UK oil and gas regime has high standards but can still improve
14 December 2011 An independent review commissioned by ministers in March 2011 has acknowledged the strengths of the UK바카라 사이트檚 offshore oil and 바카라 사이트�
14 December 2011
An independent review commissioned by ministers in March 2011 has acknowledged the strengths of the UK바카라 사이트檚 offshore oil and gas safety and environmental protection regime, and identified several key ways in which it could be further improved.
A panel of experts headed by Professor Geoffrey Maitland of Imperial College, London, also recognised the positive steps taken by industry and regulatory authorities to raise standards in the wake of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
The review recognised the merits of the UK바카라 사이트檚 offshore regime for:
- its stringent assessment of environmental impacts;
- a safety system that requires industry to identify hazards, assess the risks and follow best practice to manage them; and
- its comprehensive emergency response framework.
At the same time, the review panel highlighted the importance of continuous improvement and the scope for raising standards through:
- strengthening mechanisms to assure implementation of safety and environmental management systems;
- improving the learning culture and processes for spreading best practice;
- greater integration between the regulatory authorities;
- a clearer command and control structure in the event of a spill;
- robust arrangements to ensure operators바카라 사이트� level of liability and ability to pay in the event of a spill; and
- intensified R&D to develop improved avoidance, capping, containment, clean-up and impact monitoring of major offshore oil spill incidents.
Professor Geoffrey Maitland said:
바카라 사이트淲e have found a great many positives in the UK바카라 사이트檚 safety and environmental regulation, in what is generally regarded as a world-leading regime, whilst identifying areas where there is still scope for further reducing the risks of incidents occurring.
바카라 사이트淎lthough it is apparent industry and the regulators strongly subscribe to the need for continuous improvement, it is critical that safety and environmental protection is thoroughly embedded in the culture and ethos of the industry.바카라 사이트�
Energy Minister Charles Hendry said:
바카라 사이트淭he Deepwater Horizon disaster was a tragic reminder of the need for the highest possible standards of safety and environmental control in the oil industry. It is vital for the future of North Sea development that our offshore regulatory regime remains at the forefront of the global industry.
바카라 사이트淚 am grateful to Professor Maitland and his panel for producing this thorough assessment, which recognises that we have a regime which is already highly regarded by international observers.
바카라 사이트淏ut we must not be complacent and I welcome the review바카라 사이트檚 constructive suggestions for improvement. I am asking the regulators and industry to consider the panel바카라 사이트檚 findings in detail and to report back to me by July next year.바카라 사이트�
Notes for editors:
- The full report is available in the
- Geoffrey Maitland is Professor of Energy Engineering at Imperial College London. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2006. He has extensive experience of working with industry, government bodies and academia on energy-related and oilfield issues.
- For more about the UK바카라 사이트檚 offshore oil and gas regime visit our dedicated