Enlightning is a bundled product that offers a state-of-the-art lightning and static protection system through Petro Guardian, along with a physical damage insurance program—offered through Worldwide Facilities. It’s designed to encourage insureds to invest in protection against lightning and static ignition—something not all oil and gas facilities take the steps to do. This will result in preferential underwriting of the insurance policy.
“Lightning and static discharge have always been oilfield issues, and in recent years a number of factors have increased the negative impact on underwriting results,” says Rick Burns, Senior Vice President at Worldwide Facilities. “We immediately recognized Petro Guardian’s capability to address our current market dilemma surrounding lightning strikes at upstream energy facilities.”
The transition from vertical to horizontal wells has enabled a physically larger footprint for production and saltwater disposal locations allowing for a higher productivity. In addition, many facilities have transitioned from steel to non-corrosive fiberglass tanks that are not electrically conductive. These technology changes have increased the risk of igniting fire from lightning & static discharges and measurably raise the risk of personal injury & damaging process control systems.
“A combined lightning and static protection system is one of the most cost-effective steps operators can take to mitigate risk,” says Harshul Gupta, Vice President of Technology at Petro Guardian. “The economic value of reducing personnel injuries, environmental spill and production down-time is difficult to debate.”
About Worldwide Facilities, LLC
Worldwide Facilities is a national wholesale insurance broker and managing general agent that has been in business since 1970. Its brokers and underwriters are industry leaders providing expertise in a wide range of specialty lines, as well as extensive contacts with carriers domestically and overseas. For more information, please visit wwfi.com.
About Petro Guardian
Petro Guardian offers turnkey lightning and static protection installation with system inspection, repair and maintenance services to many of the largest and most productive oil and gas producers in the United States. Their engineered protection plan has successfully shielded over 32,000 tanks from the dangers of lightning & static discharge, please read about Petroguardian Facility Protection Plan.