Statoil has received notification of order from the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) Norway following audits at Oseberg B and Gullfaks C, both located in the Norwegian North Sea.
A notification of order is a step in the PSA’s case processing in which the regulator requests the party to assess the factual basis. The notification is only the first step before an administrative decision is made.
Between November 10, 2014 and January 29, 2015, the PSA conducted audits at Oseberg B and Gullfaks C. The audits followed up and verified the auditing performed in 2013 relating to the signing of new drilling contracts for Statoil’s fixed facilities.
Result
According to the PSA, the audits found that safety-critical equipment had not been monitored as required in the HSE regulations for petroleum activities. This applies primarily to the BOP control system, which was chosen as a particular object of verification subject during this audit.
The audit detected the following non-conformities: Deficient condition assessment of safety-critical equipment; Inadequate practice for complete overhaul and recertification of pressure control equipment; Deficient verification of programme for maintenance of safety-critical equipment; Deficient risk management of drilling equipment.
Improvement points: Knowledge of performance of barrier elements at Gullfaks C and Oseberg B; Weaknesses in competence, training and drills; Working environment in the drilling facility on Gullfaks C could be improved; There is insufficient assessment of the significance of safety and working environment frameworks, and limited measures have been taken to reduce negative HSE consequences of framework conditions.
The order
Based on the findings made during the audit, the PSA has now given Statoil notice of the following order:
“Pursuant to the Framework Regulations, section 69 concerning administrative decisions, with reference to section 5 of the Management Regulations, concerning barriers, and section 51 of the Activities Regulations, concerning specific requirements for testing of blowout preventer and other pressure control equipment, Statoil is ordered to obtain an overall and up-to-date status picture of the BOP control systems at Oseberg B and Gullfaks C, with reference to chapter 5.1.1 of the report. Based on this status picture, Statoil is ordered to produce a time-delimited, binding schedule of measures for overhauling and recertification, with reference to chapter 5.1.2 of the report.”
The deadline for complying with the order is set at August 4, 2015. The PSA says it is to be notified when the order has been carried out.
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