AN OFFSHORE safety group set up to review oilspill prevention and response practices in the UK after last year’s Gulf of Mexico catastrophe has found room for improvement.
It will report its progress at a conference in Aberdeen next month.
The Oil Spill Prevention and Advisory Group (Osprag) was launched within weeks of the Deepwater Horizon explosion, which killed 11 workers and created a massive oil slick.
Industry body Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) said yesterday the Osprag “summit” at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on September 21 would provide a comprehensive overview of the efforts of the industry and regulators to further improve the UK’s ability to respond to a major oil spill.
OGUK added: “Feedback will also be given on the lessons learned from Exercise Sula, conducted in May, to test the UK’s national oilspill contingency plan.”
Osprag chairman Jim House will open the conference, which will be chaired by OGUK chief executive Malcolm Webb.
The work of Osprag will be explored by experts who were involved in the review.
Mr Webb said: “Since May 2010, following the incident in the Gulf of Mexico, Osprag has led the UK oil and gas industry’s effort to ensure that its drilling practices and procedures are robust and remain fit for purpose.
“While the industry, regulators and trade unions are confident in the ability of current regulations and procedures to prevent major well-control incidents, Osprag identified where improvements could still be made.
This unique summit will provide a final and authoritative report on Osprag’s work.”
“The UK’s oilspill response strategy has been and still is suitable for dealing with relatively small spills that occur over a finite period.
“However, Osprag has produced enhancements to the UK’s ability to respond to low-probability and high-potential-impact incidents – such as that caused by the loss of well control during drilling on Macondo (the well at the heart of the Deepwater Horizon incident).
Conference delegates will hear about a new oilspill response “toolkit” and a capping device developed to seal off uncontrolled subsea wells. They will also hear from Osprag’s indemnity and insurance review group, which has assessed the robustness of the arrangements the UK has in place to cover the cost of cleaning up a major oil spill.
In addition, information will be provided on a new deal between European oil and gas trade associations, allowing them to support each other – regardless of national boundaries – in emergencies.
