The expertise of the American offshore oil and gas industry outmatches the federal agency that oversees it.
This makes it essential that the Washington government reaches outwith its ranks for insight on the best technology to safeguard the work, according to a report issued by the US National Academy late last month.
But the US government’s plans for a new independent Ocean Energy Safety Institute to help keep pace with the offshore oil industry needs changes to meet the challenge, says the Academy.
“If properly organised, staffed and supported, (the institute) could go a long way toward solving problems associated with a government agency competing with industry for top talent and expertise,” the report says.
“But the scale and structure of the institute… will need to be significantly expanded to address fully the challenges posed offshore.”
Without outside help, NAS says it would be virtually impossible for the US Interior Department’s Bureau of Safety and Environment to keep up with the rapidly expanding technology being deployed offshore – especially in deep water and even deeper underground reserves more than 160km from the coast.
The safety bureau “has embarked on an aggressive hiring and training campaign in the past two years, but it cannot realistically be expected to match industry in technical depth or breadth”, the report says. “Compensation limits imposed by the federal government will make it difficult to compete with industry for the best graduates and experienced staff,” it warns.
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