Nebosh Oil and Gas Possible Exam Questions

Question
A) Q (A) Identify the hazardous properties of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)
A: Fire, explosion, asphyxiation, environmental harm, toxic, vaporisation can cool equipment
and cause cold burns, empty vessels can still be dangerous as vapours stay within the vessel,
they are stored under great pressure, gas is heavier than air and will need gas detection
Q (B) outline the risks with Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)?
A: Odourless and colourless so difficult to detect, heavier than air so does not float into
atmosphere, any leaks will cause environmental damage, will cause severe cold burns,
asphyxiate, formation of hydrates (ice plugs) if draining out water from pressurised tanks,
possible BLEVE if flames impede of LPG sphere
Question
Safety cases / reports provide documented evidence that an oil and gas installation is safe
Outline the typical contents of these types of documents
A) A: Scope of works, System description, System requirements, Major hazard assessment Risk
Assessment, Controls for risk reduction / elimination, Safety analysis / testing, Name and
address of the installation operators, Major accident prevention policy (MAPP), Safety
management system, Description and layout of the installation, Types of operations carried
out, Identification of major hazards, Major hazard scenarios, Performance standards of
safety critical equipment , Emergency response procedures (ERP Documentation), The
offsite plan (onshore)
Question 3
An employee was seriously injured at work within an oil and gas installation
Identify the documented information that might be used by the investigation team to
determine the causes of this accident.
A) A: Witness statements, plans, diagrams of plant, safe systems of works, photographs,
previous accident records, technical guidance, manufacturers information , training records,
toolbox talks, risk assessments, permit to work records, CCTV Coverage, health issues of
injured party, instrument readouts, information form safety meetings
Question
Give the meaning of the following terms:
Q: Upper flammable limit (UFL)
A: Upper flammable limit (UFL) the maximum percentage of air beyond which is not flammable
Q: Lower flammable limit
A: Lower flammable limit minimum percentage of air, lower is not flammable
Q: Flashpoint
A: The lowest temperature at which the liquid produces a vapour and forms ignitable mixture with
air
Q: Highly flammable liquids
A: A liquid that has a flashpoint of less than 21c

Question
Outline four types of works activity within an oil platform that may require a permit to works and
give reasons in each case for the requirement.
A: hot works permit where heat is used or generated (welding, flame cutting, grinding)
Reason: to ensure work is planned and controlled to minimise the risk of fire
A: Works that will involve the breaking of containment of a flammable / toxic substance or pressure
system.
Reason: To ensure the works are planned and controlled, isolated and test to prevent harm from
hazardous substances.
A: Work on high voltage electrical equipment
Reason: To ensure work is controlled and planned and isolated accordingly
A: Entry into tanks and sto4rage vessels
Reason: To ensure confined space works are planned, escape procedures in place including
emergency action plan
A: Working at Height
Reason: to ensure works planned and controlled and fall prevent measures in place, works are
segregated
A: Works on emergency systems
Reason: To be controlled and planned making sure making sure alternative emergency action plan in
place when main system off line
Question
Outline operational control measures that could minimize the risk of plant damage or injury during
start up or shut-down process
Answer
The use of trained competent persons
Working from approved process operator guides and procedures
Ensure all safety systems are in place and online
Ensure all instrumentation is working in control room
Tell everyone on the installation what is about to happen
Clear all production decks until plant is online
Make sure there is line of communication between outside operators and control room
Walk the lines for any items that may be out of place
Use interlocking systems to ensure correct opening of valve systems
Ensure standby equipment is in place
Start the plant up in small levels of pressure to highlight and leaks.
Increase pressures gradually

