Research Programmes
The following links provide information on the research strategy and priorities of the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Offshore Division and its offshore safety research programme for 2010 and beyond:
Links to UK policy and research activities on the three key themes highlighted at ICRARD's 2010 meeting appear below:
Oil & Gas UK, the main UK offshore industry representative body has set up the Oil Spill Prevention Response Advisory Group (OSPRAG), details of which can be found at the following link:
http://www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/knowledgecentre/OSPRAG.cfm
The aim of OSPRAG is to proactively identify and address cross industry issues with respect to well control and oil spill response on the UKCS. In addition to the main group there are five working groups:
1. Technical – well design, examination, well control, competence.
2. Oil spill response – spill response capability and remediation.
3. Emergency response – industry co-ordination with national response mechanism.
4. Legal – liability, indemnity and insurance provisions.
5. European issues – pan North Sea regulations and response mechanisms.
The Technical working group had its first meeting in June 2010. OSD's Head of Division, Steve Walker is a member of the main group and Grant Moody, Team Leader, Well Engineering and Operations is participating on the technical working group.
Meetings have or will be held with the well operators of deepwater wells that are planned to be drilled in the UKCS. The intention is to begin early dialogue, initiate review of proposed well designs and review arrangements for ensuring the preparedness of the selected Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) to drill the wells.
Useful Web Links
The following web links provide further information on the Deepwater Horizon incident:
U.S. Senate Committee On Energy And Commerce Investigates Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Deepwater Horizon Response - Official Site of Deepwater Horizon Unified Command
BP - Gulf of Mexico response
