Oil and gas are vital commodities for a country’s economy. Activities in the oil and gas sector include upstream and downstream activities, ranging from exploration, oil and gas field development, production/exploitation, removal of petroleum or natural gas, all the way to processing, transportation and marketing.
The facilities contained from upstream to downstream are also vital objects for a country. In Indonesia, there are nearly 300 oil and gas facilities spread across various regions that are considered as National Vital Objects by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
Therefore, security disturbances at oil and gas facilities are a threat that not only affects the disruption of a company’s operations, but moreover can have an impact on the stability of national energy supply.
So what are the types of security threats to oil and gas facilities and what are the effective prevention measures?
Types of Security Threats to Oil and Gas Facilities
Sabotage is the most common security threat faced by oil and gas facilities.
Quoting Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI), sabotage is an obstruction of production or acts of damage and obstruction against a process or a flow of work.
The type of sabotage at oil and gas facilities that often occur are theft and break-in of oil and gas pipelines, which can have an impact on financial losses arising from production losses, material losses, potential environmental damage caused by leaks to fires, to casualties.
Sabotage is certainly carried out by irresponsible individuals, who can come from within the company or outside the company.
What exactly is the motivation for people to commit sabotage?
This motivation can arise from within the company if there is an internal conflict that causes employees to be dissatisfied with the company’s decisions and directions. Examples could range from long working hours that conflict with labor regulations to inappropriate remuneration. In addition, exposure to radicalism can also be a motive for sabotage.
For parties outside the company (individuals in the surrounding community), motivation for acts of sabotage is more directed towards economic value. Theft and break-in of oil and gas pipelines are performed so that the perpetrators can take advantage for themselves. Geographically, the location of oil and gas facilities can indeed be close to settlements, making them vulnerable to sabotage.
So, sabotage is the main threat faced by oil and gas facilities, which can be triggered by various factors.
Then what are the effective sabotage prevention measures at oil and gas facilities?
Integrated Security Solutions for Oil and Gas Facilities
Security threats to oil and gas facilities in the form of sabotage can be triggered by various factors. Effective security measures do not lie in manned guarding, sophisticated CCTV, or alarm systems alone. More than that, collaboration between man and machine/technology elements is key.
Thus, Integrated Security Solutions are the right decision for securing oil and gas facilities.
Security Risk Assessment for Oil and Gas Facilities
As we have discussed in the previous Nawakara Integrated Security Solutions article, the first step in implementing Integrated Security Solutions is a Security Risk Assessment (SRA) carried out on both internal and external variables.
Internal SRA at oil and gas facilities includes external threat assessments, vulnerability assessments caused by internal negligence in securing these assets, and determining security zones divisions (public areas, restricted areas, and others).
External SRA includes socio-cultural and natural factors. Assessing the character of the surrounding community and its political climate is important, because as mentioned above, oil and gas facilities can be close to residential areas. Tens to hundreds of wells connected by hundreds of meters of pipes can be the object of theft and break-ins by individuals in the surrounding community or irresponsible parties.
Natural factors are also something that must be included in the assessment. Whether the oil and gas facility is located in the sea or mountain, so that an effective mitigation plan in the event of a natural disaster can be planned.
Security System and Concept of Oil and Gas Facilities
After the SRA stage is completed, the next step is to determine the security system and concept for oil and gas facilities. Based on the SRA results, Nawakara can recommend an effective blend of man and machine/technology security elements.
The man element included to the security of oil and gas facilities includes Manned Guarding which can be equipped with Nawakara Digital Patrol, a patrol system powered by android softwares.
The machine/technology element includes CCTV Analytics based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Visitor Management System applicable to several layers/zones, Alarm System used to provide warnings of security measures, to Drones operated by certified pilots.
These things are then integrated with a Command Center to visually monitor the facilities’ surroundings in real time, which can mitigate acts of sabotage.
Security Solutions for Oil and Gas Sector
Integrated Security Solutions from Nawakara is an effective and efficient security solution in preventing sabotage threats in the oil and gas sector. With an initial Security Risk Assessment (SRA) approach, we can identify objects of oil and gas facilities that are vulnerable to sabotage and various potential sabotage from both inside and outside the company.
Integrated services from security elements of man, machine/technology, to its integration with the Command Center, can also facilitate your business processes. Companies can be effectively protected from potential sabotage threats, operations run smoothly, so you can focus more on your main business: oil and gas production.
Nawakara as a trusted security company in Indonesia is also equipped with various certifications. From Quality Management System Certification (ISO 9001), Occupational Health and Safety Management System Certification or better known as SMK3 in Indonesia, International Standard Occupational Health and Safety Management System Certification (ISO 45001), Environmental Management System Certification (ISO 14001), Anti-bribery Management System (ISO 37001), and finally, Nawakara also also has ISO 22301 certification on Business Continuity Management System.
Contact us to find out more about securing the oil and gas sector. (link to contact us)
