The tragic loss of 11 lives and the environmental damage caused by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is understandably raising interest in the safety regulations governing offshore drilling in the UK continental shelf (UKCS).
Under the spotlight is the preparedness of the industry to respond to an oil spill and the way in which clean-up costs and compensation would be financed here should a significant oil spill occur.
As we reflect on the situation developing in the US, Oil & Gas UK felt it only right to gather experts to take stock of relevant practices and procedures here. This is not to say that we, in the industry, have immediate concerns about a similar incident occurring in the UK. Indeed, the regulatory regime in the UKCS requires companies to put in place robust checks to minimise the risk of oil spills.
We have not had a blowout in the last 20 years of operations, and the oil spills we do have tend to be on a very small scale.
However, we must always ensure that we put the safety of our employees and environmental protection first, and it is natural for what is happening in the US to dictate that we must reassess the provisions and procedures we employ here.
In this pursuit, the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group (OSPRAG) has been established. It is formed of senior representatives from operators and contractors, the relevant regulatory authorities and trade unions.
Alongside Oil & Gas UK members, representatives from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) and the trade unions, RMT and Unite, have agreed to participate.
The group will maintain appropriate links with the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP), the American Petroleum Institute (API) and other relevant international professional bodies.
While conclusions have not yet been drawn about the cause of the incident in the Gulf of Mexico, the group was keen to start this comprehensive review at the earliest opportunity so that, if appropriate, the industry in the UK is poised to respond quickly to the recommendations or learnings that may arise from the investigations in the US.
This is the most efficient way to help ensure that the arrangements in the UKCS continue to be fit for purpose.
At its first meeting on June 2, OSPRAG set out how it would work towards agreed objectives.
The group will review regulation concerning pollution prevention and response, assess the adequacy of financial provisions to cover these activities and facilitate the implementation of any recommendations from the US that are pertinent to the UK.
The group’s work will be carried out through four specialist review groups, whose remit will be to focus on:
Technical issues, including first response for protection of personnel.
Oil-spill response capability and remediation, including national emergency response measures.
Indemnity and insurance requirements.
Pan-North Sea issues and response mechanisms.
OSPRAG will keep the public and oil&gas industry workforce updated throughout its activities.
Mark McAllister is chairman of Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group and chief executive of Fairfield Energy Ltd. More information on oil-spill prevention and response practices in the UK is available at
http://www.oil
andgasuk.co.uk/knowledge
centre/OSPRAG.cfm
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