Kuwait Oil Company Organizes Health, Safety, and Environment Forum
Kuwait Oil Company emphasized the priority of safety in its operations, noting growth in drilling activities and a decrease in accidents, while focusing on partnerships with contractors and raising awareness about war debris.
Translated by Qiyas from النهار — Original source
Talaal Al-Adwani, Director of New Exploration Groups at Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), affirmed that safety is a primary priority in all of the company’s operations, matching production and profitability goals in importance. He stressed that the continuity of operations is contingent upon applying the highest safety and security standards and adhering to global requirements.
Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the sixth quarterly meeting on Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) for KOC’s Exploration and Drilling and Well Workover Directorates, organized by the company in collaboration with Gulf Drilling and Maintenance Company, Al-Adwani stated that safety is not merely a slogan, but a fundamental strategic objective that begins with national security and reflects in all work details and the surrounding environment. He emphasized that the company is committed to subjecting its operations to continuous auditing and complying with international standards.
He added that drilling operations at the company have seen significant growth in recent years, with volume doubling and the number of wells increasing, alongside a decline in accidents. This trend underscores the importance of implementing global practices and strengthening a safety culture across all work sites.
Regarding contractor partnerships, Al-Adwani explained that organizing these quarterly meetings and workshops aims to enhance collaboration with contractors, shifting the relationship from traditional oversight to direct cooperation and shared responsibility. This ensures that projects are executed according to the highest safety and quality standards. He noted that the nature of new projects, particularly Integrated Project Management (IPM) projects, requires greater integration between the company and contractors. Contractors now assume multiple responsibilities, including providing wells and materials and conducting surveying works, which necessitates familiarity with global standards, KOC requirements, and prevailing national regulations.
Al-Adwani pointed out that dedicating a full day every three months to discuss safety issues, raise awareness, and exchange expertise allows for focused attention on these topics, away from the pressures of daily work. This reflects management’s interest in strengthening and embedding a safety culture among all partners.
On technological development, Al-Adwani confirmed that the technologies and equipment showcased during the workshop and accompanying exhibition reflect the significant advancements in the oil sector. He noted that many technologies currently used for detection and monitoring, which seemed like science fiction about 20 years ago, have now become advanced tools that contribute to improving the work environment and raising safety levels.
Regarding hazardous materials, Al-Adwani clarified that the company continuously works with its partners to address potential risks at operational sites. He noted that the current workshop focused on raising awareness about war remnants and explosive and non-explosive ordnance, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense and relevant authorities. He added that the continued discovery of these remnants, nearly 30 years after previous wars, underscores the necessity of continuing awareness efforts and taking necessary preventive measures. He highlighted a recent incident related to these risks, which reinforced the importance of dedicating the fifth workshop to highlighting hazardous materials and raising awareness among contractors and partners.
Al-Adwani stressed that enhancing knowledge of potential risks, adhering to preventive procedures, and cooperation among various entities are all fundamental pillars for protecting workers and ensuring the continuity of oil operations at the highest safety levels.
Integrated Management. For his part, Youssef Suhail Al-Shammari, Chief Drilling and Well Repair Engineer at the New Explorations Group of Kuwait Oil Company, affirmed that the group’s expansion and its move toward implementing the Integrated Project Management (IPM) model aim to accelerate field development and link planning, drilling, construction, and production stages within an integrated operational framework. Al-Shammari clarified that the success of this model requires defining each party’s responsibilities and enhancing coordination among all stakeholders, particularly at sites where operations overlap and multiple contractors are involved, thereby ensuring efficient and safe execution of activities. He stressed the necessity of integrating safety standards into all project phases, from planning through implementation, while ensuring that all personnel are aware of potential risks and the appropriate ways to manage them, and that they adhere to approved procedures and standards. He added that the core message to work partners and contractors is the importance of achieving project milestones in accordance with the highest safety standards, encouraging workers to report any hazards they encounter, and providing them with the necessary support when deciding to halt any unsafe work. Al-Shammari emphasized that the success of the Integrated Project Management model is not measured solely by speed of completion and work quality, but also by ensuring that every worker returns safely to his family, as worker safety represents the highest priority in all operations.
