66 reg. 221 THE PETROLEUM REGULATIONS (LAND), 1966 reg. 222
221. Acidizing, fracturing and other similar stimulation operations.
In any acidizing, fracturing or stimulation operations in which high pressure pumping equipment is used to inject fluid into or to circulate fluid over the formation in a well, the following provisions shall apply:-
( a) All surface lines shall be adequately secured;
(b) All well connections shall be checked to ensure that they are of adequate pressure rating for the purpose for which they are to be used;
(c) All surface lines, connections and ·the wellhead shall be pretested before the start of operations to a pressure sufficiently above the operational maximum expected to ensure safety during the operation;
(d) If crude oil is to be used in such operations, it shall be weathered in well site or other tanks for a sufficient period to ensure. that the more volatile components have escaped before the crude is so used;
(e) Pump vehicles and other pumping equipment shall be located cross wind from the well and at least one hundred feet from the well whenever possible and all vehicles shall be stationed in such a position as to provide the persons operating such vehicles with a clear view of the wellhead and to permit them to drive such vehicles directly away from the well in case of emergency;
(f) Injection lines or manifolds shall not be laid beneath vehicles or pumping equipment;
(g) High pressure injection operation shall not take place during the hours of darkness without the prior permission of the Person-in-Charge who shall afterwards notify an inspector of the operation so permitted;
(h) All unnecessary electrical equipment shall be shut down during an injection operation;
(i) Smoking or naked lights shall not be permitted within a distance of one hundred and fifty feet of a well nor on nor close to any of the pumping equipment or storage tanks being used in an injection operation;
(j) Only persons, vehicles and equipment necessary for the operation shall be permitted within one hundred and fifty feet of the well;
(k) "Danger" and "No Smoking" signs shall be positioned around the well site at a distance of one hundred and fifty feet from the well to delineate the prohibited area;
(I) In any acidization an adequate source of water shall be available on location.
the exploration and drilling for and the production of oil and gas whether in or outside hazardous locations as defined below, shall be in accordance with the Australian Standard AS3000, Part 1-1981, commonly referred to as the "SAA Wiring Rules", and any revisions and amendments thereto, and Australian Standard AS2430- Classification of Hazardous Areas, Part 1-1981-Flammable Gaseous Atmospheres, and any revisions and amendments thereto.
As amended by regulations published Gazette 20 February 1982, pp. 609-610.
223. Drilling locations. A drilling rig and any associated temporary production facilities installed on a drilling location shall be classed as an unusual installation under the provisions of the S.A.A. Wiring Rules and the space within fifty feet of a well drilled or being drilled for petroleum, or within fifty feet of any temporary production facility on a drilling location shall be classed as a hazardous location.
Within such hazardous location the requirements of the S.A.A.
Wiring Rules for Class 1 Zone 1 location shall apply unless approved in writing by the State Mining Engineer.
As amended by regulations published Gazette 20 February 1982, pp. 609-610.
224. Production facilities. Production facilities shall be classed as hazardous locations to which the provisions of Class 1 Zone 2 of Australian Standard AS3000 apply, except where the State Mining Engineer requires that another classification shall apply.
Substituted by regulations published Gazette 20 February 1982, pp. 609-610.
225. Protection of electrical circuits. (1} Every circuit shall be protected against overload and short circuit;
(2) Low voltage circuits, medium voltage circuits and high voltage circutts installed at any drilling location shall be protected against leakage of current to earth unless otherwise approved in writing by the State Mining Engineer.
(3) Where a system of automatic earth leakage protection is required the circuit breaker shall operate when the earth leakage current exceeds the following values:-
(i) 1 ampere on low voltage circuits and medium voltage circuits;
(ii) 5 amperes on high voltage circuits;
(iii) 30 milliamperes on circuits supplying portable hand held tools or apparatus.
( 4) A circuit breaker or relay protectiii.g a circuit against earth leakage may be provided with time delay devices to provide selective protection for different portions of an installation, but the maximum operating time permitted for clearance of any earth leakage fault shall not exceed three seconds.
( 5) All portable hand held tools or apparatus operating at a voltage above extra low voltage shall be provided with an earth leakage protection
68 reg. 226 THE PETROLEUM REGULATIONS (LAND), 1966 reg. 232
device Type A in accordance with Australian Standard-AS 3190- 1983-Current Operated (Core Balance) Earth-Leakage Devices, and any revisions and amendments thereto.
(6) All automatic earth leakage protection systems shall be provided with means by which a test of their effectiveness may be made.
Substituted by regulations published Gazette 22 October 1983, pp. 751-754; as amended by regulations published Gazette 31 August 1985, p. 2590.
