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Improving offshore safety - beyond Macondo


Is EU regulation for the North Sea good news?
Free
FEATURED TALKS
Martin Shaw
» managing director
» Marine Operations and Assurance Management Solutions Ltd
Taf Powell
» Adviser, Offshore Regulation
» European Commission

Tuesday, May 22, 2012
London
The Geological Society

Our free conference in London on May 22nd enables you to keep up to date with the most important regulatory, practise and technology developments with offshore safety since the Macondo disaster.

Topics covered include EU plans for offshore safety regulation / directives; management of procedures; getting procedures off the page and onto the front line; training people to work out what to do in a crisis when there are no procedures; and using 3D modelling for training, practising and developing safety procedures.

If people already have as many rules as they can handle, will increasing the regulatory / procedures burden lead to a decrease in safety - or make it harder for smaller companies to participate in offshore operations?

SPEAKERS INCLUDE

Martin Shaw, managing director of Marine Operations and Assurance Management Solutions Ltd, and a past fleet manager and Technical Vice President, BP Shipping, Safety, Health, Marine and Engineering

Taf Powell, adviser offshore regulation, European Commission, a past director of the UK HSE's Offshore Division, and leader of the UK government's investigation into Buncefield explorations)

Mike Hogan, senior consultant with crisis management training consultant Link Associates, and a past head of global PR with Shell (1996 to 2003, covering both the Brent Spa debate and Ken Saro-Wiwa)

Steve Prast, founder and managing director of EOS Solutions of Detroit, a company which has developed 3D simulation models for ExxonMobil, Shell, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and GE Energy

Rod Thonger, special projects director with RPS Energy, and a founder of Thonger Safety Associates, an oil and gas health and safety consultancy acquired by RPS in 2005.


Limited places - register now to secure yours!

Agenda

 
9:00 Arrivals and Registration
9:30 David Bamford - Director
Finding Petroleum
Welcome & Introduction


David Bamford is 63. He is a non-executive director at Tullow Oil plc and has various roles with Parkmead Group plc, PARAS Ltd and New Eyes Exploration Ltd, and runs his own consultancy. He writes regular articles for OilVoice and ROGTEC and is a co-founder of Finding Petroleum.

He retired from BP in 2003, after a 23 year career spent initially in research & technology, then the geophysics function, business unit leadership, and finally BP's global exploration programme.

Finding Petroleum
Finding Petroleum was established to help the oil and gas industry network, and stay up to date on the latest technological developments. It does this via hosting regular events, distributing their colour magazine - Digital Energy Journal, and with an online social network of nearly 700 members.
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9:40 Martin Shaw - managing director
Marine Operations and Assurance Management Solutions Ltd
Safety lessons from maritime operations, especially tankers


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Martin Shaw is ex VP technical, fleet manager and vetting service manager, BP Shipping

Marine Operations and Assurance Management Solutions Ltd
MOAMS,Marine Operations and Assurance Management Solutions, is a different type of consultancy. MOAMS combines a deep knowledge of marine operations with research into the future of the industry.
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10:15 Rod Thonger - Special Projects Director
RPS Energy
Macondo viewed from 2 years on


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Talk Description.
The causes and effects of the Macondo well and the roles played by all the parties are known, and the share of blame is being slowly and painfully fought through the courts. What seems clear is that the event followed a common 'bow-tie' type pattern. Weaknesses in the system allowed there to be the single event of high pressure, high temperature gas escaping, followed by the explosion and weakness in systems to restrict the results.

The risks of major incidents are increasing as wells are drilled in deeper water, equipment becomes more complex, and reservoirs with higher pressures and weaker formations are broached. In reports to date we find the finger being firmly pointed at the culture of safety, and the attitudes of cost cutting and risk taking, so there is work to do. Following the Macondo event, the European Commission showed readiness to introduce legislation that would impinge on the combined efforts of operators, unions and regulators to find the best solutions to their activities. Strong representation has been able to influence these intentions, but as I write the Elgin gas blow out, in our own back yard, can only increase the possibility of a more restrictive regime.

