Definition(s)
Barrier
Envelope of one or several well barrier elements preventing fluids from flowing unintentionally from the formation into the wellbore, into another formation or to the environment.
Source: ABS Guide for Classification and Certification of Managed Pressure Drilling Systems, September 2017. Global Standards
Barrier
Functional grouping of safeguards or controls selected to prevent a major accident or limit the consequences
- Note 1 to entry: Barriers can be subdivided into hardware barriers or human barriers and are supported by management system elements.
- Note 2 to entry: Adapted from IOGP Report No. 415.
Source: ISO 17776:2016, Petroleum and natural gas industries — Offshore production installations — Major accident hazard management during the design of new installations, Second Edition, December 2016. Global Standards
Barriers
Obstacle to prevent flow whose performance can be verified.
Source:API SPECIFICATION 19TT, Specification for Downhole Well Test Tools and Related Equipment, First Edition, October 2016. Global Standards
Barrier
A risk control that seeks to prevent unintended events from occurring, or prevent escalation of events into incidents with harmful consequences.
For process safety, further reference to barriers can be found in OGP Reports No. 415 and No. 456.
Source: IOGP Report No. 510, Operating Management System Framework for controlling risk and delivering high performance in the oil and gas industry, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, June 2014. Global Standards
Barrier
Component or practice that contributes to the total system reliability by preventing formation fluid or gas flow.
Source: API RP 96, Deepwater Well Design and Construction, First Edition, March 2013. Global Standards
Source: API Bulletin 97, Well Construction Interface Document Guidelines, First Edition, December 2013. Global Standards
Barrier
In this RP, barriers are defined as components or practices that contribute to the total system reliability to prevent or stop formation fluid or gas flow.
Source: API RP 96, Deepwater Well Design and Construction, First Edition, March 2013. Global Standards
Barriers
“Barrier” means any fluid, plug or seal that prevents gas or oil or any other fluid from flowing unintentionally from a well or from a formation into another formation (barrière).
Source: Canada Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Regulations, SOR/2009-315, February 2013. Regulations
Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Drilling and Production Regulations, SOR/2009-317, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. Regulations
Barrier
Barriers as mentioned in the first subsection, can consist of either physical or non-physical measures, or a combination. The requirement for independence as mentioned in the second subsection, means that it should not be possible for multiple important barriers to be impaired or malfunction simultaneously, e.g. as a result of a single fault or a single incident. Barriers can also be measures designed to prevent or limit the spread of acute pollution.
Source: Guidelines Regarding the Management Regulations, Norway, updated December 2012. Regulatory Guidance
Barrier
Technical, human or organizational safeguards that are put in place to prevent, mitigate or control health, safety or environmental risks.
Incident Reporting and Investigation Guidelines, The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada, November 30, 2012. Regulatory Guidance
Barrier
Element forming part of a pressure-containing envelope which is designed to prevent unintentional flow of produced/injected fluids, particularly to the external environment.
Source: API RP 17A, Design and Operation of Subsea Production Systems—General Requirements and Recommendations, Fourth Edition, Reaffirmed 2011. Global Standards
Barrier
One or several barrier elements that are designed to prevent unintended flow of formation fluid.
Source: API RP 17G, Recommended Practice for Completion/Workover Risers, Second Edition, July 2006 (Reaffirmed April 2011). Global Standards
Barriers
The term barrier is defined as meaning any fluid or any plug or seal that prevents hydrocarbons or any other fluid from flowing unintentionally from a formation, into another formation, or unintentionally flowing from a well.
Source: Drilling and Production Guidelines, The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada, March 31, 2011. Regulatory Guidance
Barriers
Barrier means any fluid, plug or seal that prevents petroleum or any other fluid from flowing unintentionally from a well or from a formation into another formation.
Source: Drilling and Production Guidelines, The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada, March 31, 2011. Regulatory Guidance
Barriers
A functional grouping of safeguards, such as primary containment, process equipment, engineered systems, operational procedures, management system elements, or worker capabilities designed to prevent LOPC and other types of asset integrity or process safety events, and mitigate any potential consequences of such events. A set of barriers is also often referred to as a risk control system.
Source: OGP Report No. 456, Process Safety – Recommended Practice on Key Performance Indicators, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, November 2011. Global Standards
Barrier
Measure which reduces the probability of releasing a hazard’s potential for harm or which reduces its consequences. (Barriers are Controls or Defences.)
The hierarchy of barriers is:
- prevention,
- detection,
- control,
- mitigation,
- emergency response.
Other Related Terms and Definitions: ISO-17776 – Measure which reduces the probability of realizing a hazard’s potential for harm and which reduces its consequences.
Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors, Appendix 2 to Health, Safety and Environment Case Guidelines for Offshore Drilling Contractors, Issue 3.3.2, February 2010. IADC Guidelines
Barrier
A functional grouping of safeguards and controls selected to prevent the realization of a hazard. Each barrier typically includes a mix of: plant (equipment), process (documented and ‘custom and practice’) and people (personal skills and their application). The selected combination of these ensures the barrier is suitable, sufficient and available to deliver its expected risk reduction.
Source: OGP Report No. 415, Asset integrity – the key to managing major incident risks, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, December 2008. Global Standards
Barrier
Measure which reduces the probability of realizing a hazard’s potential for harm and which reduces its consequence.
- NOTE Barriers may be physical (material, protective devices, shields, segregation, etc.) or non-physical (procedures, inspection, training, drills, etc.)
Source: ISO 17776:2000, Petroleum and natural gas industries – Offshore production installations – Guidelines on tools and techniques for hazard identification and risk assessment. Global Standards
Barrier
A functional grouping of safeguards and controls selected to prevent realization of a hazard.
Source: OGP Report No. 415, Asset integrity – the key to managing major incident risks, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, December 2008. Global Standards