Houston-based oil and gas company Noble Energy has received a certificate of compliance to the SEMS (Safety and Environmental Systems) standard from DNV GL’s Business Assurance USA for Noble’s offshore drilling operations in Israel.
The compliance certification which sets criteria for safe operations of offshore drilling platforms is based on audits of Noble Energy’s facilities and workflows supporting the Tamar natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Israel.
“Achieving SEMS compliance is tangible proof of the company’s commitment to safety and environmental leadership,” Remi Eriksen , President & CEO for DNV GL, said. “SEMS requirements are rigorous and exhaustive. These requirements cannot be met without total organizational commitment and transparency.”
In assessing Noble Energy’s Tamar operations, DNV GL – Business Assurance USA utilized SEMS audit protocols developed by the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) for the Gulf of Mexico. BSEE requires SEMS auditors to be certified by the Center for Offshore Safety (COS), which promotes safety for offshore operations.
“We are committed to operate to the highest standards across our global operational areas,” said Scott Childres , Vice President of Operations for Eastern Mediterranean at Noble Energy. “We have been working with the Israel Ministry of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources to develop a world-class industry in Israel since we made the first offshore discovery in 1999.”
“Natural gas from the Tamar Field currently fuels more than half of Israel’s electricity generation needs and nearly all of the country’s industrial fuel requirements. Receiving this certificate of compliance from a distinguished organization like DNV GL is a testament to our unrelenting commitment to safe and responsible operations that provide reliable energy resources to the people of Israel.”
The Tamar field, Israel’s second largest offshore gas field, is operated by Noble Energy, with Delek Group as a partner. Located 90 kilometres offshore Israel’s northern coast, the field has an estimated 10 trillion cubic feet of gas.