Offshore staff
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is moving to establish an Ocean Energy Safety Institute to “further enhance safe and responsible operations across the offshore oil and gas industry.”
The institute will be designed as a forum for dialogue, shared learning, and cooperative research among academia, government, industry, and non-government organizations regarding technology and activity to ensure safe operations with limited environmental impact.
“The Institute will help federal regulators keep pace with new processes employed by the industry as they move into deeper water and deeper geologic plays that require technological innovation to bring projects into production,” said James Watson, BSEE director.
This stems from a recommendation by the Ocean Energy Safety Advisory Committee to organize a program of research, technical assistance and education, and center of expertise in oil and gas exploration, development, and production technology. It will not have regulatory authority.
“The continued shift of the offshore oil and gas industry into deeper water and frontier areas requires new expertise for offshore workers and the regulators who oversee leasing, environmental reviews, exploration, development and production operations,” said Deputy Secretary of the Interior David J. Hayes.
5/30/2013
