BY KATE MACCOMB

Norm Demmitt, a senior operator within the Montney asset in ConocoPhillips Canada, plays an important role in ensuring that onsite practices and procedures are executed in a safe manner.

As a member of our Canadian business unit since 2019, Norm is familiar with onsite operations. He began his career with ConocoPhillips as a Montney gas plant operator prior to moving into a senior operator role with a leadership focus.

“My experiences in working for this organization have far exceeded my expectations,” said Norm of his move to ConocoPhillips Canada. “The individuals I have the opportunity to work alongside, and the conditions in which we work, have created a positive, psychologically safe environment.”

This is especially important when it comes to safety and voicing concern when something doesn’t look right.

Something seemed off

On September 18, 2020, while performing his daily operator rounds, Norm encountered a situation that would test his safety knowledge and awareness.

“When I entered one of the compressor buildings, I immediately noticed that something smelled off,” said Norm when recalling the rounds from that day. “We were able to quickly determine that we had a natural gas leak, but it became apparent that fixing it wasn’t going to be as simple.”

It was difficult to identify the location of the leak.

“We knew we had to fix the leak as soon as possible,” he said. “But it was clear that it was occurring in an unusual place. We had to act fast to find it.”

Norm and the team immediately began implementing steps to keep the crew and site safe by shutting down the compressor and sweet purging the unit. Sweet purging is designed to remove any sour gas entrained in the compressor by introducing and pushing sweet natural gas through it.  

With the compressor shut down – meaning that it was making no noise – the team was hopeful that they would be able to hear the leak. They did. It revealed itself to be coming from a welded sockolet.

After identifying the location of the leak, Norm and his team took the appropriate action to prevent a full fracture of the line and what could have been a significant gas release.

While incidents like this are very rare, ConocoPhillips staff remain vigilant and are prepared to act quickly to solve unexpected problems.

For his quick and effective response to this incident, Norm was awarded a 2021 SPIRIT of Performance Process Safety Award, a recognition given to individuals who exemplify the company’s SPIRIT Values.

Process safety at ConocoPhillips

Process safety is achieved by using special precautions, or barriers, to keep the company's facilities and products safely contained, eliminating potential impact to people, property and the environment. An unplanned or uncontrolled release of any material (including non-toxic and non-flammable materials) is considered a process safety incident. Enhancing process safety is a key objective for ConocoPhillips.

“It’s important to understand that everyone has a role to play when it comes to process safety at ConocoPhillips,” Norm said. “We have an organizational culture that empowers us to do that, and it’s reflected by the behaviors of our staff.”

On site, management values process safety identification alerts and they are quickly acted upon. Through this way of working, it empowers workers to speak up, and demonstrate accountability and transparency to ensure the safety of everyone.

“The SPIRIT Values are truly engrained throughout the work we do at ConocoPhillips, and here at Montney,” said Norm. “I’m very proud to be a part of it.”

AT A GLANCE

Name: Norm Demmitt

Fast Facts: Attended Northern Lights College for Power Engineering and Gas Processing Operations in 2003-2004; started with ConocoPhillips Canada in May 2019 at the Montney asset 

Quick quote: "Do things right the first time."  

Hobbies: Hiking, golfing, dirt biking