BSEE issues final Drilling Safety Rule covering offshore operations

Offshore staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has issued a final offshore drilling safety rule, and it features requirements for safety equipment, well control systems, and BOP practices. BSEE says the rule makes final the interim rule changes put in place following the Macondo incident.

The Drilling Safety Rule establishes new standards for casing and cementing, including integrity testing requirements; third-party certification and verification requirements; BOP capability, testing, and documentation obligations; and standards for specific well control training, to include deepwater operations.

The rule also describes and classifies well-control barriers; define testing requirements for cement; clarifies requirements for the installation of dual mechanical barriers; and extends requirements for BOPs and well-control fluids to well-completions, workovers, and decommissioning operations.

For an examination of the actions leading to this final rule,click here.

8/16/2012