Ripples from Gulf of Mexico oil spill reach Holland

The Inspector General will also be aware of cost issues bearing in mind deteriorating income from North Sea Platforms and may be concerned that his former employer will return to its notorious “Touch F*** All” safety culture on its remaining platforms, including senior management approved falsification of safety records.

By John Donovan

As a result of the BP/Transocean disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, J.W. de Jong, M. Eng., the Inspector General of the Dutch government authority responsible for mining activities, including oil and gas exploration and production, has sent a notification with a deadline to all oil companies, including his former employer, Royal Dutch Shell.

It requires them to inform him by 2nd September on how they will deal with a worst case scenario and what measures they have to avoid this. He refers in the notification to the BP oil spill and wants to know what the oil industry has learnt from the Gulf of Mexico disaster.

The Inspector General will also be aware of cost issues bearing in mind deteriorating income from North Sea Platforms and may be concerned that his former employer will return to its notorious “Touch F*** All” safety culture on its remaining platforms, including management approved falsification of safety records.

Part of the notification is in Dutch and can be accessed via this link

The part printed in English is also displayed below:

• Recommendation 1 – Compliance Verification for Existing Regulations and April 30, 2010, National Safety Alert
• Examine all well-control equipment (both surface and subsea) currently being used to ensure that it has been properly maintained and is capable of shutting in the well during emergency operations. Ensure that the ROV hot-stabs are function-tested and are capable of actuating the BOP.
• Review all rig drilling/casing/completion practices to ensure that well-control contingencies are not compromised at any point while the BOP is installed on the wellhead.
• Review all emergency shutdown and dynamic positioning procedures that interface with emergency well control operations.
• Inspect lifesaving and firefighting equipment for compliance with Federal requirements.
• Ensure that all crew members are familiar with emergency/firefighting equipment, as well as participate in an abandon ship drill. Operators are reminded that the review of emergency equipment and drills must be conducted after each crew change out.
• Exercise emergency power equipment to ensure proper operation.
• Ensure that all personnel involved in well operations are properly trained and capable of performing their tasks under both normal drilling and emergency well-control operations.

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