January 23, 2011 by offshoreenergy
Step Change in Safety, a UK partnership committed to offshore safety achievement, has published an interesting human factors report. The report, which was brought to my attention by Melinda Mayes, includes 12 one-page case studies of offshore incidents with commentary on how human factors played a role.
I suspect that many of you can relate to “Case Study 3,” which begins as follow:
After going through a difficult downsizing a company decided to restrict recruitment and personnel moves, in an attempt to avoid painful redundancies in the future.
At the time there was great demand for personnel in the oil and gas market. One installation lost a number of its operational leadership to another company. For a while the installation managed. It was able to maintain its minimum manning levels, and less experienced personnel were asked to step-up into leadership positions. The Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) and offshore engineer began micro-managing work on the installation.
After reading the report, you may want to take a look at the comments posted at the Step Change site. These comments illustrate another human factor – differences in opinion!
Posted in accidents | Tagged human factors, offshore, offshore workers, safety, Step Change in Safety | Leave a Comment »
January 22, 2011 by offshoreenergy
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) will hold a news conference on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 to make public the final TSB investigation report (A09A0016) into the crash of a Cougar Helicopters Sikorsky S-92A off the coast of Newfoundland on March 12, 2009.
This investigation addressed the helicopter and pilot performance that contributed to the crash that killed 17 workers.
A separate commission, directed by Judge Wells, reported on broader issues associated with the offshore safety and regulatory regime.
Posted in accidents | Tagged accidents, Canada, helicopter crash, Newfoundland, offshore oil, Robert Wells, safety | Leave a Comment »
January 21, 2011 by offshoreenergy
TwinCities.Com
A Detroit Lakes, Minn., man who fabricated a story last summer that he had invented the cap that fixed the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is facing three unrelated felony theft charges.
You may recall the parade of snake oil salesmen and other hucksters who appeared on TV during the blowout. Apparently, this guy was one of them.
In July, several local news outlets, including KARE-TV and KSTP-TV, reported that Mastin had invented the cap that eventually plugged the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. But the Pioneer Press found that BP had not bought the device from Mastin.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged accidents, blowouts, Deepwater Horizon, drilling, Gulf of Mexico, huckster, oil spill, well control | Leave a Comment »
January 20, 2011 by offshoreenergy
Bloomberg report on East Cameron 278 “B”gas leak (90 miles offshore, 170′ water depth):
Apache workers have boarded the platform to seek to contain the source of the gas leak, the U.S. bureau said in an e-mailed statement today. The government said a remotely operated vehicle will monitor conditions to make sure work can occur safely.
The bureau said today that, in accordance with its direction, Apache is continuing preparations for drilling a relief well to stop the leak in the event the platform procedures don’t succeed.
Posted in accidents, well control incidents | Tagged Apache, blowouts, gas leak, Gulf of Mexico, offshore, well control | Leave a Comment »
January 20, 2011 by offshoreenergy
1. This is a surprise. Does anyone know more about this conference?
U.S. experts will participate in a conference on oil safety in Cuba this April, Reuters reported. The conference comes as the BP disaster on the U.S. side of the Gulf of Mexico is raising concern over the start of offshore drilling in Cuban waters this year. The arrival of an exploratory drilling platform in Cuban waters that had been expected for early this year was reportedly postponed to summer.
2. TheHill.com has a pretty good energy blog of particular interest to Washington-types (you know who you are!).
National oil spill commission co-chairman William Reilly called on the Obama administration to think about negotiating a treaty with Mexico and possibly Cuba that would lay out uniform safety standards for offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
3. Nothing new is being reported on the blowout/uncontrolled flow/gas leak beneath the East Cameron block 278 B platform that Apache is calling a “water disturbance.” Spin doctors never sleep.
Based on the limited information that is available, well integrity issues loom large and there appear to be some disturbing similarities with the Main Pass 91 blowout in 2007.
Posted in accidents, cuba, well control incidents | Tagged accidents, Apache, blowouts, cuba, gas leak, Gulf of Mexico, National Commission, safety, well control, William Reilly | Leave a Comment »
January 19, 2011 by offshoreenergy
Link
Salazar and Bromwich also announced that they are establishing a permanent advisory body through which the nation’s leading scientific, engineering, and technical experts will provide input on improving offshore drilling safety, well containment, and spill response. Secretary Salazar has asked former Sandia National Laboratory Director Tom Hunter to lead the body, which will be called the Offshore Energy Safety Advisory Committee (Safety Committee).
The new Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will be responsible for managing development of the nation’s offshore resources in an environmentally and economically responsible way. Functions will include: Leasing, Plan Administration, Environmental Studies, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Analysis, Resource Evaluation, Economic Analysis and the Renewable Energy Program.
The new Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) will enforce safety and environmental regulations. Functions will include: All field operations including Permitting and Research, Inspections, Offshore Regulatory Programs, Oil Spill Response, and newly formed Training and Environmental Compliance functions.
Posted in Offshore Energy - General, Regulation | Tagged BOEM, BOEMRE, BSEE, Department of the Interior, MMS | Leave a Comment »
January 19, 2011 by offshoreenergy
Our vision on the Rigs-to-Reefs ++ page is becoming a reality (only without the rigs :)). BOE’s Cheryl Anderson sent us an update from an undisclosed location. Hmmm…..
A Florida couple is making plans to live in the first permanent undersea colony. Fox.com
Update on underwater condos
Poseidon Underwater Resort
This suite has been reserved for you!
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
January 19, 2011 by offshoreenergy
Super-geologist Paul Post is tracking Cuban and Bahamian activity and sent this map and update.
click on image to enlarge
Two thousand and eleven could be a key year for oil minnow Bahamas Petroleum Company. The AIM-quoted explorer has hired the Osprey Explorer seismic vessel, owned by Norway’s SeaBird Exploration, to shoot close-grid 2D over its four licences to the south of the Bahamas with a view to firming up a prospect for drilling in Q4. This would be the first well in Bahamian waters since 1986 and will be an acid test of BPC’s claim to be holding first mover advantage in waters that could be home to billions of barrels of oil. OilBarrel.com
Note that the area of interest is adjacent to Cuban waters, so the Cuban findings will be of great interest to the Bahamas. I don’t know if the two countries have an information sharing agreement. Perhaps the Scarabeo 9 semisubmersible will move to Bahamian waters after drilling one or more wells off Cuba.
Posted in cuba, Florida, Offshore Energy - General | Tagged Bahamas, cuba, drilling, Florida, offshore oil | Leave a Comment »
January 18, 2011 by offshoreenergy
Apache said a hydrocarbon sheen was discovered in the water near its production platform in East Cameron Block 278 as the company was permanently plugging and abandoning nearby by non-producing wells. Apache said its workers saw bubbling in the water Sunday, followed by the sheen on Monday.
Platts Report
Apache Update
Posted in accidents | Tagged accidents, Gulf of Mexico, offshore oil, safety | Leave a Comment »
« Newer Posts - Older Posts »
