Oil & Gas UK’s seminar to provide better insight into EU safety directive

Oil & Gas UK, representative organisation for the UK offshore oil and gas industry, is holding an EU Directive Seminar today at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, sponsored by Environmental Resources Management (ERM).

The seminar, chaired by Oil & Gas UK health and safety and employment issues director Robert Paterson, will provide a valuable insight into the legislative safety and environmental changes the UK offshore oil and gas sector will face in light of the EU Directive being adopted by the Council of the European Union last year.

Derek Saward from the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) together with Jim Neilson from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will provide an insight into the emerging thoughts of the Regulators as they see it at this early stage in the transposition process. John Atkinson from the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) will give a drillers’ perspective on the potential implications of the directive. Atkinson will be followed by Oil & Gas UK environmental issues manager John Rintoul and HSE senior business analyst Moira Lamb, with industry views on the prospective changes required to fulfil the requirements of the directive.

Related:  UK Energy Secretary Supports EU Directive on Offshore Oil and Gas Safety

Paterson hopes the seminar will be an opportunity for industry leaders, senior management and specialists in safety, environment and operations to gain a reasonably comprehensive initial understanding on what the directive is likely to mean to the oil and gas industry.

“We have some excellent speakers from the HSE, DECC, IADC and Oil & Gas UK, discussing the legislative changes, the implementation and transitional arrangements, the competent authority set up and organisation, common reporting of major incidents and other future impacts the directive will have. It is a great opportunity to gain an insight into the thinking and expectations of the regulatory authorities at an early stage in this significant legislative change.” Paterson commented.

In June of 2013 the Council of the European Union adopted a directive on safety of offshore oil and gas operations. The new regulatory framework aims to reduce the occurrence of major accidents related to offshore oil and gas operations and to limit their consequences.

The seminar will conclude with a panel session involving all speakers.