ConocoPhillips is the operator of exploration well 6507/4-1. The well is to be drilled using the Leiv Eiriksson mobile drilling facility, which is operated by Transocean.

Background

The industry has been through a period of major changes aimed at reducing costs and streamlining. We are concerned that the industry’s optimisations are increasingly reducing the safety margins associated with technical installations, operating systems and organisations. The consequences of this may be an erosion of robustness.

The participants’ responsibilities for meeting the requirements of prudent activities, continuous improvement and risk reduction are still applicable during times of change. Through our audits, we are particularly focused on risks being assessed individually and in combination ahead of decision-making.

The Petroleum Safety Authority Norway has reviewed incidents and lessons from audits and investigations, as well as information from whistleblowing relating to drilling and well activities in the petroleum industry. Challenges have been identified concerning quality in the planning and execution of drilling and well activities. These are a major justification for this series of audits.

Collaboration is crucial for safety. As consequences of weakened collaboration, company management may receive poorer decision support in important matters, and key decisions on progress may not be properly bedded in the workforce.

Objective

The objective of the audit was to verify whether ConocoPhillips, Transocean and their contractors satisfy the regulatory requirements in respect of planning, risk assessment and execution of drilling and well operations.

During the audit, we aimed to focus on how decision support and decision-making criteria and processes, including risk assessments and analyses, are established and implemented so as to safeguard well control and ensure robust operations.

Result

No non-conformities were identified during the audit, but we observed three factors that come under the category of improvement points. These were:

  • Analysis of blowout preventer configuration (ConocoPhillips)
  • Training and exercises (Transocean)
  • Employee participation (ConocoPhillips and Transocean)

What happens next?

We have asked the companies for their assessment of the improvement points observed. The deadline for this is set at 13 November 2020.