Incident Report

Subject:           New European Directive on Safety of Offshore Oil and Gas Operations

Date of Email report:  Sat 06/07/2013

Report Detail:

On 10 June 2013 the EU adopted a Directive on safety of offshore oil and gas operations. The new rules (initially proposed to take the form of a regulation) will make sure that the highest safety standards will be followed at every oil and gas platform across Europe. It will also ensure that we react effectively and promptly should an accident nevertheless occur.

This would help minimise the possible damage to the environment and the livelihoods of coastal communities. The new directive sets clear rules that cover the whole lifecycle of all exploration and production activities from design to the final removal of an oil or gas installation.

DIRECTIVE 2013/30/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 12 June 2013 on safety of offshore oil and gas operations and amending Directive 2004/35/EC

Earlier this year a technical peer review programme was carried out to examine the differences in approach between the Commission's cost benefit methodology and two studies of that work undertaken by industry.

The review was independently chaired by a Director of the UK Health and Safety Laboratory ( http://www.hsl.gov.uk/  ) who issued a final report on 3 July 2012.

Additional Documentation:

20120703_summary_report_en