The Center for Catastrophic Risk Management (CCRM) in its report of March 2011 identified the need for Risk Assessment and Management (RAM) and Best Available and Safest Technology (BAST) as matters for the US legislators to address. There are also statements about enhancing the safety culture of the organisations. This is more like the regime we are used to in the UK. It is certainly true that legislation is not enough; good operators will make their own standards that go much further, poor operators will see them as a necessary evil. The good companies have developed techniques for getting the standards and attitudes off the page and up to the front line of handling the equipment. This is why the culture is so important, and how much of an effect an experienced and knowledgeable HSE advisor can contribute. Techniques such as behavioural attitudes to safety, the 'soon certain and positive' trigger points and nudge theory all have a part to play alongside quality engineering and operating procedures. And now we wait to see where the legislators on both sides of the Atlantic will take us.
RPS Energy provides a range of technical, commercial and project management support services to the international energy industry, covering geoscience, engineering and HS&E, with offices around the world.
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10:50 Coffee & tea
11:15 Steve Prast - Founder and Managing Partner
EOS Solutions
Safety by Simulation!


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Mr. Prast is the Founder and Managing Partner of EOS Solutions, LLC, where he has overseen the Company’s growth into a global leader in 4D simulation modeling and 3D visualization technologies. As one of the world’s foremost experts in discrete event simulation software and systems modeling, he has led a number of major 4D simulation projects for clients in the oil and gas, aerospace and defense industries. During nearly two decades of work in the engineering and software development sector, Mr. Prast held senior positions with Dassault Systemes, General Motors and managed a global service and implementation business. He holds a B.S. in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan.

EOS Solutions
EOS Solutions, LLC uses 4D simulation and 3D visualization technology to neutralize the financial risk associated with operating large scale complex systems. The Company's advanced systems modeling techniques produce 4D simulations that make it possible to assess the viability of operational plans prior to making major capital investments. The 4D simulations EOS creates can help you understand any number of issues that may affect the profitability of a project during its life cycle, including: new technology, staffing levels, weather, equipment failure and delivery schedules.
As a global leader in operations research and systems modeling, EOS understands that poor collaboration among cross-functional groups can bring operations to an abrupt halt. That is why EOS offers 3D PDF Converter software to help ensure that critical 3D data moves efficiently throughout the supply chain in a universally accessible format. As the exclusive training, support and service provider for 3D PDF Converter software, EOS is equipped to help you integrate the collaborative power of 3D PDF into every aspect of the design and engineering process.
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11:50 Mike Hogan - senior consultant
LINK Associates
Sustainable Reputation Management


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Talk Description.
Don't let a Crisis turn into a Disaster!
After an initial career as a journalist with the London Financial Times and economics reporter with the BBC (including editing the famous ‘Panorama’ program), Mike Hogan joined PriceWaterhouseCoopers as head of European media relations, then joined Shell as head of global public relations.

During his time at Shell, 1996 to 2003, Shell ended up involved in two very challenging public debates, how to dispose of Brent Spa, and pollution in the Niger delta, with events leading to the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa by the Nigerian government.

Since working at Shell, Mr Hogan has also led a master’s degree in international public relations and crisis management at Cardiff Business School, Wales.

LINK Associates
Established in 1986, and with corporate centres in the UK, today we deliver an unrivalled training and consultancy service throughout the world. It's a service that's truly integrated and incorporates all areas of managing corporate risk including business continuity, crisis and emergency management, and health and safety.

We have over 50 consultants who combine the very latest academic theories with their professional expertise to bring innovative solutions to organisations across all continents and equip your management team with the right skills to manage today's and tomorrow's risks.
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12:25 Taf Powell - Adviser, Offshore Regulation
European Commission
Facing the Challenge of the Safety of Offshore Oil and Gas Activities


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Talk Description.
Introducing the European Commission proposal for regulation of offshore safety and environmental protection...............
Taf Powell is in the European Commission as an expert to advise the Commission in its programme for an offshore Regulation. He is from the UK where previously he was Director of HSE's Offshore Division, joining HSE from industry to work on the post Piper Alpha reforms and between 2006 and 2008 led the Government's independent investigation into the Buncefield explosions and fires.

European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union
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13:00 Raffle prize draw, followed by Lunch & refreshments

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