A strict quarantine imposed in Argentina in response to the COVID-19 pandemic halted operations at all rigs in the country from March to May. Despite the interruption of operations, work continued to ensure a safe return when drilling activities restarted.
Shell’s health, safety, and environment team in Argentina, with support from Tenaris, created a new safety protocol during the down period that allowed the company to be the first operator to resume operations in May.
"We always felt supported by the Tenaris team,” said Shell HSE representative Unelén Franco. “Tenaris understood the importance of following the new protocol, and we worked together to ensure the safety of everyone at the rig.”
In addition to standard COVID-19 safety measures, some of the additional requirements for new employees entering the rig zone are to undergo a test of smell and a temperature check and to disinfect themselves at the rig’s infirmary. Tenaris also developed its own global protocol to ensure the health and safety of its employees and customers.
“When we met with our Shell representative, we already had most of the measures in place that they were asking to implement,” Tenaris HSE Specialist German Zalazar said. “We had great communication between both HSE teams.”
Shell has two rigs in Yacimiento Cruz de Lorena, Argentina, and is in the process of performing a workover at its rig in Bajada de Añelo, Nequén, Argentina. Tenaris provides Shell with Rig Direct services, a combination of pipe management and technical and field support services, and supplies Wedge Series 400 connections for its operations in the country.