Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS) Training Service | in Dammam - Riyadh - Jeddah - Makkah

1. Introduction to Simultaneous Operations

1.1 SIMOPS Fundamentals and Definitions

• SIMOPS concepts and terminology including (concurrent operations, interface activities, incompatible operations, and temporal separation)

• Types of simultaneous operations including (drilling and production, well intervention and processing, construction and operations, and marine and platform activities)

• SIMOPS classifications including (routine SIMOPS, non-routine SIMOPS, planned activities, and emergency SIMOPS)

• Industry drivers and regulatory landscape including (efficiency requirements, cost optimization, facility complexity, and safety imperatives)

1.2 Regulatory Framework and Industry Standards

• API RP 75 Safety and Environmental Management Systems including (management commitment, hazard identification, risk assessment, and operational integrity)

• IOGP Report 415 guidelines including (SIMOPS definition, planning requirements, interface management, and lessons learned)

• ISO 45001 OH&S management integration including (hazard identification, risk assessment, operational controls, and continual improvement)

• Regional regulatory requirements including (local authority expectations, environmental protection standards, and compliance obligations)

2. SIMOPS Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

2.1 Interface Hazard Analysis

• Hazard identification methodologies including (HAZID workshops, what-if analysis, checklist reviews, and bow-tie analysis)

• Common SIMOPS hazards including (ignition sources near flammable atmospheres, dropped objects, incompatible chemicals, and simultaneous lifting operations)

• Energy source interactions including (mechanical, electrical, chemical, pressure, and thermal energies)

• Spatial and temporal conflicts including (access restrictions, emergency egress impacts, resource competition, and rescue capability degradation)

2.2 Risk Assessment and Evaluation

• Risk assessment techniques per ISO 31000 including (qualitative assessment, semi-quantitative matrices, and quantitative methods)

• Interface risk evaluation including (likelihood determination, consequence assessment, risk ranking, and acceptability criteria)

• Major accident hazard scenarios including (loss of containment, fire and explosion, structural collapse, and environmental releases)

• Escalation potential analysis including (domino effects, barrier degradation, emergency response capability reduction, and cumulative risk)

2.3 Barrier Management in SIMOPS

• Barrier identification and classification including (prevention barriers, control barriers, mitigation barriers, and recovery barriers)

• Performance standards per NORSOK Z-013 including (barrier availability, reliability, effectiveness, and robustness)

• Barrier degradation during SIMOPS including (operational restrictions, equipment out-of-service, detection system impairment, and emergency system unavailability)

• Critical safety systems protection including (fire and gas systems, emergency shutdown systems, pressure relief systems, and emergency power)

3. SIMOPS Planning and Procedures

3.1 SIMOPS Planning Process

• Planning hierarchy including (facility master schedule, activity-specific plans, daily coordination meetings, and shift handovers)

• SIMOPS assessment requirements including (screening criteria, formal assessment triggers, documentation standards, and approval authorities)

• Planning documentation including (SIMOPS registers, bridging documents, operational procedures, and emergency response plans)

• Stakeholder involvement including (operations teams, maintenance personnel, contractors, and regulatory authorities)

3.2 Operational Compatibility Assessment

• Activity compatibility matrix including (prohibited combinations, restricted operations, conditional approvals, and unrestricted activities)

• Temporal and spatial separation including (time-based restrictions, exclusion zones, controlled access areas, and buffer distances)

• Resource availability verification including (personnel competency, equipment availability, emergency response capability, and environmental conditions)

• Contingency planning including (alternative scenarios, postponement criteria, abort conditions, and recovery strategies)

3.3 SIMOPS Procedures Development

• Procedure structure and content per API RP 75 including (scope definition, roles and responsibilities, step-by-step instructions, and verification requirements)

• Interface control documents including (communication protocols, coordination points, hold points, and handover procedures)

• Emergency response integration including (escalation criteria, muster arrangements, evacuation routes, and rescue accessibility)

• Procedure validation including (desktop reviews, walk-throughs, trial runs, and continuous improvement)

4. Permit-to-Work Systems for SIMOPS

4.1 Permit-to-Work Fundamentals

• PTW system components including (work request, hazard identification, risk assessment, and authorization controls)

