Bureau Veritas
Oil and Gas Operations – Prior to New Standard
► Our company anticipated changes to the OSHA Silica Standard and knew that we had to look at exposures and quantify them.
► From 2011 to 2012 we performed monitoring during cementing operations and hydraulic fracturing operations.
► Cementing Operations
- Area Air Samples were taken on cement trucks where
operators controlled the flow of cement into the batch
mixer truck and in the batch mixer area.
- Personal air samples were taken on Batch Mixer
operator and Cement Truck Operators.
5 Bureau Veritas
Oil and Gas Operations – Prior to New Standard
► Hydraulic Fracturing
- Area samples were taken on the mountain movers,
T-Belt, Blender Hopper, and Sand Castles.
- Personal air monitoring was taken on mountain mover
operators, T-Belt Operator, Blender Operator, and
Employees working in the area around hydraulic
fracturing operations.
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Initial Sampling Results
► Initial Sampling Results for Cementing and Hydraulic
Fracturing Operations varied.
► Cementing Operations indicated levels above a calculated
PEL for Respirable Crystalline Silica for the Batch Mixer
Operator.
► Hydraulic Fracturing Operations indicated levels above a
calculated PEL for Respirable Crystalline for all
employees associated with hydraulic fracturing operations.
► Anticipating changes to the Silica Rule we also knew we
would be above the proposed PEL of 50 ug/m3.
7 Bureau Veritas
Implementing Controls – Cementing Operations
► Cementing Operations
- We knew our sample results showed approximately one
to one and half times above a calculated PEL for the
Batch Mixer Operator.
► Controls Implemented:
Engineering – A water jet was introduced into the
configuration of the batch mixer which keep
the dust down.
PPE – Respirators were required for Batch Mixer until
further monitoring conducted.
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Implementing Controls – Cementing Operations
► Air Monitoring was re-accomplished and levels of
respirable crystalline silica measured were Non-Detect.
► However, Batch Mixer still used respirator because of
caustics in cement additives.
► Monitoring continued to be performed for several
cementing operations and various locations throughout
the U.S. and showed levels below the calculated PEL and
new PEL for respirable crystalline silica.
9 Bureau Veritas
Implementing Controls – Hydraulic Fracturing
► Air Monitoring results revealed exposure levels to Silica
ranging from 4 to 15 times above the calculated PEL for all
operators involved in the fracturing process.
► Initial Controls:
Engineering – Company would start looking at options
available and begin to explore.
PPE – Employees were placed on Respiratory Protection
Program and provided respirators.
10 Bureau Veritas
Implementing Controls – Hydraulic Fracturing
► In 2013 received citation from OSHA for failure to explore
and implement Engineering controls.
► Going forward we tried numerous controls such as:
- Automating sand deliver process to the T-Belt using an
infrared reading eye.
- Result was automatic eye would fail occasionally
causing sand to spill and during evening operations eye
was difficult to operate because a light source needed to
be shined on it.
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Implementing Controls – Hydraulic Fracturing
- Powered Air Purifying Respirators were also provided to
employees to try.
- Result was the difficulty T-Belt Operators had when
attempting to observer sand being delivered to the
hopper. Additionally, temperature extremes would have
an affect on battery life, etc.
- Misting systems to wet the sand and keep dust levels
down.
- Air monitoring results showed the misting system was not
effective in reducing silica levels below calculated and
proposed OSHA Silica PEL. Additionally, the system
requrired cranes to be utilized to put in place.
12 Bureau Veritas
Hydraulic Fracturing – Effective Engineering
Controls
► After approximately a year of attempting to find an
effective engineering control for hydraulic fracturing
operations we worked with a contract company to
configure dust control for our operations.
► The contract company had a proven track record of dust
control operations and was willing to work with our team to
solve our problem.
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Hydraulic Fracturing – Engineering Controls
► Sierra Dust Control would work with our team to evaluate
hydraulic fracturing operations and develop a solution.
These are examples of engineering control implemented.
Dust Escaping Mountain Mover Prior to Dust Control
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Hydraulic Fracturing – Engineering Controls
Dust Control on Three Movers and Blender
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Hydraulic Fracturing – Engineering Controls
Dust Control On Sand Castles
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Hydraulic Fracturing – Engineering Controls
Dust Control on T-Belt and Hopper
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Hydraulic Fracturing – Engineering Controls
Dust Control on T-Belt and Hopper - Night Operations
LED Inside Cover Inside T-Belt
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Hydraulic Fracturing - Results
► Air monitoring was conducted during operations with the
controls implemented. New results showed exposure
levels below the calculated PEL and proposed OSHA
Silica standard.
► OSHA decided to conduct monitoring on our site to see
effectiveness of new controls.
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Conclusion
► Engineering controls provided by Sierra Dust Control
worked. Air monitoring was conducted for various types of
configurations on well pad, environments (i.e. snow), and
operations (i.e. Sand Castles versus Mountain Movers).
20 Bureau Veritas
Contact Information – Indoor & Outdoor Dust Control
► Sierra Dust Control – Booth At Conference or
303-655-8633
www.sierrafracsand.comwww.sierrafracsand.com