This paper discusses the piloting work done by Amoco (U.K.) Exploration Company, from 1988 to date, in developing safety cases for a total of 21 diverse installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea.

The period is characterised by an unprecedented degree of change during which operators have sought to achieve a practical and consistent outcome in anticipation of new offshore safety regulations finally introduced in 1993 [1].

The paper describes Amoco's approach to the management of that change, the formation and the work of the Amoco Safety Case Team, and the value of the information and experience obtained during the process. It concludes by discussing the key elements in the project's success and the future challenges facing the industry in continuing to implement the new approach to safety.

Keywords:
safety measure, installation, upstream oil & gas, support decisive management, society of petroleum engineers, documentation, safety case team, workforce, management system, contingency planning
Subjects:
HSSE & Social Responsibility Management, Safety, Risk Management and Decision-Making, HSSE management systems, Contingency planning and emergency response, Operational safety, Safety risk management, Risk, uncertainty, and risk assessment
Copyright 1993, Society of Petroleum Engineers
You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.