Oil & Gas Operational Safety 5-Day Course Outline - KSA, Oman & GCC

Master Petroleum Industry Safety with Specialized Oil & Gas Training in Saudi Arabia, Oman & Gulf Region

The Oil & Gas Operational Safety Course is a specialized 5-day intensive program designed for professionals working in the petroleum, petrochemical, and energy sectors across Saudi Arabia (KSA), Oman, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. This comprehensive training covers upstream, midstream, and downstream operations, equipping participants with critical knowledge to manage high-risk activities in refineries, offshore platforms, drilling operations, and petrochemical facilities throughout the GCC.

Why Oil & Gas Safety Training is Critical in the Middle East?

The GCC region is home to the world’s largest hydrocarbon reserves and most complex energy infrastructure:

• Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, PDO, QatarEnergy, KOC - rigorous safety requirements

• Upstream operations: drilling rigs, wellhead platforms, production facilities

• Midstream: pipelines, gas processing, LNG terminals

• Downstream: refineries, petrochemical complexes, distribution terminals

• Vision 2030 energy diversification demands world-class safety performance

• Process safety management (PSM) compliance mandatory

• International API, NFPA, ISO standards implementation

• Extreme operating conditions: desert heat, offshore environments, H2S exposures

Who Should Attend This Course?

• Operations supervisors and engineers in oil & gas facilities

• Production and maintenance personnel at refineries and plants

• Drilling and completion engineers on rigs and wellsites

• HSE officers and safety coordinators in petroleum sector

• Project managers overseeing upstream/downstream developments

• Contractors and service companies supporting major operators

• Emergency response team members at hydrocarbon facilities

• Anyone working in Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, PDO, SABIC, or GCC energy sector

5-Day Oil & Gas Operational Safety Course Structure

Day 1: Oil & Gas Industry Overview & Fundamental Hazards

Introduction to Oil & Gas Operations in GCC

• Upstream, midstream, downstream sector overview

• Saudi Arabia’s energy landscape: Ghawar, Safaniya, Shaybah fields

• Oman petroleum industry: PDO, Occidental, BP operations

• GCC refining capacity: world’s largest complexes

• Regulatory framework: Saudi Aramco standards, ADSSC, PDO HSE-MS

• International standards: API, NFPA, ISO 45001, ISO 14001

• Major accidents history: Piper Alpha, BP Texas City, Buncefield - lessons learned

Major Hazards in Petroleum Operations

• Hydrocarbon release: catastrophic consequences

• Fire and explosion hazards in process facilities

• Toxic gas exposure: H2S, benzene, mercaptans, CO

• Pressure system failures: overpressure, underpressure

• High-temperature equipment and thermal hazards

• Confined space hazards in vessels and tanks

• Working at height on platforms and structures

• Environmental releases: oil spills, gas emissions

Process Safety Management (PSM) Fundamentals

• PSM vs. personal safety: understanding the difference

• 14 elements of PSM programs

• Process hazard analysis (PHA) methodologies

• Management of Change (MOC) critical importance

• Pre-startup safety review (PSSR) procedures

• Operating procedures and safe work practices

• Mechanical integrity programs

• Incident investigation and lessons learned

Risk Assessment in Oil & Gas

• Qualitative risk assessment: HAZOP, HAZID, What-If

• Quantitative risk assessment (QRA) for major installations

• Bow-tie analysis for major accident hazards

• Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA)

