From Data to Decision: Risk-Based Workshops Driving Integrity Actions and Safe Shutdown Execution

Abstract In the oil and gas industry, maintaining the integrity of critical piping and facility infrastructure is not merely a technical requirement, it is a core operational imperative. Ensuring that facilities remain structurally sound and free from high-risk corrosion or failure points safeguards not only human life and environmental wellbeing but also the continuity of production and the financial viability of operations. The stakes are elevated in brownfield environments, where infrastructure has aged significantly and operational stressors, such as rising water cuts and corrosive fluids have intensified. North & West Kuwait (N&WK) assets are an example of such environments, facing escalating integrity threats amid a backdrop of increasing operational complexity. Failures within such systems can lead to severe consequences: unplanned shutdowns, safety incidents, regulatory non-compliance, and widespread environmental impact. This paper presents a structured, cross-functional, and risk-informed approach to prioritize Inspection and Corrosion (I&C) action items (from their inspections) under the HSE-N&WK integrity initiative, the model introduces an auditable prioritization mechanism for over 400+ field-generated actions. By incorporating KOC's risk matrix and leveraging collaborative workshops, action items were reviewed, ranked, and aligned to executable windows. The effort drove clarity in shutdown scope, minimized late-stage changes, and strengthened collaboration across Maintenance, Operations, and Integrity functions. Ultimately, this approach contributes to a scalable model for upstream oil & gas operators facing similar challenges delivering optimized preventive maintenance, improved resource coordination, and more robust asset integrity management. The study presents a comprehensive analysis of a risk-based workshop designed to prioritize integrity actions and facilitate safe shutdown execution. A total of 436 items were thoroughly reviewed and categorized according to their associated risk levels: 43 high-risk items (approximately 10%), 108 medium-risk items, and 236 low-risk items. The high-risk category accounted for nearly 10% of the total reviewed items, highlighting critical areas requiring immediate attention and mitigation strategies. Among the reviewed items, 49 were closed, indicating that appropriate actions had been completed, and no further intervention was necessary for those specific cases. This distribution underscores the importance of focusing efforts on the most critical risk categories while ensuring that routine and lower-risk tasks are also monitored and addressed. The findings emphasize the need for a proactive approach in addressing high-risk issues that could impact operational safety. The results of this workshop will help inform decision-making processes by providing clear, data-driven insights into risk management priorities. Furthermore, the insights gathered will support continuous improvement in safe shutdown procedures and contribute to the overall safety culture within the organization.