Oilmen battle bulge to ease strain on copters
OVERWEIGHT oil workers at two of the North Sea’s biggest firms are being asked to go on a diet – because they are taking up too much space on helicopters.
Health, Safety & Environment
Second leak shuts down oil platform
Workers have been evacuated from a North Sea oil platform after a second oil leak was discovered.
Oil boss fears staff shortage jeopardises North Sea safety
An oil company boss has warned a shortage of experienced staff is jeopardising the North Sea's world-leading safety standards as the sector prepares for its biggest boom for 30 years.
Major North Sea gas release scare
Nine North Sea gas platforms were shut down for a month by health and safety chiefs following a major gas scare, it has emerged.
Britain beats off regime change offshore
The UK has won its battle to stop Brussels seizing control of the safety regime in the North Sea.
Elgin-Franklin go-ahead ‘in days’
French operator Total said it expected the Health and Safety Executive to approve the restart of the Elgin-Franklin development within days.
‘Super Pumas will be back in the air by the summer’
The boss of a North Sea helicopter operator has vowed its Super Pumas will be back in the air within months.
Toughest job under the sun
North Sea health and safety experts are working in Iraq to help the country recover from war.
Opito targets safety reps
Oil and gas industry training body Opito has launched new courses aimed at improving the skills of elected safety representatives (ESRs).
New bid to cut leaks
Step Change in Safety, the oil and gas industry safety initiative, launched a programme yesterday to help reduce hydrocarbon leaks offshore.
Turbine ‘is flight risk for offshore workers’
Experts have warned that plans to site a wind turbine near the north-east coast could cause chaos for offshore helicopter operators.
80 tenders out for remote health care tool
An occupational health arm of services giant Capita has said it is expecting growth of the use of a remote healthcare system for the offshore oil and gas industry.
PM’s safety-first plea to oil firms
David Cameron has pledged to do what he can to protect Scots oil workers abroad - but warned BP and other firms to "redouble" their security efforts after the Algeria attack.
Fleet may fly again by March
Helicopters grounded after an aircraft ditched in the North Sea will not return to the air until March at the earliest, it emerged yesterday.
Closure could prove costly
Any oil or gas leak from a North Sea field is bad news - not just from a people or environmental perspective, but potentially also for the British economy.
Oil leak shuts off vital UK pipeline
Production at nine major North Sea platforms was halted last night afteran oil leak shut one of the UK's most important pipelines.
Offshore medical care set for new horizons
Experts from around the world are gathering in Norway today to consider how the unique medical skills pioneered in Aberdeen for the oil and gas platforms of the North Sea can be transferred to ever more hostile environments.
Falck helideck training boost
Survival training firm Falck Nutec said yesterday it had invested £400,000 in a new helicopter landing platform at Aberdeen International Airport.
Recovery team refloats stricken Shell rig
A Shell rig which ran aground in Alaska has been refloated by a team of recovery experts. The Kulluk rig broke away from tow boats in high seas last week, drawing criticism from environmental groups which said it proved oil companies were not prepared to manage the extreme conditions of the Arctic safely.
Minefield plans in oil rig hijack fears
Secret files have revealed that UK defence chiefs considered turning the North Sea into a minefield in the 1970s amid fears that terrorists would hijack a rig.
Study into North Sea safety improvements
The UK government has published a report on improvements made to the safety regime in the North Sea offshore sector since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Super Pumas in new scares
Two helicopters had to make emergency landings at Aberdeen Airport yesterday after warning lights came on in the cockpits.
Super Puma in Scare
A Super Puma helicopter made an emergency landing at Aberdeen Airport after a warning light came on.
Corporate culture . . . the key driver of competence & safety
The offshore industry's workforce wants and needs common global standards to improve safety and competency. And there is a critical, widespread need for companies to develop the kind of corporate cultures necessary to make credible headway with these critical issues.
Cracked gear shaft just year old
The gear shaft on a Super Puma helicopter which ditched in the North Sea in May cracked just over a year after it was made, according to a report published yesterday.