Oil and natural gas (oil and gas) are vital resources that play a crucial role in a country’s economy. In Indonesia, nearly 300 oil and gas facilities are scattered across various regions and are considered National Vital Objects (Obvitnas) by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).
Managing the security of oil and gas facilities is a significant responsibility that contributes to the stability of energy supplies. Security disturbances at these facilities can have unsettling consequences, including disruptions to oil and gas production, financial losses, and environmental threats.
Project Manager Nawakara, Mr. Fris Boy, has extensive experience in managing the security of oil and gas facilities. Over his more than 20 years of career journey, he has successfully handled various security threats at oil and gas facilities, ranging from social issues to illegal drilling in the surrounding areas.
So, what is the optimal strategy for managing the security of oil and gas facilities? Let’s explore a summary of our interview with him.
Q: What are the main responsibilities of a PM at Nawakara?
A Project Manager, or PM, is fully responsible for organizing, planning, and executing projects according to the defined scope of work and budget.
Additionally, the PM acts as a leader and field coordinator, requiring the ability to lead a team and set objectives. Coordination and communication with stakeholders and clients throughout the project are integral tasks for a PM.
In oil and gas facilities, the PM plays a central role in continuous coordination and communication to create optimal security in each security area or perimeter.
Q: What are the security areas in oil and gas facilities?
The security areas, or perimeters, are essentially divided into two: maximum and minimum security areas.
Maximum security areas are vital zones guarded 24/7 by Manned Guarding personnel and include oil wells and production facilities. Minimum security areas are more general zones patrolled for security. Examples include pipeline routes, warehouses, junkyards, and other designated areas.
Q: What security threats occur in these areas?
The dominant security threat at oil and gas facilities is generally related to social issues concerning employment. This involves local communities demanding jobs from the oil and gas company, often leading to demonstrations blocking access roads and disrupting the work area, potentially impeding gas production.
Another security threat is theft, often driven by economic motives of individuals in the surrounding community, particularly unemployed youth resorting to criminal activities. Areas prone to theft are typically minimum security areas. Illegal drilling or illegal drilling is also a threat, with operations outside the security perimeter but in proximity to maximum security areas.
Q: What are the prevention and protection strategies against these threats?
The framework used to prevent and protect oil and gas facilities from these threats is Early Detection, Early Prevention.
Early Detection involves efforts to build good relationships with stakeholders in the surrounding areas. This includes coordination and communication with community leaders, local government officials, and the police. With effective coordination and communication, Nawakara can detect security threats early.
Early Prevention means responding quickly and effectively. For instance, if there is a disturbance affecting gas production, the security team must respond and coordinate with relevant parties within 1 hour.
Nawakara, together with the client, regularly conducts joint patrols, especially in minimum security areas with pipelines. Drones support ground patrols, especially in areas inaccessible to motor vehicles.
Q: What are Nawakara’s response stages to threats?
Following the Early Detection, Early Prevention framework, Nawakara actively coordinates and communicates with various stakeholders.
For example, information about social issues potentially disrupting operations is obtained through routine coordination with the local police. This information is then coordinated with the client to determine the appropriate security response.
In the case of ongoing theft reported by the joint patrol team, Nawakara coordinates with the National Vital Object (Obvitnas) Task Force and the local police for apprehension. Safety is a top priority in security operations. When emergencies such as fires occur, whether within or outside the security area, Nawakara personnel promptly respond in coordination with the Emergency Response Team (ERT) to assist in extinguishing the fire.
