AOGCC updates well safety regulations

The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission said Feb. 15 that it has launched a “comprehensive and thorough” evaluation of its safety valve system regulations to prevent well blowouts and environmental pollution.

AOGCC Commissioner Cathy Foerster said the regulations also help prevent waste of the state’s hydrocarbon resources and support safe working conditions for well site employees.

“These regulations were last updated about 10 years ago,” Forester said in a statement. “The AOGCC is taking action proactively to review the current SVS requirements. We won’t hesitate to revise the regulations to reflect new technology as well as new operating experiences and conditions.”

Blair Wondzell of Anchorage, a registered professional petroleum engineer and a former member of the commission’s staff, has been engaged to assist the commission with the regulatory review and evaluation. Wondzell was instrumental in crafting the current safety valve system regulations, the commission said.

Foerster said “Wondzell has considerable experience and intimate knowledge of well SVS and oil field operations,” knowledge which “is a direct benefit to the state and industry.”

She said the commission’s goal is to complete the evaluation, develop new regulations and begin scheduling public hearings by June.

“At one time, blowouts were a common occurrence in the oil and gas industry,” Forester said. “However, the development of engineering safeguards, such as safety valves, and the careful regulation of their use, including frequent testing, have all but eliminated loss of well control.”

—Petroleum News