(55b) Applying PSM in Vaca Muerta Shale Oil & Gas Operations: The Experience

How to develop, implement and sustain Process Safety in greenfield shale oil and gas projects? This has been a challenge to many new ventures.

Although conventional oil operations have been in place for decades, the exploration, drilling and fracking operations in unconventional shale fields are relatively new in the World. Most of the projects have kicked off less than eight years ago and there are some aspects of the operations that are unique to unconventional fields.

The objective of this paper is to share with the Process Safety global community, how a fit for purpose Process Safety program was developed and is being implemented in the Upstream Unconventional shale oil and gas YPF & Chevron joint venture in Vaca Muerta / Argentina. The project started in 2013, has currently 14 D&C rigs, 5 fracking sets, several separation and treatment production facilities, 3,500 employees and is expected to grow even more in the next 5 years. The paper describes how the project team developed the idea, planned the steps, engaged all stakeholders and selected the key elements of the Process Safety Management System that would add more value in each stage of the project, including drilling, fracking and oil and gas production. The paper also explains the key challenges, such as the difficulties faced to instill Operational Discipline and other key cultural and technical aspects related to Contractor field Operation crews. The journey to implement Process Safety in the Unconventional shale oil & gas operations is very dynamic and is in progress, however, there are already several positive aspects as well as pitfalls to take away as a lesson learned.