• Permit types and hierarchy including (hot work permits, confined space entry, working at heights, and simultaneous operations permits)

• Permit coordination and control including (permit office function, daily coordination meetings, active permit tracking, and closure verification)

• IOGP Report 189 permit-to-work guidelines including (competency requirements, isolation verification, and permit suspension criteria)

4.2 SIMOPS-Specific Permit Controls

• SIMOPS permit requirements including (interface assessment, incompatibility screening, barrier status verification, and authority approval)

• Permit limitations and conditions including (temporal restrictions, spatial boundaries, communication protocols, and monitoring requirements)

• Multi-permit coordination including (interdependencies identification, sequencing requirements, simultaneous permit limits, and conflict resolution)

• Permit suspension and reinstatement including (weather restrictions, emergency situations, shift changes, and condition changes)

4.3 Isolation and Energy Control

• Isolation hierarchy per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 including (de-energization, lockout, tagout, and verification)

• SIMOPS isolation challenges including (partial isolations, temporary isolations, production continuity requirements, and bypass arrangements)

• Lock and tag systems including (personal locks, group lockboxes, master keys prohibition, and removal authorization)

• Isolation verification including (zero-energy testing, instrument validation, physical inspection, and independent verification)

5. Communication and Coordination Protocols

5.1 Communication Systems and Hierarchy

• Communication methods including (pre-job briefings, radio protocols, public address systems, and visual signals)

• Communication hierarchy including (operational chain of command, emergency communication priorities, and reporting lines)

• Shift handover protocols including (active SIMOPS status, ongoing activities, critical information transfer, and acknowledgment requirements)

• Technology-enabled communication including (digital permit systems, real-time monitoring dashboards, and mobile communication devices)

5.2 Coordination Meetings and Briefings

• Daily coordination meetings including (24-hour look-ahead, active permits review, resource allocation, and conflict identification)

• Pre-job safety meetings including (scope clarification, hazard discussion, control measures review, and emergency procedures)

• Toolbox talks including (task-specific hazards, lessons learned, near-miss sharing, and safety moment discussions)

• SIMOPS-specific briefings including (interface points, communication protocols, emergency arrangements, and stop work authority)

5.3 Roles and Responsibilities Definition

• SIMOPS coordinator function including (planning oversight, compatibility assessment, conflict resolution, and continuous monitoring)

• Installation manager authority including (SIMOPS approval, incompatible operations prohibition, emergency response command, and regulatory compliance)

• Activity supervisors including (permit holder duties, work execution control, communication maintenance, and safety compliance)

• Stop work authority including (delegation criteria, exercise conditions, notification requirements, and restart authorization)

6. Drilling and Production Interface Management

6.1 Drilling SIMOPS Hazards

• Well control risks during production including (shallow gas hazards, reservoir pressure uncertainty, H₂S presence, and kick detection challenges)

• Rig operations hazards including (heavy lifting over production facilities, dropped objects, ignition sources near process areas, and marine vessel interactions)

• Drilling fluid and cuttings management including (storage near ignition sources, marine discharge impacts, overboard disposal, and chemical compatibility)

• Shared equipment and utilities including (power generation loading, crane availability, water supply demands, and laydown area conflicts)

6.2 Well Intervention SIMOPS

• Wireline operations during production including (pressure control equipment, ignition source management, stuck tool risks, and emergency well control)

• Coiled tubing operations including (high-pressure operations, nitrogen handling, chemical injection, and well integrity verification)

• Hydraulic workover including (snubbing operations, live well interventions, BOP testing, and barrier management)

• Well stimulation activities including (acid handling, pressure testing, fracturing operations, and flowback management)

6.3 Production Operations During Drilling

• Process safety management including (pressure systems monitoring, hydrocarbon inventory control, relief system availability, and shutdown capability)

• Ignition source control including (hot work restrictions, equipment temperature monitoring, static electricity management, and electrical classification verification)

• Flaring and venting coordination including (capacity assessment, visibility impacts, gas detector interference, and environmental compliance)

