Incorporating Human Factors into Installing a Pressure Transmitter on a Flowline of Oil and Gas Platforms: A Case Study at the Design Stage of Projects

Abstract

Examination of major accident data in the upstream oil and gas sector reveals that in the majority of cases, the initiating cause of catastrophic accidents is attributable to human error. Due to the devastating effects of these failures on people, property and the environment, current engineering design practices in the sector need to be revised in order to incorporate human factors in design considerations. This paper examines current practices utilised to address human factors at the design stage in the upstream oil and gas industry sector. A case study in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) analysing common activities in the sector such as installing a pressure transmitter on a flowline of oil and gas platforms will be used. Deficiencies in current practices will be identified and the activity’s constituent tasks are diagnosed. A proposed human factors methodology was developed to address these deficiencies. Utilising the proposed methodology, each task would be subject to analysis by showing the consequences of human error and also the prevention of major accidents. Further work would extend the study scope and explore the adoption of the methodology to eliminate human errors in the early design phase of upstream oil and gas projects/operations.