Case Studies

Safearth and the Santos Project

Overview

Safearth Consulting verified experienced earthing engineers, an installed earthing arrangement and compliance of step and touch voltages before impending HV energisation’s. This project occurred with very short notice. Safearth were able to cover large site wide earthing systems very quickly utilising the CS3 DC Continuity system. As a result, they were able to recommend and execute the appropriate injection testing to accurately confirm step and touch voltage compliance.

The Challenge

The client, under pressure to commission the sites HV infrastructure for first coal seam gas production, required urgent confirmation of compliance of the potential step and touch voltage hazards before HV systems could be energised. Given that the likelihood of earth faults is often increased during initial energisations, and because the hive of construction and commissioning activity still ongoing, the risk from step and touch voltage hazards is often highest at this critical stage of most project.

It was therefore essential that verification of the earthing system performance was sort prior to energisation’s. Due to the short notice there was no time for preparation and planning of the testing required, thus the earthing systems to be covered were extensive.

How was the problem solved?

Safearth responded promptly, completing necessary medicals and online inductions. They then deployed two experienced earthing engineers and a suite of advanced test equipment. Safearth handled the logistics to ensure equipment and personnel arrived at site quickly.Following the mandatory site specific induction, safearth engineers met with the client’s representatives. An assessment of the client’s needs was promptly able to recommend innovative testing methods to efficiently achieve the clients desired objectives. A whiteboard session with the client explaining the methodology of the recommended testing was all that was required to ensure the client was confident in the recommended testing and in safearth’s ability to deliver the required verification. This included not only the step and touch voltage hazards but also the integrity of the earthing system site wide.

What were the benefits of working with Safearth?

Due to the professionalism and experience offered by safearth, the client received additional and unexpected value from the work undertaken by safearth.

While still on site, safearth engineers were able to provide preliminary advice to the client regarding the compliance of step and touch voltages. This allowed the accelerated commissioning program to proceed and HV energisation’s undertaken with assurance of earthing system performance.

The client was provided with immediate advice from safearth on the rectification of a few critical installation practices. These would have otherwise gone unnoticed, resulting in a significant increase in earthing related risk. As well as this, client representatives were educated in all aspects of the earthing system testing, particularly as methodologies of the recommended tests were explained and discussed shortly after arrival at site. Lastly, the innovative testing techniques and equipment engaged by safearth meant that the integrity of the earthing across an enormous area of plant was assessed very quickly and cost effectively.

The work undertaken by safearth and experienced by Santos GLNG exceeded expectations, resulting desirably in the best and safest solution possible. If you need expertise and advice from the world recognised earthing system experts, we’d love to assist you in your earthing and lightning protection ventures. We’ll be with you every step of the way.  Contact safearth today!