• Emergency shutdown testing including (operational impact assessment, production isolation, restart procedures, and testing windows coordination)

7. Construction and Modification SIMOPS

7.1 Construction Activities During Operations

• Heavy lifting operations including (load paths over process areas, dropped object zones, crane interference, and simultaneous lifting prohibition)

• Hot work near operating facilities including (gas testing protocols, fire watch requirements, ignition source surveys, and equipment shutdown)

• Scaffolding and temporary structures including (egress route impacts, equipment access restrictions, fire protection impairment, and structural loading)

• Excavation and penetration work including (underground utilities, pipeline integrity, subsidence risks, and permit-required confined spaces)

7.2 Mechanical Completion and Commissioning

• System isolation boundaries including (active operations interface, blinds installation, pressure testing separation, and leak testing protocols)

• Hydrotest and pressure test SIMOPS including (energy release potential, relief system availability, water supply coordination, and disposal arrangements)

• Pre-commissioning activities including (chemical cleaning, nitrogen purging, drying operations, and operational readiness verification)

• Commissioning and startup including (flammable inventory introduction, ignition source management, emergency system verification, and production integration)

7.3 Maintenance SIMOPS

• Planned maintenance coordination including (turnaround interfaces, partial shutdowns, equipment isolation, and production continuity)

• Preventive maintenance during operations including (rotating equipment work, instrumentation testing, relief valve testing, and fire system impairment)

• Predictive maintenance activities including (vibration monitoring, thermography, ultrasonic testing, and online inspection techniques)

• Breakdown maintenance emergencies including (priority assessment, emergency isolation, expedited permits, and risk acceptance)

8. Marine and Logistics SIMOPS

8.1 Marine Operations Interface

• Supply vessel operations including (lifting from vessels, cargo transfer, simultaneous crane use, and personnel transfer)

• Tanker loading and offloading including (flammable atmosphere management, cargo system isolation, spill prevention, and emergency disconnect)

• Diving operations including (subsea work, simultaneous marine activities, diver safety zones, and emergency response capability)

• Helicopter operations including (simultaneous crane restrictions, helideck obstacle assessment, fuel handling, and emergency landing areas)

8.2 Personnel Transfer and Movement

• Bridge access control including (simultaneous traffic, heavy equipment movement, personnel transport, and emergency egress)

• Rope access and swing rope use including (simultaneous activities below, dropped object prevention, emergency rescue, and weather restrictions)

• Personnel basket transfers including (crane availability, weather criteria, simultaneous operations restrictions, and backup arrangements)

• Accommodation module access including (TR cards, muster arrangements, emergency escape routes, and temporary refuge integrity)

9. Emergency Response During SIMOPS

9.1 Emergency Response Planning

• SIMOPS-specific emergency scenarios including (well control during construction, fire with personnel in confined spaces, evacuation route blockage, and rescue access restriction)

• Emergency response capability assessment including (firefighting resources, medical capabilities, rescue equipment, and evacuation means)

• Muster and evacuation arrangements including (muster point accessibility, headcount procedures, temporary refuge capacity, and alternative evacuation routes)

• Emergency response organization including (incident command structure, emergency response team availability, communication systems, and external support coordination)

9.2 Emergency Escalation Management

• Incident detection and classification including (alarm systems, personnel reporting, severity assessment, and escalation criteria)

• Immediate response actions including (operations shutdown, personnel mustering, emergency services activation, and casualty management)

• SIMOPS suspension protocols including (permit cancellation, activity cessation, equipment safing, and personnel accountability)

• Recovery and resumption including (incident investigation, corrective actions implementation, readiness assessment, and phased restart)

9.3 Medical Emergency Response

• Medical capability during SIMOPS including (medic availability, first aid resources, medical equipment access, and evacuation capability)

• Casualty evacuation planning including (helicopter availability, weather restrictions, alternative transport, and receiving facility coordination)

• Mass casualty considerations including (simultaneous injuries, triage procedures, medical resource adequacy, and external assistance)

• Pandemic and health emergency SIMOPS including (isolation requirements, personnel restrictions, essential operations definition, and business continuity)