• Risk matrices and tolerability criteria

• Saudi Aramco and PDO risk assessment requirements

• Documentation and communication of findings

Day 2: Drilling & Well Operations Safety

Drilling Operations Hazards

• Rotary drilling rig components and operations

• Blowout prevention: BOP systems and testing

• Well control procedures and kick detection

• Stuck pipe, lost circulation, wellbore instability

• H2S operations: sour gas wells in GCC fields

• Drilling mud systems and chemical exposures

• Rig floor hazards: pinch points, caught-between

• Offshore drilling: additional marine hazards

Well Completion and Intervention Safety

• Completion operations: perforating, stimulation, testing

• Hydraulic fracturing safety considerations

• Coiled tubing and wireline operations

• Well testing and flaring procedures

• Workover and pulling operations

• Christmas tree installation and pressure testing

• Well integrity management throughout lifecycle

• Abandonment and decommissioning safety

Permit-to-Work (PTW) Systems

• Critical importance in high-hazard environments

• Hot work permits: welding, cutting, grinding

• Confined space entry permits: vessels, tanks, sewers

• Cold work permits: mechanical work, scaffolding

• Excavation permits: underground utilities protection

• Electrical isolation permits: LOTO procedures

• Radiography permits: NDT operations

• Permit authorization hierarchy and competency

• Simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) management

Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Safety - Critical for GCC

• H2S properties: “sour gas” characteristics

• Toxicity levels: immediate danger to life

• H2S detection equipment and monitoring

• Respiratory protection: SCBA requirements

• Escape and rescue procedures

• H2S safety plans for sour crude operations

• Medical surveillance and emergency response

• Saudi Arabia and Oman sour gas field protocols

Day 3: Refining & Petrochemical Operations Safety

Refinery Process Units and Hazards

• Crude distillation: atmospheric and vacuum units

• Catalytic cracking: FCC hazards and catalyst handling

• Hydroprocessing: hydrogen systems and high pressure

• Alkylation: HF acid extreme hazards

• Reforming and isomerization units

• Coking operations: delayed coking safety

• Product blending and storage facilities

• Utilities: steam, cooling water, compressed air, nitrogen

Petrochemical Plant Safety

• Ethylene cracker operations and hazards

• Polymerization processes: PE, PP, PVC

• Aromatics production: benzene, toluene, xylene

• Highly hazardous chemicals: chlorine, phosgene, ammonia

• Reactor safety and exothermic reaction control

• Polymer handling and dust explosion prevention

• Integration with refinery operations

• SABIC and Saudi/GCC petrochemical standards

Fire and Explosion Prevention

• Fire triangle and explosion pentagon concepts

• Flammable and combustible liquid classifications

• Lower/Upper Explosive Limits (LEL/UEL)

• Vapor cloud explosions (VCE) and BLEVEs

• Fire detection systems: flame, heat, smoke detectors

• Fixed fire protection: deluge, foam, water spray

• Portable fire equipment: extinguishers, monitors

• Fire water systems and hydrant placement

• Emergency shutdown (ESD) systems activation

Gas Detection and Monitoring

• Combustible gas detection: LEL monitoring

• Toxic gas detection: H2S, CO, benzene, mercaptans

• Oxygen deficiency monitoring in confined spaces

• Fixed and portable gas detection systems

• Detector placement and spacing requirements

• Calibration and maintenance programs

• Alarm setpoints and response procedures

• Integration with control room systems

Day 4: Critical Operations & Hazardous Activities

Hot Work Management in Live Plants

• Fire and explosion risks during maintenance

• Hot work risk assessment requirements

• Gas freeing and purging procedures

• Atmospheric testing before and during work

• Fire watch requirements and duration

• Welding on pressurized systems hazards

• Spark-producing tools and ignition sources

• Case studies: refinery hot work incidents

Confined Space Entry in Oil & Gas

• Confined space definition: tanks, vessels, sumps, sewers

• Permit-required confined spaces: atmospheric hazards

• Pre-entry atmospheric testing: O2, LEL, H2S, toxics

• Ventilation: natural, mechanical, purging

• Entry procedures: attendant, entrant, supervisor roles

• Rescue planning: non-entry rescue systems

• Equipment: tripods, winches, harnesses, SCBAs

• Hot work in confined spaces: extreme risk

Hydrocarbon Loading and Unloading

• Tanker truck loading rack safety

• Marine terminal operations: ship-to-shore

• Static electricity hazards: bonding and grounding

• Overfill prevention systems

• Vapor recovery and emission control

• Spillage containment and response

• Personal protective equipment requirements

• Loading arms and hose management

Pipeline and Storage Tank Safety

• Pipeline integrity management programs

• Internal inspection: smart pigs and ILI tools

• External corrosion protection: cathodic protection

• Storage tank types: fixed roof, floating roof, spheres

• Tank gauging and overfill prevention

• Tank cleaning and maintenance hazards

• Atmospheric storage tank fire fighting

• Pipeline emergencies and public safety

Offshore Platform Safety

• Fixed platforms vs. floating production systems

• Helicopter operations: HLO and passenger safety

• Marine operations: supply boats, crane lifts

• Accommodation and life support systems

• Escape, evacuation, and rescue (EER)

