seismic field operations, safety and training - Canadian Association ...

REQUIRED SAFETY TRAININGFor every position in the seismic industry, the followingbasic safety courses are required:• WHMIS• H 2S Awareness• Wildlife Awareness• Hazard Awareness• Bear Awareness (seasonal)JOB- AND SITE-SPECIFICSAFETY TRAININGFor some positions or in certain locations, the followingsafety courses or certifi cations are required:• H 2S Alive• First Aid• First Aid Transportation Endorsement (BC only)• Seismic Blaster Safety Training• Chainsaw Faller Certifi cation• TDG• GODI (BC only)• S-100 Basic Fire Suppression & Safety (BC only)Enform provides the essential safety and training services neededby the Canadian oil and gas industry. With funding and directionfrom the six major industry trade associations, Enform’s productsand services truly refl ect industry’s priorities and direction.Enform is the oil and gas safety association for BritishColumbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Enform develops andpromotes products and practices that help the industry improveits safety performance, and manages the safety certifi cationof companies. Enform’s safety services include IndustryRecommended Practices (IRPs), the Certifi cate of Recognition(COR), Petroleum Safety Conferences, Safety Stand Down,and safety updates and alerts.Enform’s growing portfolio of more than 120 industryleadingcourses covers safety, operations, technology, andenvironmental management. Our four campuses are locatedin centres of oilpatch activity: Calgary, Nisku, Fort St. Johnand Regina. Each year, more than 180,000 Enform studentsincrease their skills with:• Self-paced e-learning and CD-based programs;• Video conference classes and seminars; and• Hands-on and classroom instruction at one of Enform’scampuses or from one of more than 600 approved partnerinstructors.On behalf of the oil and gas industry, Enform manages WesternCanadian Spill Services (WCSS). WCSS prepares workers torespond to spills safely and effectively by providing training,communication, research and development, contingency planning,and equipment readiness programs.Enform also partners with the Petroleum Human Resources Councilof Canada to manage the Petroleum Competency Program, whichcertifies worker competence in a number of oil and gas occupations.With industry funding and direction, and more than 50 years ofexperience, Enform enables its oil and gas industry customersto reach the highest standards of safety, effi ciency, andenvironmental compliance.The Canadian Association of Geophysical Contractors(CAGC) is the voice of business in the Canadianseismic industry. Working closely with its members,governments, communities and stakeholders, CAGCdevelops and administers programs and training toensure worker health and safety, while advocatingthe highest of ethical standards in the conduct of allbusiness throughout the geophysical industry.By endeavouring to self-regulate business activitieswhere feasible, CAGC’s aim is to minimize the publicexpense of governing the geophysical industry. Theassociation also strives to achieve consensus onindustry codes of practice and operating guidelines thatmeet or exceed government standards.CAGCWeb: www.cagc.caEmail: info@cagc.caPhone: (403) 265-0045Fax: (403) 265-0025Address: #1045, 1015 - 4th Street SWCalgary, Alberta T2R 1J4ENFORM AND CAGC IN PARTNERSHIPEnform and CAGC work in partnership to identify anddevelop courses for the seismic industry. Every newcourse has an committee of industry experts guidingits development. Information is shared between thetwo organizations in order to create and maintain topnotchprograms. Cross-promotion of seismic programsby Enform and CAGC ensures all sector workers areprepared for industry or regulatory changes, and wellinformedabout training and career growth opportunities.CAGC also has two representatives on theEnform Board.SEISMIC FIELD OPERATIONS,SAFETY AND TRAININGENFORMWeb:www.enform.caEmail:info@enform.caCalgaryNiskuBritish ColumbiaSaskatchewanPhone: (403) 250-9606Toll Free: 1-800-667-5557Fax: (403) 250-1289Address:1538 - 25th Avenue NECalgary, Alberta T2E 8Y3Phone: (403) 955-7770Toll Free: 1-800-387-4976Fax: (403) 955-2454Address:1020 - 20th AvenueNisku, Alberta T9E 7Z6Web: www.enformbc.caEmail: bc@enform.caPhone: (250) 785-6009Toll Free: 1-800-667-5557Fax: (250) 785-6013Address:#1240, 9600 – 93rdAvenue (Totem Mall)Fort St. John, BCV1J 5Z2Web: www.enformsk.caEmail: sk@enform.caPhone: (306) 337-9600Toll Free: 1-877-336-3676Fax: (306) 337-9610Address:#180, 1230 Blackfoot DriveRegina, SaskatchewanS4S 7G4

