The Borehole Sites and Operations Regulations 1995

Regulation 6

SCHEDULE 1 PARTICULARS REQUIRED FOR NOTIFICATIONS UNDERREGULATION 6

PART I notification under regulation 6(1)

The particulars required for a notification under regulation 6(1) are as follows:—

1.  Name and address of the operator.

2.  Particulars of the type of well, its number and its name.

3.  Particulars of the rig or other plant which is to be used in connection with the operations on the well.

4.  Particulars of the surface equipment and of the circulation fluids to be used to control the pressure of the well.

5.  Particulars, with scale diagrams, where appropriate, of—

(a) the Ordnance Survey National Grid reference of the location of the top of the well;

(b) the directional path of the borehole;

(c) the terminal depth and location; and

(d) its position and that of nearby wells and mine workings relative to each other.

6.  A description of operations to be performed and a programme of works including—

(a) the dates on which operations are expected to start and finish; and

(b) a diagram showing details of the intended final completion or recompletion of the well.

7.  A description of—

(a) any activities during operations on the well which will involve a risk of the accidental release of fluids from the well or reservoir; and

(b) such hazards.

8.  In the case of a well which is to be drilled—

(a) particulars of the geological strata and formations and fluids within them through which it may pass and of any hazards with the potential to cause fire, explosion or a blowout which they may contain;

(b) the procedures for effectively monitoring the direction of the borehole and the effects of intersecting nearby wells; and

(c) particulars of the design of the well, sufficient to show that it takes account of the matters in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, and that it will so far as is reasonably practicable be safe.

9.  In the case of an existing well—

(a) a diagram of the well;

(b) a brief history of the well including a summary of previous operations and any problems encountered; and

(c) its present status and condition.

10.  In the case of an abandonment operation details of the proposed sealing or treatment.

PART II notification under regulation 6(2)

The particulars required for a notification under regulation 6(2) are as follows:—

1.  Name and address of the operator.

2.  Particulars with scale diagrams, where appropriate, of—

(a) the Ordnance Survey National Grid reference of the location of the top of the borehole;

(b) its directional path; and

(c) its terminal depth and location.

3.  A description of the operations to be performed and a programme of works which includes the dates on which operations are expected to start and finish.

PART III notification under regulation 6(3)

The particulars required for a notification under regulation 6(3) are as follows:—

1.  Name and address of the person entitled to drill the borehole.

2.  Particulars with scale diagrams, where appropriate, of—

(a) the Ordnance Survey National Grid reference of the location of the top of the borehole;

(b) its directional path; and

(c) its terminal depth and location.

3.  A description of the operations to be, or being, performed and a programme of works which includes the dates on which operations are expected to start and finish or (if past) the dates they started and finished.

PART IV notification under regulation 6(4)

The particulars required for a notification under regulation 6(4) are as follows:—

1.  Name and address of the operator.

2.  Particulars with scale diagrams, where appropriate, of—

(a) the Ordnance Survey National Grid reference of the location of the top of the borehole;

(b) its directional path; and

(c) its terminal depth and location.

3.  Details of the sealing or other treatment.

Regulation 9(1)

SCHEDULE 2 ADDITIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Delineation and provision of safety signs

1.  Areas where there is a special hazard shall be delineated and appropriate safety signs placed.

Person in charge and supervision

2.  A competent person appointed by the operator shall be in charge of every borehole site where employees are present and there shall be sufficient competent persons appointed by the operator to exercise immediate supervision of borehole operations with a view to ensuring the health and safety of the persons at work at the site.

Provision of competent persons

3.  Where borehole operations are carried on, there shall be provided a sufficient number of competent persons with a view to enabling those operations to be carried on safely.

Written instructions

4.—(1) Where borehole operations are carried on, employers shall provide written instructions containing:

(a) rules necessary for ensuring the health and safety of their employees; and

(b) information on the use of emergency equipment and the action to be taken in the event of an emergency at or near the borehole site.