• Lifeboat and life raft requirements

• Man overboard procedures

• Survival in Gulf waters: heat considerations

Day 5: Emergency Response & Safety Management

Emergency Planning and Response

• Emergency response plan (ERP) development

• Emergency response organization structure

• Incident command system (ICS) for oil & gas

• On-scene commander and support functions

• Emergency control center operations

• Evacuation and muster procedures

• Search and rescue operations

• Post-emergency recovery and investigation

Fire Fighting in Oil & Gas Facilities

• Hydrocarbon fire characteristics and behavior

• Foam fire fighting: AFFF, AR-AFFF application

• Pool fire attack strategies

• Storage tank fire fighting tactics

• Gas fire management: shut off supply vs. fighting

• Fire fighting foam systems: fixed and mobile

• Protective clothing: structural vs. proximity suits

• Training requirements for emergency responders

Oil Spill Response

• Spill prevention and containment measures

• Spill response tiers: facility, regional, national

• Booms, skimmers, and sorbent materials

• Dispersants and in-situ burning considerations

• Marine spill response in Gulf waters

• Shoreline cleanup and restoration

• Reporting requirements: Saudi PME, Oman MECA

• Post-spill environmental monitoring

Hazardous Material Transportation

• Road transportation: ADR/RID regulations

• Marine transportation: IMDG code compliance

• Pipeline transportation safety management

• Dangerous goods classification and labeling

• Placarding and marking requirements

• Driver and crew training requirements

• Emergency response guidebook (ERG) use

• Incident notification and reporting

Safety Leadership and Culture

• Management commitment and visible leadership

• Behavioral-based safety (BBS) programs

• Stop work authority empowerment

• Near-miss and hazard reporting culture

• Safety meetings: toolbox talks, pre-job briefings

• Contractor safety management and integration

• Safety performance indicators: leading vs. lagging

• Continuous improvement and lessons learned

• Building resilient safety culture in GCC operations

Course Review and Assessment

• Comprehensive review of all modules

• Case study analysis: real GCC incidents

• Group discussions on practical applications

• Written assessment covering key topics

• Certificate of completion presentation

• Action planning for workplace implementation

• Resources for continued professional development

Certification and Career Benefits

Professional Recognition

• International certificate recognized across GCC petroleum sector

• Enhanced employability with major operators and contractors

• 30-50% salary premium for specialized oil & gas safety professionals

• Foundation for advanced process safety certifications

• Compliance with Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, PDO competency requirements

Organizational Value

• Reduced process safety incidents and near-misses

• Improved regulatory compliance and audit performance

• Enhanced operational reliability and uptime

• Lower insurance premiums for facilities

• Strengthened safety culture and employee confidence

Training Delivery Options in GCC

• Classroom training: Riyadh, Dammam, Jubail, Yanbu, Muscat, Sohar, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha

• Virtual instructor-led: Live online with interactive simulations

• In-company programs: Customized for refineries, drilling contractors, operators

• Blended learning: E-learning modules with practical workshops

• Site-specific focus: Tailored to participant facility operations

Protect Lives and Assets in High-Risk Operations

Oil & Gas Operational Safety training is essential for professionals managing the complex, high-consequence risks inherent in petroleum operations across Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the GCC. With increasing regulatory scrutiny and operational complexity, specialized safety competency ensures both workforce protection and operational excellence.

Invest in specialized safety training and lead world-class hydrocarbon operations with confidence.