Friday 14 January 2000

Aberdeen to Host UKOOA Safety Systems Workshop

New guidelines published by the UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) for the design and operation of instrument-based protective systems which are critical for maintaining a safe and stable offshore operations will be the subject of a workshop to be held in Aberdeen on Tuesday, 8 February 2000.

The one-day workshop for oil and gas industry engineers will take place at Aberdeen Football Club, Pittodrie and will have as its keynote speaker Jeff Pearson of the Health and Safety Executives Offshore Safety Division. There will also be presentations by representatives from BP Amoco, Shell and Elf Exploration UK.

Instrument-based protective systems underpin safety and operational stability offshore. Their role includes, for example, the automatic shutdown or isolation of sections of the installation in the event of a serious incident when fire or gas leaks are detected, or pressure levels exceed given limits.

Dr John Wils, UKOOAs Director of Operational and Technical Affairs, places the new guidelines within the context of the offshore industrys regulatory framework where the primary principle is the management of risk.

The guidelines are intended to provide guidance on good practice for the design, operation and maintenance of systems which are vitally important to reducing risks offshore, he says. They recognise that design for safety should be integrated across all engineering disciplines and promote standards which can be incorporated from the very initial stages of the design process.

Delegates will be able to discuss and debate the issues raised by the guidelines at the workshop, he adds.

UKOOAs workshop on instrument-based protective systems on Tuesday, 8 February, 2000 at Aberdeen Football Club, Pittodrie, Aberdeen costs £115 plus VAT.

For more information, please call 020 7802 2400.