Proforma Safety Helps Ensure Safe Operations at Mountaineer CO2 Sequestration Project

Groundbreaking Project Currently in Drilling Phase; Proforma Safety Providing HSE Oversight

Proforma Safety LLC is helping launch a new generation for coal-fired plants at the Mountaineer Project in New Haven, West VA, where American Electric Power (AEP) will test post-combustion carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture and sequestration technologies. The CO₂ will be injected into two wells, which will be drilled to depths approaching 8,500 feet. There also will be three monitoring wells.  Battelle Memorial Institute is serving as consultant on geologic storage and is providing oversight during field operations. Union Drilling is providing drilling services for the project, which began in August and is projected for completion in 2009.

Houston-based Proforma Safety is on site at the Mountaineer Project, ensuring every aspect of drilling operations is conducted safely. Charles Dougan and Jay Lavergne, safety consultants with Proforma Safety, share oversight for these operations, working with Union Drilling and other site service providers.

Charles Dougan, Proforma Safety HSSE Advisor, explains Proforma's role. "Our job is to create an environment of safety awareness that is pervasive across all operations," says Charles. "We believe safety requires continual and integrated planning, strong processes, daily and consistent training and the right equipment for the job. We're in constant communication with all project personnel. Our job is to ensure policies and procedures are followed according to the respective manuals and guidelines for host company AEP, Battelle and Union Drilling.

"Each project we undertake for a client is unique, so we make sure our services target their needs," he continued. "For example, we advise Battelle staff on OSHA requirements for drilling operations; in particular, safety requirements and guidelines on anchors and guy lines, which would not normally be their area of expertise."

Danielle Meggyesy, Battelle supervisor for the drilling operation, comments: "Our expectation is that every aspect of construction and drilling will be conducted with the highest regard for safety. Proforma Safety is helping ensure this goal is met."

Paul Kawada, lead HSSE Coordinator for AEP, tells how Charles "has worked hard to make the drilling operation mesh with the construction guidelines," he said. "Industrial construction is a totally different world from drilling operations. Charles has combined the two with a positive attitude and communicated that same approach down to the rig hands.

"Proforma Safety has done, and continues to do, what is needed for our project to succeed," Paul concluded. "Proforma has positively handled every challenge our project has presented."

Proforma Safety President Mike Arnold explains how drilling operations in northern states such as West Virginia have vastly different conditions and requirements from those in the lower U.S. and especially offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. But while drilling storage and test wells may differ from oil and gas discovery well drilling, the safety concerns remain the same.

"Our main goal," says Mike, "is to make sure that all personnel return home each day in the same condition as when they reported for work - without injuries and in good health. We start every tower or shift with a safety tool-box meeting and Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) that cover the day's operations. This ensures the first thing a crewmember hears before starting work is SAFETY.  

"During every shift," he continues, "we maintain our presence on the rig floor, around the location and even in the coffee break doghouse. This keeps safety as a constant reminder in every hand's mind."

Proforma Safety engages the rig crew members in discussions concerning their safety and the safety of those working around them. Proforma tries to instill two main safety-related ideas in everyone that comes on location: (1) conduct a "what-if" analysis in advance of any job or task to identify any hazards that may exist, and (2) understand his or her rights and obligation to stop the job if a hazard does exist, or if he or she doesn't feel comfortable that a job or task will be done safely.  

Jay Lavergne, Proforma Safety HSSE Advisor, summarized the attitude he has encountered at Mountaineer. "We are working with some very professional personnel on this assignment and everyone has accepted the same safety philosophy - no injuries and no damage to equipment, or the environment.

"If you're successful in getting everyone to commit and cooperate, it doesn't get much more complicated than that."

Proforma Safety is a family-owned and operated company that has achieved global reach because of its reputation for excellence in HSE representation on the job. The company is a leader in the safety industry for preventing lost-time accidents for its clients around the world.

For more information on Proforma Safety, visit www.proformasafety.com.