Prioritising asset safety management 

The Oil and Gas UK’s 2016 health and safety report found a 30% decrease in dangerous occurrences across process safety performance between 2013 and 2015. Injury rates also declined by 20% for personal safety performance, to their lowest since 1995. Yet, despite regulatory changes, accidents continue to put lives and assets at risk.                                                                            

The industry is expected to cut costs, but this carries safety risks. In 1988, Aberdeen experienced the world’s deadliest oil rig explosion that claimed 167 lives. Post-mortem discovered shortcuts had disabled the safety systems on the Piper Alpha platform. Ultimately, operators cannot afford to scale back on safety control.

With more than 50% of North Sea oil and gas assets running beyond their safe life expectancy, upkeep of safety management should be a priority. The Oil and Gas Authority found that the average age of operational installations on the UK Continental Shelf is more than 28 years, some more than 40 years. These safety systems are likely outdated, weakened and corroded.

Effective protection against fire and explosions on older oil and gas assets maybe a complex and expensive task, but ensuring safety is paramount. Fortunately, almost half (45%) of the industry is aware of the urgency to invest in technical innovation for safety improvements. 

Embracing innovation 

Firefighting deluge systems are critical to the safety case and the ability to control major accident hazards. Many deluge systems do not operate reliably and nozzles become blocked by corrosion, marine growth, salt crystallisation or debris. However, innovative anti-blocking devices can prevent blocked nozzles and improve system reliability and resilience. 

Dry testing of deluge systems can enable cost-optimisation while maintaining compliance. This also reduces the frequency of operational tests, reducing the likelihood of blockages and extending operational life. Adopting this kind of approach to routine protocols can make an enormous difference to the bottom line.

Improving the resilience of deluge discharge nozzles, coupled with environment-specific technology, can save operators over 21% per year for the remaining life of the asset. Many organisations fear they will be faced with a hefty bill if they want to update and maintain a fully-functional fire-prevention system. However, technology exists that ensures system reliability and resilience for a tenth of the cost.

Shift in attitude

A shift in attitude is required to introduce new ideas in health and safety. Fortunately, the industry has come a long way in fire and safety management since the Piper Alpha disaster. Regulations such as Safety Integrity Level (SIL) compliance are focused specifically on risk reduction and system reliability, as well as Offshore Installations regulations around Asset Through Life Extension, which ensure platforms past their design life can safely remain operational. These changes force oil and gas organisations to examine and update their fire and safety processes. 

Airtight safety protocols are non-negotiable. Companies attempting to reap short-term savings by cutting corners are setting themselves and the wider community up for catastrophe.

Operators need to prioritise health and safety and upkeep of their assets. Innovative technologies and processes hold the key to achieving this, but it’s up to individual policy-makers and stakeholders to move now, before it’s too late.