A Greater Protection of Operators 'Occupational Health through the Elimination of Sledge Hammer Use

摘要

ADNOC Drilling Company is the largest drilling contractor in the Middle East, providing its clients with quality drilling, work-over and well maintenance services, while maintaining the highest safety, integrity and environment standards and implementing the international best practices in terms of quality and enhancing efficient productivity Being a responsible Company the ADNOC Drilling Company, as part of the Mission statement seeks to ensure the highest standards in Health, Safety & Environment and Asset Integrity. In line with the same, a study has been done to identify the areas of backbone injuries and hammer unions failures on all operating rigs onshore and offshore locations and introduce suitable and convieninent tool with technique for saving the hammer union consumption. With strong Management support, the project has been implemented in a short period from the time of conceptualization to effective implementation. This shows the commitment of ADNOC Drilling company to meet it's obligation towards protecting the staff safety and thereby contribute in reduction of used materils wastes efforts of the Government of UAE The objective was to find an alternate tool to be used instead of sledgehammer that used for makeup and break out of pipe connectors named as hammer unions, Hammer unions are critical high-pressure connector for temporary pipe and flow line installation that enable quick make up and break out of pipes. with quick make up and break out pipes and fittings Using at many critical equipment at rig sites such as stand pipe manifold, mud system, HP lines and chock manifold This to avoid the potential impact of workforce back pain and/or avoiding damaging the equipment., Adnoc Drillining Co. carried out several assessments to avoid the impacts associated with hammer unions. These efforts had resulted in finding alternatives tools to sledge hammer. The company found an innovative solution that eliminates these impacts. The solution was to use an especial wrench to fasten and disassemble hammer unions wherever they are used – without sacrificing speed or wasting precious rig-up time. Using this special wrench instead of sledgehammer had had resulted in achieving many goals at the same time. It has resulted in a dramatic lower risk of impact injuries to the operator or bystander. In addition, it prevents the risk of flying metal chips. Strain on the operator's joints and back is greatly reduced. Torqueing the hammer union with wrenches also brings additional benefits such as saving the hammer from wear- and- tear. Decreasing the number of unions’ replacement had resulting in saving a considerable amount of money spent parts replacement. Therefore, it is not only safer but also brings economic benefits.