U.S. offshore safety regulator BSEE is set to increase physical inspection time offshore, in an attempt to make inspections more efficient and reduce helicopter operating expenses.
In a statement on Monday, Michael Saucier , Regional Supervisor for District Field Operations, Gulf of Mexico Region said: “We streamlined how inspectors do their job offshore, while achieving a significant cost-savings. This new process will allow BSEE inspectors to increase physical inspection time on offshore oil and gas facilities.”
According to BSEE, inspectors will be taking advantage of technology allowing for access to electronic records onshore, meaning they will have “significantly more time” to inspect operations offshore, ensuring safety at more than 2,200 facilities in the Gulf of Mexico.
BSEE says the move, taking effect April 1, will reduce helicopter operating expenses 15 percent, and will reduce taxpayer burden by nearly $20 million over 3.5 years
“This approach greatly improves our inspectors’ efficiency, increasing safety oversight at OCS facilities,” said Director Scott A. Angelle . “Our team developed a smarter, safer strategy that provides more physical inspection time offshore and reduces government costs. This makes sense for the American taxpayer and increases our ability to ensure safe operations offshore.”
Oil production from the Outer Continental Shelf accounts for one of every six barrels produced in the United States, with 98 percent of all OCS energy produced from the Gulf of Mexico.