(2) Copies of the written instructions referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above shall be made available to all employees who may be affected by them.

Work permits

5.—(1) Where borehole operations are carried on and it is shown in the health and safety document that such a measure is necessary, a system of work permits shall be introduced for carrying out hazardous operations and usually straightforward operations which may interact with other activities to cause serious hazards.

(2) Work permits shall specify the conditions to be fulfilled and the precautions to be taken before, during and after the work concerned and shall be issued by the person in charge of those operations in accordance with a scheme agreed with the operator of the borehole site.

Maintenance

6.—(1) Where borehole operations are carried on, a suitable scheme shall be set up for the systematic examination, maintenance and, where appropriate, testing of mechanical and electrical equipment and plant.

(2) All examination, maintenance and testing shall be carried out by competent persons and a record of any examination and tests shall be made and kept for at least 3 years after the equipment or plant concerned was last used.

(3) The foregoing sub-paragraphs of this paragraph shall also apply in relation to the safety equipment provided, with a view to ensuring that it is ready for use and in good working order at all times having regard to the uses to which it may be put.

Well control

7.—(1) Suitable well control equipment shall be provided for use during borehole operations to protect against blowouts having regard to the provisions of the health and safety document.

(2) The deployment of such equipment shall take into account the prevailing well and operational conditions.

Harmful atmospheres

8.  Where there is a risk that employees may be exposed to atmospheres that are hazardous to health, there shall be provided:

(a) sufficient appropriate breathing and resuscitation equipment and apparatus; and

(b) a sufficient number of employees trained to use the apparatus present at the borehole site.

Prevention of explosions

9.  Where there is a risk of explosion, all necessary measures shall be taken with a view to—

(a) preventing the occurrence and accumulation of explosive atmospheres; and

(b) preventing the ignition of explosive atmospheres.

Remote control in emergencies

10.—(1) Where the health and safety document shows that such a measure is necessary, certain equipment shall be capable of remote control from suitable locations in the event of an emergency.

(2) The equipment referred to in sub-paragraph (1) above shall, in any case, include systems for the isolation and blowdown of wells, plant and pipelines.

Communications, general and emergency

11.—(1) Where the health and safety document shows that such a measure is necessary, every borehole site at which employees are present shall be provided with—

(a) an acoustic and optical system capable of transmitting an alarm to every part of the site as necessary; and

(b) an acoustic system capable of being heard distinctly at all parts of the site where employees are frequently present.

(2) The facilities for raising the alarm shall be situated at suitable places.

(3) Where employees are present at sites that are not usually manned, appropriate means of communication shall be placed at their disposal.

Means of evacuation and escape

12.—(1) Employees shall be trained in appropriate action to be taken in the event of an emergency.

(2) Rescue equipment shall be provided at readily accessible and appropriately sited places and kept ready for use.

(3) Where escape routes are difficult and where irrespirable atmospheres are or may be present, self-contained escape apparatus shall be provided for immediate use by employees at the workstation.

Safety drills

13.—(1) Safety drills shall be held at regular intervals at all borehole sites at which employees are usually present.

(2) The main purpose of such drills shall be to train and check the skills of persons to whom specific duties have been assigned in the event of an emergency involving the use, handling or operation of emergency equipment taking into account the criteria laid down in the health and safety document.

(3) Where appropriate, employees who have been so assigned shall also be drilled in the correct use, handling or operation of that equipment.

Fire detection and fire-fighting

14.—(1) Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent fires from starting and spreading from sources identified in the health and safety document.

(2) Provision shall be made for fast and effective fire-fighting.

(3) Borehole sites shall be equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and as necessary with fire detection and alarm systems.

(4) Non-automatic fire-fighting equipment shall be easily accessible and simple to use and where necessary protected from damage.

(5) The fire protection plan referred to in regulation 7(2)(c) shall be kept available on the site.

Safe assembly points and muster list

15.  Where required in the health and safety document, safe assembly points must be specified, muster lists maintained and the necessary action shall be taken.