Oilfield Explosives Safety

API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 67 THIRD EDITION, OCTOBER 2019

Special Notes

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Copyright © 2019 American Petroleum Institute

Foreword

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1. Scope 1

2. Normative References 1

3. Terms, Definitions, and Abbreviations 2

   1. Terms and Definitions 2

   2. Symbols and Abbreviated Terms 9

4. General 11

   1. Application 11

   2. Human Factors 11

   3. Attitude 11

   4. Technical Innovation 11

5. Transportation and Security for Oilfield Explosives 12

   1. General 12

   2. Storage 12

   3. Transportation 13

   4. Disposal/Recycling of Spent Perforating Guns 16

6. Surface Equipment 16

   1. Introduction 16

   2. Electrical Power 16

   3. Cable Safety System 16

   4. Firing System 17

   5. Communication System 17

   6. Inspection and Maintenance 17

   7. Electrical Grounding/Bonding System 17

   8. Electric Detonator Safety Tube 18

   9. Electrical Testing Instruments 18

   10. Explosives Warning Signs (Land Operations) 18

   11. Chemical Cutter 18

   12. Pressure Testing of Wellhead Pressure Control Equipment 19

7. Downhole Equipment 21

   1. Introduction 21

   2. Primary Explosives 21

   3. Detonators and Initiating Devices 21

   4. Selective Firing Perforating Gun Systems 24

   5. Detonators with Ballistic Interrupts 29

   6. Downhole Firing Systems 32

   7. Other Downhole Equipment 34

   8. Special Provisions for Shallow Operations 35

   9. Electric Downhole Tractors 35

8. Time Delays 36

   1. Description 36

   2. Design Features and Requirements 36

   3. Safety Aspects 37

   4. Operational Considerations 37

9. Field Safety Procedures 38

   1. Introduction 38

      
      

   2. Transportation of Explosives 38

   3. Arrival at the Wellsite 38

   4. Loading or Downloading of Explosive Components at the Wellsite 40

   5. Thermally Overexposed Explosive Devices 41

   6. Gaseous By-products of Perforating 44

10. Electric Line-conveyed Operations 46

    1. Wellsite Preparation 46

    2. Prechecks 47

    3. Preparation for Explosive Device Attachment 48

    4. Arming the Explosive Device 49

    5. Deploying the Explosive Device 50

    6. Recovery of the Explosive Device 51

11. Tubing-conveyed Perforating Operations 52

    1. Wellsite Preparation 52

    2. Preparing the Explosive Device 53

    3. Arming the Explosive Device 53

    4. Deploying the Explosive Device 54

    5. Recovery of the Explosive Device 54

12. Coiled Tubing Perforating Operations 55

    1. General Information 55

    2. Coiled Tubing Perforating and Simultaneous Operations (SimOps) 55

    3. Job Design 55

    4. Wellsite Checks 56

    5. Preparing the Explosive Device 56

    6. Deploying the Explosive Device 56

    7. Recovery of the Explosive Device 56

13. Slickline Perforating Operations 56

    1. Responsibility 56

    2. Field Safety Considerations 56

    3. Wellsite Checks 57

    4. Recovery of the Explosive Device 57

14. Special Categories of Explosive Devices 57

    1. Setting Tools 57

    2. Cased Hole Formation Testers 57

    3. Propellant Stimulation Tools 57

    4. Bullet Perforating Guns 58

    5. Propellant-activated Sidewall Sample Takers 58

15. Personnel Training 58

    1. Introduction 58

    2. Classification of Personnel 58

    3. Qualifications 59

    4. Training 60

Annex A (normative) Critical Safety Equipment for Operations 61

Annex B (informative) Explosive Arming and Disarming Safety-critical Fundamentals—

Electric Detonators 64

Annex C (informative) Recommended Safety Equipment and Processes 66

Annex D (informative) Stray Voltage Worksheet 67

Annex E (informative) Wellsite Audit Checklist 68

Bibliography 74

Figures

1 Flow Chart Guide for Recovery of Thermally Overexposed Explosive Devices 43

D.1 Stray Voltage Worksheet 67

1. Wellsite Audit Checklist 68

2. Deficiency/Corrective Action Details 73

Tables

1 Calculated Gaseous By-products 45

Oilfield Explosives Safety

1. Scope

   This publication is applicable to chemical explosives used as an energy source to do work in oil- and gas-producing operations, and more specifically to explosives intended for use inside a wellbore. The purpose of this recommended practice (RP) is primarily to prevent the inadvertent initiation of these explosives at the wellsite but also includes some recommendations for safe and secure storage and transportation and handling, as well as requirements for design and manufacture of selected equipment.

   
   

   Additionally, there are five annexes included as part of this RP that provide important guidance:

   
   

   • Annex A: Critical Safety Equipment for Operations;

     
     

   • Annex B: Explosive Arming and Disarming Safety Critical Fundamentals—Electric Detonators;

     
     

   • Annex C: Recommended Safety Equipment and Processes;

     
     

   • Annex D: Stray Voltage Worksheet;

     
     

   • Annex E: Wellsite Audit Checklist;

   
   

   With the exception of Annex A, these annexes have been provided as reference material; they are not intended to replace the full text of this document but rather are provided as supplemental information. Operating companies and/or service companies may establish more comprehensive and exhaustive materials, as they deem appropriate for their particular situation(s).

   
   

   While some chemicals intended for various nonexplosive applications can prove explosive when misused (such as lithium batteries), it is not the intent of this RP to address these materials.

   
   

2. Normative References

The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any addenda) applies.

IME Safety Library Publication 20 1: Safety Guide for the Prevention of Radio Frequency Radiation Hazards in the Use of Commercial Electric Detonators (Blasting Caps)

MIL-DTL-23659F 2, Detail Specification: Initiators, Electric, General Design Specifications for

U.S. DOL Title 29 3, CFR Part 1910.119, Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals

VG 95378-11:2014 4, Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)—Electromagnetic Compatibility of Electroexplosive Devices (EED)—Part 11: Test Procedure for Proof of Immunity to Disturbance of EED Towards Pulses of Electrostatic Discharge

1. Institute of Makers of Explosives, 1212 New York Ave, NW, Suite 650, Washington, DC 20005, www.ime.org.

2. U.S. Department of Defense, 1400 Defense Blvd, Washington, DC 20301, www.everyspec.com.

3. U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20210, www.dol.gov.

4. German Institute for Standardization (DIN), Saatwinkler Damm 42/43, 13627 Berlin, Germany, www.din.de.

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