Building Safety in Petroleum Exploration and Production in the Northern Regions

SINTEF, NTNU and IFE in collaboration with ENI Norge AS will develop new and multi-disciplinary theories, methods, and management tools to reduce risk to personnel and environment in petroleum activities in the northern regions. The project addresses safe ty opportunities and challenges in next generation work processes and operational concepts. Main research questions are: - How may new operational modes improve safety performance? - What actions are required to avoid increased risk in new work proces ses? - What can be done to identify risk and implement safety measures in various development processes of new operational concepts. The holistic approach of the project will complement the current risk management approach based on the development of s cenarios for different defined situations of hazard and accidents. According to the White Paper to the Storting on Health, safety and environment in the petroleum activities (2006), there is the need for continued learning about risk management in the pe troleum activities. Norwegian authorities have stated very strict safety and reliability requirements for petroleum activities in the northern region. More knowledge on the technological, human and organisational factors influencing safety and environment al performance may be an important prerequisite for further activities.