HAZOP Implementation on a Major North Sea Project, the Ninian Third Party Entrants Project

ABSTRACT The paper will provide an insight into the role of HAZOP in a complex North Sea project involving three significant new sub-sea developments - Lyell, Staffa and Strathspey - operated by third parties and tied back to two existing Ninian platforms, Central and Southern. Major platform modifications were required involving both new process systems and the revamping of existing facilities, all whilst maintaining existing production. This presented substantial technical, project and safety related challenges of a type not hitherto encountered by North Sea operators. An integral part of the project plan was the comprehensive use of HAZOP as a core activity in ensuring that corporate safety and project operability objectives were met. HAZOP was seen as an important element in Chevron's Ninian Safety Case as the primary tool for hazard identification. The successful application of HAZOP in this complex ‘brown field' development required a range of measures, some often overlooked and some involving innovative HAZOP methodology and these are detailed.