226. (Repealed).
Repealed by regulations published Gazette 22 October 1983, pp. 751-754.
227. Cable protection. (1) Where multicore Tough Rubber-Sheathed (T.R.S.) or Thermoplastic-Sheathed (T.P.S.) cable is installed, unless it is protected by its position, it shall be otherwise guarded up to a height of ten feet above the ground and floor.
(2) Cable shall not be permitted to lie unprotected on the ground or floor and unless buried or protected shall be:-
(a) So installed as to be at least eighteen feet clear of the ground over areas traversed by vehicular traffic; or
(b) So installed as to be at least ten feet clear of the ground or · floor for all other areas.
228. Lightning protection and control of static electricity. (1) The structure of a drilling rig, or other permanent oilfield facility for handling flammable liquids and gases shall be protected against lightning or the build up of charges of static electricity by means of bonding the individual rig components together to make the structure electrically continuous and by earthing in accordance with the Australian Standards AS 1768-1975 "Manual on Lightning Protection" and AS 1020-1970
"Static Electricity Code".
(2) The maximum resistence to earth shall not exceed 10 ohms.
(3) Metallic parts of containers used for the storage or handling of flammable liquids shall be earthed for the safe removal of charges of static electricity, but shall not be connected in such manner as to form part of the earth circuit.
As amended by regulations published Gazette 22 October 1983, pp. 751-754.
229. Switches, Marking of. Switches opened to permit work on lines or equipment shall be prominently marked to warn against closure.
230. Power supply disconnection. Before any item of electrical equipment, except a portable lamp or tool, is moved, it shall be disconnected from the power supply lines.
231. Flashlights. Only approved safety flashlights shall be used within a hazardous location.
232. Electric shock treatment. Instructions on procedure and treatment in case of electric shock shall be prominently displayed on
the derrick floor or in the driller's doghouse, in the generator house and at any other field facility where any electricity is installed.
233. Electrician. (1) On any drilling rig, production facility or associated plant, a person other than an electrician shall not-
(a) install any electrical apparatus or circuits;
(b) maintain in a safe working condition any apparatus or cables including any automatic or other protective device;
(c) carry out any routine examination or test of any electrical apparatus or cables;
(d) carry out any routine test of the effectiveness of the earthing system, the continuity of the earthing conductors or the condition of the electrical insulation;
(e) carry out any examination or test of apparatus or cables newly connected, or dismantled and reconnected in a new position.
Unless otherwise exempted by the State Mining Engineer the tests and examinations referred to in this Regulation shall be carried out at intervals not exceeding two months in the case of drilling rigs and temporary installations and not exceeding two years in the case of production facilities and permanent installations, and the results of all such tests and examinations shall be reported by the electrician to the Person-in-Charge who shall inform the State Mining Engineer in writing thereof.
Paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of subregulation (1) of this Regulation shall not apply to apparatus carrying voltages not exceeding extra low voltage or apparatus in and ancillary to electric logging units, gas detection units and ~lectronically equipped production control and gauging installations.
(2) The State Mining Engineer may require for a specific operation any special inspection or test in addition to or in substitution for those referred to in this Regulation.
As amended by regulations published Gazette 31 August 1985, p. 2590.
234. Maintenance, repair or alterations. ( 1) Where live parts of apparatus are required to be handled for the purpose of testing, adjusting, wiping or oiling, the person undertaking such work shall be provided with and shall use rubber mats and gloves.
(2) With the exception of testing, adjusting, wiping or oiling, the maintenance, repair or alteration of any conductor or apparatus shall not be carried out while such conductor or apparatus is alive.
235. Control equipment. Switch gear and starting equipment for motors shall include an isolating switch interlocked with the cover of the equipment so as to prevent the opening or removal of such cover whilst the apparatus within is alive or the isolator is in the closed position. Any live parts within the equipment which are exposed when
70 reg. 236 THE PETROLEUM REGULATIONS (LAND), 1966 reg. 237
such equipment is opened shall be effectively screened to the satisfaction of an inspector.
This Regulation shall not apply to any equipment which was installed in Australia on or before the date of the coming into force of this Regulation or which is installed or brought into operation within six months after that date, unless the State Mining Engineer is of the opinion that continued use of that equipment for reasons other than the lack of an interlockin~ safety switch is unsafe, and notifies the Person-in-Charge of his opmion.
As amended by regulations published Gazette 28 October 1967, p. 784.
236. Rewiring and replacement of fuses. Notwithstanding anything hereinbefore in this Part contained the rewiring and replacement of electrical fuses may be carried out by an authorised person but shall be checked as soon as possible thereafter by an electrician.