| If you have not
seen the TV series “Black Gold”, you have probably heard about it. I
have seen the episodes to date as well as heard a lot about it from
colleagues and co-workers. Based on the reviews I have read on line as
well as the show's trailers, the show has attracted quite a following:
“It's undeniably entertaining” – Variety, “ .... you've
got a show that's at once an amalgam of every good-ole-boy cliché and
utterly authentic” – Dallas Morning News. To the average person
unfamiliar with a well run drilling operation the show is captivating,
and interesting….it is also wrong on so many levels. In the view of the
American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE) this show is a
disgrace to our industry. “Black Gold” does not represent the
efficient, safe and environmentally responsible drilling operations
conducted by the majority of Oil and Gas Operators and Drilling
Contractors, but rather panders to the stereotypes of our industry that
have been invalid for decades.
First, the basic premise of the show is
incorrect: three adjacent rigs competing against one another to reach
the same reservoir first. This premise is nothing more than false
drama. Competition for leases is conducted during the planning and
lease-purchasing phase of exploration and development not actual well
operations. This just confirms the view many of us hold about a portion
of the media; any premise is justified to develop a sense of urgency and
interest to maintain the viewer. However, what is more disturbing is
the program's utter disregard for Health, Safety and the Environment (HSE)
that is exhibited on so many levels. Left unchallenged, this disregard
for HSE becomes the dominant view the public holds of how we, the oil
and gas industry run our operations.
On the environmental side; the images
of mud spills resulting from careless and improper operating practices
gives the impression that all drilling operations inflict a high level
of environmental damage. For dramatic effect the crews do not utilize a
mud saver valve on the Kelly nor do they even use a mud bucket to divert
the mud back to the circulating system. I started my drilling career in
1981 as a Mud Engineer in the over-thrust belt of western Wyoming, even
then the mud saver valve and mud bucket were standard equipment on all
rigs for safety and to prevent the loss of expensive mud. For this show
to continuously show no mud management while tripping, and the failure
to use technology that is over 30 years old, suggest the producers are
paying the crews to intentionally engage in unsafe acts for dramatic
effect. This unfortunately reinforces common stereotypes about the
dangers and dirty nature of drilling.
In the areas of Health, and Safety the
shows also comes up way short. Safety Meetings and the use of even
basic job safety analysis are non-existent. The crews routinely neglect
to use proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). In most scenes the
crews wear only hardhats, no safety glasses, no gloves and no hearing
protection. The rig equipment is pre 1980’s, without even basic
automation to increase crew safety. The show portrays an over emphasis
on getting the job done quickly with no emphasis on body placement
and only generic references to working safe. Repeated viewing of such a
disregard for the use of PPE coupled with little to no safety culture on
these rigs makes a knowledgeable viewer question whether operators and
contractors such as those depicted in “Black Gold” even have a viable HSE
department. Does their management even understand the basics of safety
management or safety systems? If this is a "True" reality show, and the
program is an honest portrayal of these contractors operations the
answer is no.
Actions displayed on the show would
bring immediate dismissal from any reputable operator or drilling
contractor. In addition to the lack of proper PPE, new crewmembers are
allowed to work alone with no supervision while hoisting pipe to the rig
floor. If there were any JSAs (Job Safety Analyses) completed prior to
operations, it is not evident in the actions of the crews and, more
disturbing, not evident in the actions of rig site management. Many of
the activities seem staged for the camera to reinforce old
stereotypes rather than provide an accurate representation of the
working environment on the majority of drilling operations onshore or
offshore.
The announcer repeatedly reminds the
viewer that when the rig is behind schedule, safety takes a backseat.
This is entirely counter to the "Stop the Job", "Goal Zero", "One
Accident is too Many" culture that is endorsed and utilized by the
majority of operators and contractors. Among reputable operators and
contractors the HSE culture is based on the belief that accident free
operations are not only possible but expected. International
Association of Drilling Contractor (IADC) and OSHA statistics show a
consistently improving accident rate in rig operations. In Safety, the
Exploration & Production business is actually one of the safer
industries, with an overall TRIR of 2.0 (OSHA 2006). TRIR is the Total
Recordable Incident Rate, and the number is meant to reflect how many
incidents occur in a workforce of approximately 100 people over a full
year. For rig operations specifically, the TRIR is 5.1 onshore, 1.4
Offshore and averages 2.1 worldwide (IADC, 2007 YTD). This compares to
5.1 for construction and 6.0 for manufacturing. To really put Safety in
perspective, the average 2.1 TRIR for rig operations is lower than the
3.3 TRIR for Real Estate! You are safer on the rig floor than driving
around with a real estate agent. IADC records show there are rigs
onshore and offshore that go years with out a recordable accident. In
our industry we have rigs that have never had a lost time accident, from
start up these rigs have operated years with out a single lost time
accident. Accident free operations are not only possible, they should be
the expectation. The mindset displayed on "Black Gold" that "people
will get hurt”, "accidents will happen" and "you have to be crazy to do
what we do" is unacceptable and inaccurate.
This show has been the subject of much
discussion amongst the AADE board members. It is the position of AADE
that Operator and Drilling Contractor management is responsible for
providing a strong HSE culture for crews to work safely at the rig site.
We recognize there are some elements of "Black Gold" which portray the
oil field spirit. Understanding the personal situation of your crew and
providing additional chances, ensuring your crew is fed while pulling a
double shift in spite of upsetting the Tool Pusher, in short, doing the
right thing. It is not our intention to belittle those individuals not
fortunate enough to work on an operation managed by the majority of
reputable operators and contractors. They have a right to make a
living. It is our opinion that these employees are also entitled to
work in a supportive HSE culture where accident free operations are
encouraged, supported and expected. The bottom line is our industry
operates with high pressures, heavy loads and heavy equipment. There
are risks associated with our operations; however, that does not mean
accidents will happen. We can perform our work accident free. The
majority of our industry rig operations are executed day in and day out
accident free, and that should be the expectation.
Sadly, the operational environment
depicted in "Black Gold" does exist in pockets of our industry.
Fortunately such an environment does not exist among the reputable
drilling contractors and operators that make up the majority of our
industry. Many companies refuse to do business with contractors that
operate with a disregard for HSE as seen on “Black Gold”. It is the
view of AADE that more industry leaders need to speak out and reinforce
the opinion that operations such as those depicted on “Black Gold” are
unacceptable and should be stopped. The program is a disgrace to the
industry; it is more of a “Black Eye” than “Black Gold”.
Joe Leimkuhler
President
American Association of Drilling Engineers
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