Product Overview

Summary: This Offshore Drilling Safety Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step-by-step framework for planning, executing and monitoring drilling activities on offshore rigs in line with Australian WHS expectations. It helps operators control high-risk activities, protect crews in harsh marine environments, and demonstrate due diligence to regulators, clients and insurers.

Offshore drilling combines complex equipment, high pressures and a remote marine environment, making it one of the most tightly regulated and scrutinised operations in Australia’s resources sector. This Offshore Drilling Safety SOP sets out a practical, end‑to‑end safety framework that covers pre-spud planning, rig-up, drilling, tripping, well control, maintenance activities and demobilisation. It translates legislative and industry requirements into clear procedures that frontline crews, supervisors and management can actually follow on a busy rig.

Developed for Australian conditions, the SOP focuses on preventing major accident events such as blowouts, fires, explosions, dropped objects and man-overboard incidents, while also addressing everyday risks like manual handling, slips, trips and fatigue. It supports your Safety Case and WHS management system by standardising critical tasks, clarifying roles and communication pathways, and embedding risk assessment, permit-to-work and isolation processes into each stage of drilling. The result is a more controlled operation, improved workforce confidence, and a stronger ability to demonstrate compliance to NOPSEMA, Safe Work regulators and corporate stakeholders.

Key Benefits

• Ensure offshore drilling activities are conducted in line with Australian WHS laws and NOPSEMA regulatory expectations.
• Reduce the likelihood of major incidents such as well blowouts, fires, explosions and uncontrolled releases of hydrocarbons.
• Standardise critical drilling and well control tasks across crews, shifts and contractors to minimise human error.
• Strengthen your Safety Case and WHS management system with documented, defensible procedures for high-risk activities.
• Improve workforce competency, communication and emergency readiness through clear instructions and defined responsibilities.

Who is this for?

• Offshore Installation Managers (OIMs)
• Drilling Supervisors
• Toolpushers
• Rig Managers
• WHS Advisors and HSE Managers
• Company Men / Client Representatives
• Drillers and Assistant Drillers
• Offshore Safety Officers
• Marine Supervisors
• Operations Managers – Oil and Gas

Hazards Addressed

• Well control failures and blowouts due to loss of hydrostatic pressure or equipment malfunction
• Uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons and flammable gases
• Fire and explosion risks from ignition sources in hazardous areas
• High-pressure line failures and stored energy releases
• Dropped objects from derricks, cranes and elevated work areas
• Man-overboard incidents during deck work, transfer operations and emergencies
• Slips, trips and falls on wet, moving or cluttered decks
• Crane and lifting operations, including load swings and rigging failures
• Exposure to harsh weather, sea states and vessel motion (heave, roll, pitch)
• Confined space entry hazards in tanks, pits and enclosed machinery spaces
• Noise-induced hearing loss from drilling equipment and machinery
• Manual handling injuries during pipe handling and equipment movement
• Fatigue-related errors due to shift work, remote location and long rosters
• Chemical exposure from drilling fluids, additives and cleaning agents
• Electrical hazards from high-voltage equipment and temporary power supplies

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose, Scope and Application
• 2.0 References, Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Pre-Drilling Planning and Risk Assessment
• 5.0 Permit to Work, Isolation and Lockout/Tagout Procedures
• 6.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Safety Equipment Requirements
• 7.0 Rig-Up, Pre-Spud and Pre-Start Safety Checks
• 8.0 Safe Operating Procedure – Normal Drilling Operations
• 9.0 Safe Operating Procedure – Tripping, Casing and Cementing Operations
• 10.0 Well Control Practices and Blowout Preventer (BOP) Management
• 11.0 Lifting Operations, Dropped Object Prevention and Working at Height
• 12.0 Marine and Deck Safety, Man-Overboard Prevention and Personnel Transfer
• 13.0 Management of Hazardous Chemicals and Drilling Fluids
• 14.0 Fatigue Management, Fitness for Work and Remote Location Considerations
• 15.0 Emergency Preparedness, Response and Muster Procedures
• 16.0 Incident, Near Miss and Non-Conformance Reporting
• 17.0 Training, Induction and Competency Verification
• 18.0 Inspection, Maintenance and Housekeeping Requirements
• 19.0 Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement
• 20.0 Document Control and Record-Keeping

Legislation & References

• Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (Cth)
• Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Safety) Regulations 2009 (Cth)
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent State/Territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth)
• NOPSEMA – Offshore Petroleum Facility Safety Case Guidance
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing the risk of falls at workplaces
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still widely referenced)
• AS/NZS ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
• AS/NZS 60079 series: Explosive atmospheres (for hazardous area electrical equipment)
• API Standard 53: Well Control Equipment Systems for Drilling Wells (industry best practice reference)