Integration of HES into the Management of a Major Capital Project

Abstract

Abstract During the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) stage of a project; scope, cost and schedule are locked down, the plans for construction are prepared and the licences, permits and access agreements obtained. Health, Environment and Safety (HES) deliverables include: assurance that the selected design options meet corporate and regulatory standards; input to ensure that the design is safe and environmentally responsible; the execution of baseline surveys and impact assessments to obtain required permits; the development of HES exhibits; and the review of tender documentation and contractor HES management plans. These activities, although often critical to project success are typically not tracked to completion alongside other project milestones. This paper describes how during FEED, the Wheatstone Project built a specific HES Schedule from which were extracted a number of key milestones that were assigned a percentage contribution to the Final Investment Decision (FID). Any milestones interfacing with other delivery teams were integrated into the overall project plan with dependencies and links established. Progress for HES was then tracked alongside the progress of the rest of the project and a monthly dashboard produced as the prime communication vehicle for reporting performance. This innovative approach put HES on the same footing as all the other project delivery teams and enabled HES conversations to take place in exactly the same manner as for engineering, commercial and technical disciplines. The integration of HES into project planning and progress measurement sharpened discipline around the delivery of milestones and the management attention afforded to them. The content of this paper and approach described can be used for future major capital projects throughout the oil and gas industry.