Question
Q: Identify hazards associated with the sludge
A: Absorption through skin, Inhalation from dust of fumes, Ingestion through poor hygiene,
Radiation, Carcinogenic cancerous, Environmental pollutant
Q: Outline four controls measure to reduce the risk to workers
A: Training and awareness, good housekeeping, use of RPE, use equipment to control and handle the
sludge instead of hands on approach, dilute using water, employ health surveillance.
Q: Identify two other forms of equipment where sludge may be found
A: Inside pipeworks, on the drilling stand, inside filters, in coolers, inside coalesces
Question
A work has requested a permit to works in order to replace damaged thermal insulation in an
overhead pipe rack that runs between two plants.
Q(A): Identify three hazards associated with this activity
Answer
Working at height, heat form the process pipework, manual handling, falling objects
Q(b): Outline the control measures that should be in place to reduce the risk to the worker.
Answer:
Safe access (certified) to gain access to the height
The task may need the system to be closed down while the works are carried out
Area barriered off the restrict access below the task through falling objects
Risk assessment to identify the hazards associated with the task (to be carried out with the
operative(s))
Breathing zone monitoring and RPE if required
Communication between both plants for permit to work to be effective
Adequate supervision
Manual handling assessments carried out
Trained and competent people carrying the works out
Correct isolations
Correct PPE
Use of MEWPS
Fall arrest protection

Question
An outgoing operator is handing over to an incoming operator at the end of a shift.
Q (a) Explain the key principles of a safe handover
Answer
Be regarded as high priority
Face to face
Be two way communications with both parties taking joint responsibility for the exchange of
accurate information
Verbal and written means of communication
Be given adequate time, no distractions and given as much resource as needed
Not to be rushed and involve all shift members
Q (b) Outline to main operational issues communicated at shift handover
Answer
Permits to work in place that are still effective
Future nominations
Maintenance issues, current and up and coming
Plant issues, overrides and breakdowns
Abnormal events
Shutdowns planned and unplanned
New personnel to the shift
Faults with any safety critical equipment
Question
Q: Outline the following failure modes that may lead to loss of hydrocarbon containment from
storage tanks / vessels or pipelines
A: Creep this is a form of plastic deformation that takes place in steel held for long periods of time
at high temperature and may over time fail.
B: Stress corrosion cracking is a failure that requires the paring of materials suited to the product
being used, some chemicals react with certain metals and should be carefully researched.
C: Thermal Shock this is where the rapid change in temperature can have an impact on the
integrity of the pipe or vessel being used and can cause the material to crack and burst.
D: Brittle Fracture this is the rapid failure of a material already under stress, this could be through
welding defects or fatigue crack
Question
A: Identify two ways in which vapour clouds can generate?
Rapid depressurisation in a vessel containing pressurised product such as LPG
Rupture of a vessel containing pressurised product such as LPG
Loss of containment of a product from a leaking valve or gland.

B: Outline how a vapour cloud explosion can be generated?

These can be confined (CVCE) or unconfined (UCVCE), both involve a leak which makes the product
vaporise to form a cloud. If that cloud reaches an ignition source then the cloud will explode. These
clouds can travel a fair distance to find an ignition source.
C: Identify the physical consequences of vapour cloud explosions?
These will include fire, materials and property damage as well as subsonic flame propagation
Question
Q: An operator is draining a flammable liquid from process pipework to a metal container. The
supervisor is concerned about the possibility of electro static charge forming and stops the operation
until a risk assessment is undertaken.
A: Identify the factors that influence the generation of the electrostatic charge
The flow of proud t through pipes can generate charge, this will include flow rate, speed of
the product and design of the pipework (size and shape).
Turbulence / splashing of the product through filling operations or mixing process.
Particles present in the product with the inclusion of poorly conducted liquids
Equipment not bonded can cause the sparking between equipment
Static charge can be created through some clothes.
B: Outline the practical ways of minimising the formation of an electrostatic charge
Keep liquids at a low velocity
Ensure piping design parameters are not breached; recommended product speed is 15 feet
per second
Limit the free fall of liquids and fill from the bottom with pipes submerged
Adequate bonding and grounding to be in place with all connected equipment
The adding of anti-static additives to limit the creation of static charge
Question
Q: petroleum storage tanks fires have been reduced substantially by using floating roofs, but a fire
risk may still exist
A: Outline how a fire may still exist with floating roof tanks
Fire would still be a risk of the seal around the edge of the tank was damaged and letting out vapour
into the ullage space, not only would the vapour escape and find an ignition source, the natural air
could impede into the storage tanks and create its own risk of fire by creating and flammable
atmosphere.
B: Identify two examples of fire protection systems used on floating roof tanks
A foam deluge systems around the top of the tank
Fixed oscillating monitors and firefighting capabilities around the perimeter of the tanks bunded
area, with, firefighting detection systems and hazardous area classification zone in place.