10. Human Factors and Behavioral Safety in SIMOPS

10.1 Situational Awareness and Decision-Making

• Situational awareness elements including (perception of hazards, comprehension of risk, projection of outcomes, and decision points)

• Cognitive biases in SIMOPS including (production pressure bias, normalization of deviance, optimism bias, and anchoring effects)

• Decision-making under uncertainty including (risk-informed decisions, precautionary principle application, abort criteria, and delay tolerance)

• Fatigue and workload management including (shift patterns, overtime restrictions, task complexity assessment, and human performance limits)

10.2 Safety Culture and Leadership

• Just culture principles including (reporting encouragement, learning orientation, accountability balance, and blame-free environment)

• Safety leadership behaviors including (visible commitment, frontline engagement, stop work support, and continuous improvement)

• Organizational learning including (incident investigation, near-miss analysis, lessons learned dissemination, and knowledge management)

• Behavioral safety programs including (observation and intervention, positive reinforcement, hazard reporting, and peer accountability)

10.3 Competency and Training

• SIMOPS competency requirements per IOGP Report 415 including (hazard recognition, risk assessment, procedure compliance, and emergency response)

• Training program elements including (classroom instruction, practical exercises, simulation training, and emergency drills)

• Competency assessment including (knowledge verification, skill demonstration, scenario-based evaluation, and periodic reassessment)

• Contractor management including (competency verification, site-specific orientation, SIMOPS awareness training, and supervision requirements)

11. SIMOPS Performance Monitoring and Audit

11.1 Performance Indicators and Metrics

• Leading indicators including (SIMOPS assessments completed, permit compliance rates, near-miss reporting, and safety observation frequency)

• Lagging indicators including (SIMOPS-related incidents, permit violations, barrier failures, and regulatory non-compliances)

• Process safety indicators per API RP 754 including (loss of primary containment, safety system demands, abnormal operations, and management system deficiencies)

• Benchmarking and target setting including (industry comparison, historical trends, improvement objectives, and performance targets)

11.2 Audit and Assurance Programs

• SIMOPS audit scope including (procedure compliance, documentation review, field observations, and interviews)

• Audit methodologies including (planned audits, surveillance audits, post-incident reviews, and regulatory inspections)

• Finding classification and closure including (critical findings, observations, improvement opportunities, and corrective action tracking)

• Management review including (performance reporting, trend analysis, resource allocation decisions, and strategic planning)

11.3 Continuous Improvement

• Lessons learned systems including (incident investigation findings, near-miss analysis, best practice sharing, and industry alerts)

• Procedure updates including (change management, stakeholder consultation, competency impact, and implementation planning)

• Technology adoption including (digital permit systems, real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and automation opportunities)

• Industry engagement including (peer networks, working groups, standard development, and knowledge exchange)

12. Case Studies and Practical Exercises

12.1 Major SIMOPS Incidents Analysis

• Regional incidents from Middle East operations including (Piper Alpha lessons, Deepwater Horizon SIMOPS factors, construction-related fires, and well control during drilling)

• Root cause analysis including (organizational factors, human factors, technical failures, and management system deficiencies)

• Preventive measures including (barrier strengthening, procedure improvements, technology solutions, and organizational changes)

• Industry recommendations including (regulatory changes, standard updates, best practice development, and safety alerts)

12.2 SIMOPS Planning Workshops

• Realistic scenario development including (facility-specific operations, planned activities, hazard identification, and risk assessment)

• SIMOPS procedure writing including (interface identification, control measures definition, communication protocols, and emergency arrangements)

• Permit-to-work coordination including (multi-permit scenarios, conflict identification, resolution strategies, and approval authorities)

• Emergency response tabletop exercises including (scenario progression, decision points, resource allocation, and coordination challenges)

12.3 Field Exercises and Simulations

• Pre-job briefing simulations including (hazard communication, control measure discussion, role clarification, and emergency procedures)

• Communication protocol practice including (radio discipline, shift handover, incident reporting, and emergency escalation)

• Permit-to-work system drills including (permit preparation, assessment completion, approval process, and closure verification)

• The importance of proper training in preventing SIMOPS-related incidents and ensuring safe concurrent operations