Identifying Trends in HSE Data Requests—Are the Right Questions Being Asked?

Abstract

Abstract This study analyzes the content of health, safety and environment (HSE) questionnaires and data requests from service contracts, master service agreements, and data management services agreements. Exploration and production (E&P) operators request such information in order to identify and avoid undue HSE risk. Because of the widely diverging utility of specific HSE metrics, the information provided in the response often fails to meet this overall objective due to the misapplication of the data to the risk, i.e. obtaining an answer to the wrong question. In order to improve this process, a study was conducted to assess whether the right questions are being asked in operator questionnaires. The study considered a set of data requests that were compiled and sorted by type. Requests for specific questions and data were broken down by subject area, and grouped into like categories. Trends were quantified and then ranked based upon occurrence. Grouped requests were analyzed against a standard risk rank model to compare frequency of request versus perceived risk. This paper reports on the results of the study as well as presents a review of the process by which the study was conducted. The results are designed to help operators compare the relevance of their HSE data requests with those of their peers by identifying trends and assess whether the requested data meets the objective of properly identifying risk. This paper is for informational purposes only and is not to be considered professional advice or opinions. This paper contains the personal observations of the authors and does not represent the opinions of their employers.