An international offshore emergency response arrangement has been overhauled following the Macondo disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
The OCES (Operators’ Co-operative Emergency Services), originally set up in 1979, was a joint declaration among the national oil and gas trade associations of the UK, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany and the Irish Republic.
It was created to let operating companies call on each other for support in emergency situations – regardless of national boundaries.
Today, Oil & Gas UK said it and five other oil and gas trade associations had now updated and re-signed up to the agreement, following the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group’s recommendation it should be reviewed in the aftermath of the Macondo incident.
Oil & Gas UK operations director Paul Dymond said: “It is now clearer and – while it is not a legally-binding agreement – it sets out the principles under which co-operative emergency services to offshore oil and gas operations may be provided quickly and efficiently.
“OCES has never had to be used in the 30 years or so of its existence, but is tested through regular exercises, the last of which was run in May 2011.
“These exercises will continue and Oil & Gas UK and our five international partners are committed to upholding and promoting the OCES arrangement to our member companies.”
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