Product Overview

This Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) provides a structured, step-by-step approach to managing hazards and controlling risks associated with oil and gas drilling rig operations and well control. It is a comprehensive document that brings together multiple activities and tasks to support robust WHS compliance across the full drilling and well intervention lifecycle.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Planning and execution of oil and gas drilling operations, including rig-up, drilling, tripping and rig-down activities
• Control of pressure during drilling, including monitoring of well parameters, kick detection and shut-in procedures
• Well drilling operations from spud to total depth, including circulation, mud management and drill string handling
• Installation of surface casing, cementing operations and verification of well integrity
• Administration and safe operation of coil tubing units, injectors, reels and pressure control equipment
• Administration of production flowback operations, including flowback manifolds, separation equipment and flare systems
• Water injection activities, including pump operation, pressure management and protection of injection lines
• Conducting slickline operations, including running, retrieving and servicing downhole tools under pressure control
• Performing wireline perforating operations, including explosives handling, arming, firing and misfire management
• Undertaking wireline logging activities, including tool deployment, cable management and wellsite exclusion zones
• Fixing and conducting blowout preventer (BOP) testing, including function tests, pressure tests and test documentation
• Ensuring proper maintenance and inspection of frac tanks, including structural integrity, bunding and contamination control
• Implementing derrick operations, including climbing, working at height, hoisting, lifting and dropped-object prevention
• Removal of well casing and associated heavy-lift, cutting, handling and disposal controls
• Management of well control emergencies, including kick response, blowout prevention, emergency shutdown and evacuation procedures
• General rig site traffic management, plant interaction, communication protocols and permit-to-work integration

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for drilling contractors, oil and gas operators, well services companies (coil tubing, slickline, wireline, frac and flowback), and site supervisors responsible for onshore or offshore drilling rig operations and well control.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017
• Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace – for drilling fluids, treatment chemicals, explosives and hydrocarbons used on site
• Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work – for high-noise drilling, pumping and flowback operations
• Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces – for derrick work, monkey board access and elevated platforms
• Code of Practice: Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace – for drilling rigs, coil tubing units, wireline trucks, pumps and pressure equipment
• Code of Practice: Confined Spaces – where applicable to tanks, pits or enclosed process vessels associated with drilling operations
• Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace – for emergency response planning and first aid arrangements on remote drilling sites
• AS/NZS 2865: Confined spaces – for detailed confined space entry and control requirements where relevant
• AS/NZS 60079 (Explosive atmospheres – relevant parts) – for managing electrical equipment and ignition sources in hazardous areas
• AS 2868: Timber pole structures for overhead lines – where applicable to temporary power distribution around drilling sites