SIX PHASES OF SEISMIC OPERATIONSAll seismic operations involve six important phases. Each phase needs workers in different roles, with a variety of skills and training. This griddescribes each phase of seismic operations, explains what jobs fi t into each phase and lists the training required and available for each position.The seismic sector offers lots of opportunity for workers to move around – and up – with some industry training and experience.Phase 1: LandPermitting / ScoutingPermits must be in place withall stakeholders prior to the startof any seismic program.Phase 2:Line SurveyingLine surveying is conductedin two stages. The fi rst stageincludes scouting and mappingactivities. The second stageincludes the marking of all shotholes on source lines.Phase 3:Line ConstructionLine construction of sourceand receiver lines is typicallycompleted by MulcherOperators and/or Fallers.Seismic lines are constructedto allow access for seismicequipment and crews.Phase 4: Shot HoleDrilling and LoadingSeismic drills travel downconstructed lines and drill shotholes in locations that havebeen pre-determined by thesurvey crews. Shot holes arethen loaded with an explosivecharge and plugged accordingto provincial regulation.Phase 5:Data Acquisition(Recording)The data acquisition(or recording) companylays out geophones. Afterdetonation from explosivesor vibroseis, data is collectedfor analysis.Phase 6: Clean-up &ReclamationUpon program completion, allwork sites must be cleanedup and reclaimed according togovernment regulations andstakeholder agreements.SFOS FOR ALL PHASESThe Seismic Field Operations Supervisor (SFOS) course(currently under re-development) will, in the fi rst quarter of 2010,become a multi-level training course with the requirement thatcandidates gain work experience between levels:• SFOS Level I – Supervisor Accountability (three-day course)• SFOS Level II – Program Management (fi ve days of training)The SFOS courses cover the supervisor’s responsibilities for allphases of a geophysical exploration project.Phase 1: Land Permitting / Scouting• Scouting• Understanding permits• Stakeholder communicationPhase 2: Line Surveying• Types of surveying equipment• Buried facilities locatingSeismic Permit AgentSurvey HelperGPS SurveyorBuried Facilities LocatorChainsaw BuckerMulcher OperatorFallerFaller TutorDriller’s HelperDrillerDrill PushLine Crew HelperShooter / BlasterObserverCompleted by the DataAcquisition workforceCareers /PositionsPhase 3: Line Construction• Line construction• Falling requirements• Mulcher operations• Environmental areasPhase 4: Shot Hole Drilling and Loading• Seismic drilling equipment• Seismic blaster requirement• Safe work procedures• See Permit, Plat andRelease forms on the CAGCwebsite under Publications• Seismic Flagging Poster• Terrain OperationAssessment Guidelines• Geophysical MulchingOperations• Dangerous Tree Control -IRP 11• Terrain OperationAssessment Guidelines• Heli-assist / Heli-portableOperations• Seismic Activity Near NEB RegulatedPipelines• Recommended Product Testing andSpecifi cations for Electric SeismicDetonators for Use in Seismic Operations• Safe Operating Procedures for SeismicDrilling and Blasting• Ground Disturbance in the Vicinity ofBuried Facilities - IRP 17• Heli-assist / Heli-portable Operations• iButton Use for Security Surveillance onExplosive Magazines• Dust Suppression on Seismic Drilling Rigs• Alberta First Aid Requirements• Alberta First Aid Requirements• Misfi red Charges / Misfi redCharges Checklist• OSCAR Program - First Aidin Heli-assist / Heli-portableOperations• Heli-assist / Heli-portableOperations• Seismic Inspection Checklists• Terrain OperationAssessment Guidelines• Seismic Crew EmploymentStandardsTraining Requirements &Best PracticesPhase 5: Data Acquisition (Recording)• Recording equipment• Recording parameters• Methods of data acquisitionPhase 6: Clean up and Reclamation• Regulations• ResponsibilitiesThe courses also cover topics that apply to all levels ofemployees and phases of operation, including:• OHS Regulations and Responsibilities• Hazard Assessment/Management• Incident Investigation• Journey Management• Fitness for Work• Seismic Permit Agent• Seismic Permit Agent Refresher• Buried Facilities Locator – Basic• Buried Facilities Locator – SeismicNote: Most training is subject to required, job- and site-specifi c safety training.See full Training Best Practices information at www.cagc.ca.Green = Entry level positionBlue = Intermediate Position Red = Advanced Position• Level I – Chainsaw BasicsChainsaw Faller CompetencyProgram• Level II – Faller Entry• Level III- Faller Evaluation• Level IV – Faller Tutor• Faller Challenge• Mulcher Operator• Seismic Drilling• Seismic Blaster Safety Training(with 6 months fi eld experience)• Seismic Drilling• Seismic Blaster Safety Training(depending on responsibilities)• Seismic Drilling• Seismic Blaster Safety Training• Seismic Blaster Safety Trainingwww.enform.caEnform CoursesCAGC has applied for Alberta provincial governmentoccupational registration for seismic field operationssupervisors under the Professional and OccupationalAssociations Registration Act (POARA). Only supervisors whohave completed the SFOS Level II – Program Managementcourse will be eligible to apply for the POARA designation.All designated POARA SFOS’s must renew their CAGCmembership annually to retain their designation.