scope:

1.3 SCOPE

1.3.1 Applications

1.3.1.1 This recommended practice is intended for application to oil, gas, and sulphur facilities in the OCS and to associated equipment handling "toxics", "flammables", and "other materials" described in Pars. 1.3.1.2 and 1.3.1.3. This includes well drilling, servicing, production, and pipeline facilities and operations that have the potential for creating a safety or environmental hazard. The elements of these recommended practices should be applied to these facilities, as appropriate. For simple and nearly identical facilities (such as well jackets and single well caissons), certain elements of the safety and environmental management program, as applicable, need be addressed only once, after verifying that site specific deviations have been evaluated.

Operations that are not within the scope of this recommended practice include facilities and pipeline operations regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation Research and Special Programs Administration, except to the extent the operation or changes in the operation of such facilities or pipelines may be expected to impact safety or environmental protection on facilities subject to this recommended practice. When actions are taken in accordance with this recommended practice, such actions should conform to the most current requirements of applicable federal, state, local regulations, or flag State requirements.

It is recognized that some safety and environmental management systems may have been developed using guidelines of other organizations which may be more appropriate for certain applications (e.g., the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) International Safety Management (ISM) Code for vessel operations). In assessing these systems against this recommended practice the focus should be on assuring the necessary program elements are addressed, not the format or order of the system documentation.

1.3.1.2 Toxic substances sometimes handled in OCS operations include hydrogen sulfide (H2S), chlorine (Cl2), and ammonia (NH3). The following are examples of facilities other than oil, gas, and sulphur extraction facilities to which this recommended practice also may be applicable:

a. Hydrogen sulfide and sulphur recovery facilities.

b. Chlorine handling and storage facilities.

c. Ammonia storage and refrigeration facilities.

1.3.1.3 Due to their thermal, physical, or chemical properties, other materials handled in offshore operations may constitute a safety or environmental hazard if released in an uncontrolled manner. Such substances include steam, hot water, certain chemicals, heat transfer fluids, molten sulphur, and naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM).