Mitigating road risks in the oil & gas industry: A comprehensive approach through journey risk management plans

Road accidents of hazardous chemical vehicles correlate with environmental impact and human loss. Precisely predicting accidental chemical leaks during transportation is crucial in improving accident management. It helps augment the safety of roadways, infrastructures, and human life. This study focuses on identifying the best route for the transportation of ammonia and liquefied natural gas (LNG), identifying possible hazards in the route, quantifying the risk, and providing controls to reduce the risk to as low as possible. The quantification of risk is estimated through dispersion modeling of accidental scenarios. Based on the risk assessment results and the consequence evaluations, controls are recommended to reduce the number of accidents and their impacts on people, property, and the environment. The result shows that driving through major roads, narrow bridges, and accident zones contributes to high risk. The controls include a vehicle monitoring and tracking system, maintaining the competency of drivers, and emergency response planning in the form of a journey management system. This journey management system focuses on four aspects: people, processes, equipment, and technology. After implementing this journey management system, accidents dropped from 48 to 3 in 3 years, demonstrating its potential for significant risk reduction. With every successful trip, the number of accidents reduced along with their severity, and the industry’s reputation has increased significantly.