Monday 9 June 2008

EFFECTIVE CORROSION MANAGEMENT VITAL TO OFFSHORE SAFETY

Oil & Gas UK is holding a master class on corrosion management on 18 June 2008 at the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa in Aberdeen, to promote awareness of this key area of offshore safety to managers and engineers who may be less familiar with the subject.

The master class, Oil & Gas UK's first, aims to increase understanding of the principle threats of corrosion, their appearance and likely locations.  It will also help pinpoint the conditions that may give rise to corrosion and suggest relevant mitigation methods.

Chris Allen, HSSE director with Oil & Gas UK explained: "Effective corrosion management is an important aspect in ensuring the health and safety of our offshore workforce and assets, given that corrosion is a factor in 15 per cent of hydrocarbon leaks, which can be the cause of a major incident. This master class is primarily aimed at key managers and engineers who may not deal directly with corrosion specific to oil and gas production plants on a daily basis but who need to be up to speed."

Speakers at the master class include Steve Walker from the Health and Safety Executive, Catriona Smith from BP, Harald Gulaker from Aker Solutions, Steve Paterson from Shell, Rob Howard from Lloyds Register EMEA and Keith Hart from the Energy Institute.

Two new guidelines will be launched at the event: 'Guidance for corrosion management in oil and gas production and processing' and a 'Corrosion threats guide' for upstream oil and gas production plant. The first publication is aimed at those with substantial knowledge of corrosion issues, while the second publication, the corrosion threat handbook, is aimed at key managers and engineers who are less familiar with the subject but who nevertheless still need to have a thorough understanding of it.

Further information on the seminar can be found on: www.oilandgasuk.co.uk

ENDS

Notes to editors

Oil & Gas UK is the leading representative organisation for the UK offshore oil and gas industry.  Its members are companies licensed by the Government to explore for and produce oil and gas in UK waters and those who form any part of the industry's supply chain.

 

For further information, please contact:

Britta Hallbauer

Oil & Gas UK Media Relations               

3^rd Floor, the Exchange 2                                               

62 Market Street

Aberdeen AB11 5PJ      

                                                                       

Tel:       01224 577331

Fax:      020 7802 2401

Email:   bhallbauer@oilandgasuk.co.uk

Mob:     07891769113