One Call Locate

A One Call locate must be performed prior to excavation activities.  Any confirmed or suspected subsurface installation must be marked.  All parties must understand the locate markings are often approximations and those excavating within close proximity must practice diligence. 

Purpose 

The purpose of the Validus Energy Ground Disturbance program is to define the requirements necessary to ensure that Validus Energy employees employees and worksites are free from hazards while ground disturbance takes place.

The program is found on the Programs tab of Validus.Energy

General Requirements

A one call locate request shall be called and cleared prior to any Ground Disturbance activities excluding Routine Maintenance* activities and surface digging of 18 inches or less on Validus wellsites.

Routine Maintenance - Operation involving lease road/pad maintenance (grading/blading, snowplowing, backfilling, etc.) that does not change the original grade in or below the ground.

A pre-job plan will be developed prior to beginning the Ground Disturbance activity.

If Validus Energy Employees will be conducting Ground Disturbance activities, they will receive third party training specific to the type of excavation and role they will be performing.

All Ground Disturbance activities will be stopped immediately if unmarked lines, evidence of a spill or potential Culturally Significant Artifacts* are discovered.

Culturally Significant Artifacts - coins, painted pottery, telephones or anything else that evidences the social, political, economic or religious organization of the people whom they belonged to.

Validus Energy will respond to locate requests and mark areas according to appropriate state regulations.

A Blind Sweep* shall be conducted along the planned path of disturbance prior to excavation beginning.

Blind Sweep - The use of electronic line finding equipment, and visual scan to locate unmarked underground facilities in the path of Ground Disturbance activities.

Policies 

One Call Locate

As discussed in the video, calling 811 is a requirement prior to beginning every excavation.  In addition, each state has a requirement that noncontact digging (hand digging or hydrovac) be done within the tolerance zone.

o   Specific state tolerance zones are:

●      New Mexico: 18 inches

●      North Dakota: 24 inches

●      Texas: ½ the diameter of pipe plus 18 inches

●      Oklahoma: 24 inches

●      Wyoming: 24 inches

All excavation shall be done in a manner, so it does not strike the underground installations or endanger the Workers.

Wells, holes, pits, shafts and all similar hazardous excavations shall be effectively barricaded or covered and posted as necessary to prevent unauthorized access.

All temporary excavations must be backfilled as soon as possible.

Access/Egress

A safe means of access/egress (e.g., ladders, ramps, stairs, etc.) is required for those entering and exiting an excavation that is 4 feet or more in depth to require no more than 25 feet of lateral travel for Workers.

If there is evidence of a situation that could result in a possible cave-in, failure of protective systems, Hazardous Atmosphere, or other hazardous conditions, everyone shall be removed from the excavation.

Visibility

Those engaged in Ground Disturbance near a road or other high traffic area must wear high visibility clothing.

One of the most important aspects of the ground disturbance program is having a compatent person on site when theexcavation of 4 feet or greater.

A Competent Person is an individual who can identify existing and predictable hazards or working conditions that are hazardous, unsanitary, or dangerous to Workers, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate or control these hazards and conditions.

The competent person’s responsibilities include:

Daily Inspection

●      Daily inspections of excavations shall be conducted by the competent person prior to the start of work and as needed throughout the shift. Inspections shall also be made after every rainstorm or other hazard increasing occurrence. 

Protective Systems or Equipment

●      Monitoring water removal equipment and operations.

●      Removal of Workers if conditions dictate.

●      Atmospheric testing. Using a properly calibrated direct reading gas monitor or direct reading gas detector tubes.

●      Inspecting excavations subject to runoff from heavy rains to determine the need for diversion ditches, dikes, or other suitable protection.

●      Determining cave-in potential to assess need for shoring or other Protective System.

●      Examining damaged material or equipment used for protective systems to determine its suitability for continued use.

●      Classifying soil and rock deposits, by both visual analysis and by testing, to determine protection and re-classifying, if necessary, based on changing conditions.

●      Determining the appropriate slope of an excavation to prevent collapse due to stored material or equipment, operating equipment, adjacent structures, or traffic, and assuring that such slope is achieved.

●      Determining if the excavation work could affect the stability of adjoining buildings, walls, sidewalks or other structures.

 ●      The competent person shall keep a written log of all inspections conducted. This log shall include the date, work site location, results of the inspection, and a summary of any action taken to correct existing hazards. 

Access/Egress

●      Structural ramps used for access or egress of equipment must be designed by a competent person qualified in structural design.