Section 8-1 - Safety Procedures for Special Services and Operations (a) General Requirements. - (i) Fire extinguishers provided by special services employers shall be placed in an accessible position.
- (ii) There shall be a minimum number of employees in the derrick or within six (6) feet of the well bore during the time a swab line or other wire line is being run in the hole.
- (iii) A frozen flow line or hose shall not knowingly be flexed or hit.
- (iv) Line wipers shall be adequately secured.
- (v) Oil savers should not be adjusted while the line is in motion except by remote means.
- (vi) Only a qualified person shall operate the cathead.
- (vii) All discharge lines shall be laid with sufficient flexible joints, preventing rigidity so as to eliminate excess vibration at the well bore.
- (viii) All valves and gauges shall be checked to be sure there is no pressure on the lubricator before working on or removing it. Prior to breaking out (rigging down), all pressure shall be bled off the lines that are to be broken out.
- (ix) Prior to and during loosening a connection that has been pressurized and bled, checks shall be made for trapped pressure before disassembly.
- (x) Lubricators, swages, and unions shall be visually checked for unsafe conditions prior to installation. Any defects adversely affecting safe operations, such as but not limited to cuts, corrosion and thread damage, shall be corrected prior to installation.
- (xi) A lubricator or other adequate control devices shall be used to allow the removal of the downhole tool under controlled conditions.
- (xii) Hammering shall not be permitted on the lubricator or a connection when it is subjected to pressure.
- (xiii) The supervisor of the special service shall hold a pre-job meeting to review responsibilities for the operation to be performed.
- (xiv) Precautions shall be taken to prevent personnel or vehicles from crossing under or over unprotected wire lines, pressurized hoses, or pipe.
- (xv) Smoking or open fires shall be permitted only in designated areas.
- (xvi) Tanks for flammable materials (except rig fuel tanks) shall be set a distance far enough away from the well bore to allow a minimum distance of seventy-five (75) feet from well bore and from equipment.
- (xvii) Tanks for flammable materials shall be set so that if the tanks leak or rupture the flammable materials will drain away from the well and equipment by the use of ditches or dikes or their equivalent.
- (xviii) Signals between supervisors, employees, or other persons involved shall be agreed upon prior to start of operations.
- (xix) All discharge lines (pressure lines) shall be placed so as not to be under any mobile equipment nor shall any mobile equipment be placed over any such lines.
- (xx) Any high pressure flow line or hose (in excess of 100 pounds pressure) shall be tied down securely to prevent whipping.
- (xxi) When using an open ended flow line to flow or bleed off a well, it shall be secured at the end of the flow line and at each thirty (30) foot interval before opening the flow line.
- (xxii) Tubing pulled from wells shall not be used for pressure lines, unless it has been checked and found to be satisfactory for the intended use.
- (xxiii) Only necessary personnel shall be permitted near the pressurized lubricator, flow lines and well bore.
- (xxiv) All well head adapters, wire line valves and lubricating equipment shall be of such design strength and material to withstand the maximum surface pressure of the well and the lateral movement of the lubricator.
- (xxv) All applicable requirements of other sections of these rules and regulations, in addition to those found within this section, shall apply to special services and operations.