Arctic Offshore Oil and Gas Guidelines. Systems Safety Management and Safety Culture. Avoiding Major Disasters in Arctic Offshore Oil and Gas Operations.

Abstract

This Guidance document was intended to enhance and supplement the 2009 Arctic Council’s Arctic Offshore Oil and Gas Guidelines (AOOGG), by focusing on providing tools and approaches for reducing the threat of catastrophic effects of major oil and gas related accidents, such as the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. Besides the over-arching issues of Coordination among Regulators and Safety Culture (examined at the beginning of Section 5), the areas recommended for more focused safety guidance are limited to the following nine (9) categories: • Continuous Improvement • Risk Assessment/Hazard Identification • Management of Change • Training and Competence for the Arctic • Accountability and Responsibility • Operating Procedures • Quality Assurance/Mechanical Integrity • Documentation and Reporting • Communications Section 5 of the current guide elaborates on each of these safety system elements. It outlines some key issues and challenges, as well as some recommended actions or approaches that regulators should pursue, for improving system safety when regulating or influencing the safety of offshore oil and gas operations in the Arctic. The reader is also encouraged to examine the numerous other reference studies and initiatives underway (listed in Appendices and online supporting documents) in order to have a more complete understanding and “toolkit” for exercising regulatory responsibilities toward safer and more robust Arctic offshore oil and gas systems safety management.