Identification of hazardous nature of well drilling operation with associated potential hazards at oil and gas extraction industries: an explanatory approach

This study illustrates about the most hazardous and risky activities associated with well drilling operation at on and offshore oil and gas drilling sites by adopting exploratory research design (quantitative leading to qualitative). In this study researcher has targeted three oil and gas industries each from Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan for the identification of associated hazards and nature of hazardous activities faced by drilling crew during well drilling operation. Eighty (80) drilling crew members have been randomly selected for answering the survey questionnaire. Likewise, nine (09) drilling health and safety officials have been conveniently selected based on their safety expertise in oil and gas drilling field for semi structured in-depth interview. For analyzing quantitative findings descriptive statistical methods has been used. While for qualitative section thematic analysis approach has been utilized. Based on the findings, respondents from Malaysian oil and gas industries reported starting drilling activity as highly hazardous at onshore well drilling, while handling drilling pipe has been considered more hazardous activity at offshore domain. Similarly, in the context of Saudi Arabia, respondents highlighted that the handling drilling pipes are cause of major injuries at onshore well drilling site. Whereas drilling fluid preparation and coring process is considered harmful at offshore sites. In contrast, participant from Pakistan indicated coring process as a highly hazardous activity at on and offshore well drilling operation. According to overall results based on the participant response, oil and gas well drilling operation at onshore domain is considered more hazardous at Pakistani oil and gas industry as compare to other targeted industries with mean range 3.42. While for offshore well drilling, Malaysian industry is recorded highly hazardous as compare to others leading with mean value 3.39 and related with chemical and safety hazards in well drilling activities