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Safety first
DNV: An effective US offshore safety regime As a consequence of the Deepwater Horizon blow-out accident in the Gulf of Mexico, DNV has prepared a position paper highlighting the key aspects of an effective US offshore safety regime. Major accidents tend to lead to a review and revision of current practices and regulations with the objective of avoiding other major accidents in the future. This also appears to be the case after the tragic Deepwater Horizon blow-out accident and subsequent oil spill. DNV´s views on key aspects of an effective offshore safety regime are presented in the position paper that has now been developed.
Peter Bjerager, Director of Operations, Energy Services Region North America
Elisabeth Tørstad, COO Division Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa
Eirik Andreassen, Director of Operations, International Affairs
Robin Pitblado, Service Director, SHE Risk Management
“The position paper is meant as input to the on-going discussion on how to improve safety and environmental protection during offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production,” says COO Elisabeth Tørstad, who has been in charge of the project. The white paper presented on the following pages has been prepared by Robin Pitblado and Peter Bjerager in Houston and Eirik Andreassen in Oslo with input and suggestions received by a number of experts and managers in DNV.
Major accidents lead to a review and revi-
DNV believes that a step change can be achieved with respect to prevention and mitigation of major accidents
sion of current practices and regulations
through an effective and efficient safety regime for offshore energy exploration, development and production.
with the objective of avoiding similar or other major a cidents in the future. This also appears to be the case after the tragic Deepwater Horizon blow-out accident and subsequent oil spill. This paper presents
Such a safety regime must be risk-informed, balancing the inherent risks with the benefits for society and must possess the following characteristics discussed in this paper • Performance-based supplemented by prescriptive regulation • Consideration of technology, organization and people • Clear roles and responsibilities • Enforced identification, reduction and control of risks • Shared performance monitoring
DNV´s view on key aspects of an effective
• Practical and economic feasibility
offshore safety1 regime. The paper is meant
• Balance between risk, control and condition
as a contribution to the on-going discussion on how to improve safety and environmen-
DNV has world wide experience within risk management in the offshore energy and maritime industries. DNV advises regulators on offshore safety regulation as well as executing key functions on behalf of authorities and industry in order to safeguard life, property and the environment. This paper does not present the many ways
tal protection during offshore oil and gas
in which the key aspects could be implemented within law and regulation or how they are effectively institu-
exploration, development and production.
tionalized, or which roles are best managed by governmental agencies and which by independent or private
The paper supports and complements the recommendation for a more systematic approach to safety and environment in the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) report on “Increased Safety Measures for Energy
organizations. The paper does, however, highlight issues and methodologies that DNV believe regulators should take into account when promulgating new legislation.
Objective of an offshore safety regime Oil and gas will constitute the major part of the U.S. energy supply in the foreseeable future despite on-going and needed efforts in developing renewable and other alternative energy sources to meet our energy demand and limit carbon emissions. In addition, deep water exploration and production of oil and gas will continue
Development on the Outer Continental
to be a vital part of our oil and gas supply. Because of this, additional focus on managing risk of deep water
Shelf” (May 27, 2010).
activities is needed to prevent consequences such as those from the Deepwater Horizon accident. Following a major accident we have an obligation to review and revise as needed the offshore safety regime