§ Mr. DoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy for how many oil and gas installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea each inspector is responsible.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonInspectors are not allocated to particular installations. Each installation is subject to inspection by inspectors of different disciplines to ensure as wide a spread of expertise as possible.
§ Mr. DoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list those bodies and agencies which receive copies of the reports of his Department's inspections of oil and gas installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonCopies of my inspector's reports are not sent to outside agencies. Any lessons to be learnt are immediately communicated to the petroleum industry by means of safety notices. An inspector will ensure that any action required is carried out by the companies concerned.
§ Mr. DoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) to which body the certifying authorities for oil and gas installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea report; and what is the status of their reports;
(2) what powers the certifying authorities have to enforce adequate safety standards; and on what occasions these powers have been used and in respect of which oil and gas installations;
(3) what criteria his Department applies in its appointment of companies to act as certifying authorities for safety purposes of oil and gas installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea;
85W(4) to whom copies of the reports of the inspections by certifying authorities of oil and gas installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea are made available.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonThere are six approved independent certifying authorities appointed under the Offshore Installations (Construction and Survey) Regulations 1974 (SI. 1974/289). These are:
- Lloyd's Register of Shipping;
- American Bureau of Shipping;
- Bureau Veritas;
- Det Norske Veritas;
- Germanisher Lloyd; and
- Offshore Certification Bureau.
The first five listed were appointed in 1974 and are internationally respected ship classification societies. The sixth, formerly known as Halcrow, Ewbank Partnership, was appointed in 1976 and comprised a group of internationally respected British consultants. Each certifying authority was appointed only after an in-depth study by specialists in my Department. These studies involved analysis of each authority's management, structure, staff and methodology in applying their experience as ship classification societies to offshore installations.
Whilst they are required to be independent, the authorities are subjected to continuous reassessment by my Department to ensure that their technical and managerial quality is maintained. These reassessments involve further detailed studies of the methodology applied by the authorities to ensure that they comply with the law; that the most up-to-date standards are being applied in certification procedures and that they are correctly interpreting design and construction guidance notes issued by my Department which document technology relevant to offshore installations which is not readily available already in published form.
Before issuing a certificate of fitness, the certifying authorities are required to examine plans, drawings, specifications, reports and other documents submitted by the owners of offshore installations. The certifying authorities must also carry out, or ensure that there has already been carried out, an independent assessment of the design and method of construction of each installation. They also carry out an initial major survey of each installation.
Only when satisfied that it is proper to do so can a certifying authority issue a certificate of fitness. This is valid for up to five years, after which a further major survey must be carried out before a subsequent certificate is issued. Annual surveys of installations are also required.
Certifying authorities and owners can agree that offshore installations should be subject to continuous assessment instead of subsequent major surveys. Under this procedure annual surveys continue to take place but additionally the installation is continuously surveyed and the need for a separate major survey every fifth year is therefore removed.
If a certifying authority considers that a particular installation is no longer fit for its intended purpose it is required to notify the owner and me so that I can take appropriate action including if necessary the withdrawal of a certificate of fitness. The certifying authorities may, as part of their powers, impose limitations on the location, operation and movement of offshore installations. They may also decline to issue a certificate of fitness.
86WWhile the certifying authorities are independent and liaise directly with offshore operators, the authorities are, under the terms and conditions of their appointment, required to send me an annual report of their activities together with any report that they have prepared or obtained in carrying out their duties which I may require. Certifying authorities are not required to copy these reports to any other organisations.
The Certifying authority for Piper Alpha was Lloyd's Register of Shipping.
§ Mr. DoranTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the occasions when his Department has issued a safety notice to an operator of an oil and gas installation in the United Kingdom sector of the North sea requiring the operator to improve safety standards on an installation; and to which operators and in respect of which installation they were issued.
§ Mr. Peter MorrisonWhen an inspector of my safety directorate completes an inspection he records in the operator's logbook any matters he requires the owner or offshore installation manager to do or refrain from doing. If necessary, he also leaves a list of points for attention with the offshore installation manager, (which consists of points recorded in the logbook and minor points of detail), and sends a letter to company management at the shore base. Any safety recommendation which could be of general application is notified to all offshore operators. An inspector will ensure that companies perform the action required; time limits are specified by my inspectors when required.