Question
Q: During an inspection an external fuel storage tank is found without a bund wall
A: Identify the environmental impact if a tanks failure occurred
Contamination of the ground area
Contamination of the water course should the spill reach drains and sewers
Impacts on wildlife
Evaporating fuel could have an effect on the ozone layer
B: Outline the features which should be included in the design of a tank bund wall
The bund should be constructed from impermeable materials
Should be able to cope with 100% of the contents of the tank
Incompatible chemicals should have their own bunded area
No drains free flowing out of the bund, must lead to separator
Nothing should penetrate the bund and go over it, this includes vehicle and foot traffic
High level alarm linked to the control room
Question
Q: knowledge of failure modes is vital during the initial plant design, safe operation procedure
development and process operation.
A: Identify three types of failure mode
Creep is slow movements under stress made more severe with heat for long periods of time with
an increase in temperature approaching melting point
Brittle Fracture rapid run of cracks through stressed material which has little plastic deformation
before failure occurs.
Stress Corrosion Cracking this is where alloys are under constant pressure and tensile stress made
worse in a corrosive environment, more so at high temperatures.
B: Identify factors or conditions that may influence the likelihood of failure modes
Incorrect materials used
Excessive stresses built into the material EG poor welding
Rapid changes in temperatures
Starting system up too quickly
Steam plant creating water hammer or thermal shock
Materials subjected to long periods of excessive heating EG flame impingement
Question
Q: Outline the physical design features of an oil and gas installation that would minimise the risk to
operating staff in the event of a major incident?
A:
separation of the temporary refuge, control room and emergency control and command
centre from the main production operation, if not possible to use jacket separation
protection, these can be protected with fire and blast walls, fireproofing, positive air
pressure inside any building, assessment of hazards for occupied building, protected escape
routes

Emergency shutdown systems installed independent from regular fire and gas detection.
Safety critical elements with high integrity level, HIPPS pipelines protection system
Reduce the amount of overrides and inhibits in the system
Fire proof emergency shutdown valves for protection
Deluge skid operating around the escape route
Automatic doors on accommodation
Fire compartmentation
Install VESDA system for early detection
Minimise stocks held on site
Open up areas to allow added airflow for gas clearing should it escape.

Question
Q: Outline the factors that should be considered when providing means of escape in an oil and gas
installation to enable all workers to reach a place of safety in the event of a fire?
A:
All escape routes protected with deluge system and fire walls,
No congested area within the escape routes
Route clearly marked to the point of evacuation
Fire compartments to reduce fire spread
More than one access route from each area
More means of communication
Fireproofing to at least H120 (1150c) in most areas
Increase number of alarms including flashing beacons
Other means of escape (Skyscape, rope ladders)
PPE, fire protective clothing, breathing apparatus
Question
An oil installation contains a vessel that requires protection from exposure to fire in the form of
active or passive fire protection
Q: Identify two examples of passive fire protection to protect the vessels
A: Mortar based materials or intumescent paints, Fire walls to particular areas
Q: Outline why the metal legs of the vessel should be protected?
A: The metal legs of the structure should be protected to prevent the steel from buckling to ensure
the vessel remain support as not the release further contents thus heating the fire further
Q: Outline how a fixed water deluge system could provide fire protection?
A: This would be automatic detection for each area protection and deliver large amounts of water
thus cooling the fire, mist systems produce more water which can remove the oxygen from the fire
aiding in putting it out.
Q: Identify two addition examples of active fire protection
A: CO2 inert gas protection removing the oxygen and foam systems for helipad and rim seal on
storage tanks.