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ABS Signs Memorandum
of Understanding with Oil and Gas Safety Agency
Gosgortechnadzor of the Azerbaijan Republic
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ABS was formally recognized
by Gosgortechnzdzor (GGTN) of the Azerbaijan Republic
to act regarding classification and certification
services for offshore oil and gas facilities in
the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea.
Signing the MOU between GGTN and ABS are (seated,
from left) Todd Grove, Vice President Western
Region, ABS Europe and Tofik Aliyey, Chairman
of GGTN, Azerbaijan Republic. (Looking on are,
from left) Dr. Kamran Ahmdov, Executive Manager,
Baku Engineering Contractors; Fazil Akhoundov,
Lead Inspector/Expert, GGTN; Novruz Mammadguliyev,
Chief of Oil Inspection, GGTN; Dr. Rakiz Sattarov,
Managing Director, Baku Engineering Contractors;
and Ibrahim Fawzy, District Manager, North District/Caspian,
ABS Europe
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| For more information
on ABS Offshore products and services, background
on ABS’ experience and market share plus
relevant Rules and Guides for the offshore industry,
visit our website at: http://www.eagle.org/prodserv/offshore.html
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BS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) |
with The State Mining Safety Committee, Gosgortechnadzor (GGTN),
of the Azerbaijan Republic establishing a formal framework for
technical collaboration between the two organizations with respect
to offshore oil and gas operations. The MOU recognizes ABS classification
and certification services for offshore oil and gas facilities
in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea and establishes
compliance with the relevant Rules and Guides of ABS. This includes
plan review and survey work by ABS plus establishes a streamlined
process of alternative compliance with internationally recognized
standards as permitted under the Azeri Technical Safety Law.
The MOU was signed shortly after a successful pilot program
by ABS and GGTN on a major offshore project in Azerbaijan.
“This formal recognition of ABS technical expertise
by the Azerbaijan Republic is a major step forward for us
in working with the government and our clients on offshore
projects in the oil and gas rich Caspian Sea in northwest
Asia,” says Antonio Lino Costa, President and Chief
Operating Officer, ABS Europe.
GGTN is the State Committee responsible for enforcement of
the Azeri Technical Safety Law applicable to all sectors of
the onshore and offshore oil and gas industry in the Azerbaijan
Republic. GGTN encompasses within its jurisdiction the responsibility
of the “Coastal State Authority” similar to the
NPD in Norway, HSE in UK and MMS in the US. GGTN covers offshore
operations concerns in the Azeri sector of the Caspian.
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A noteworthy feature of the MOU is the provision for ABS to consider
alternative arrangements and structures, which can be shown, through
either satisfactory service experience or systematic analysis based
on sound engineering principles, to meet the overall safety and strength
standards of ABS Rules and Guides or other internationally recognized
standards.
This is a powerful tool for accommodating the desire of clients
to apply direct engineering principles and service experience in
lieu of prescriptive methods, as long as equivalency to internationally
recognized standards is established.
This formal agreement is an outgrowth of a well-established relationship
between ABS and GGTN of the Azerbaijan Republic. ABS is the market
share leader in offshore classification worldwide and recently provided
new-build class services for the most technologically advanced semi-submersible
drilling rig located in the Caspian Sea.
“The missions of ABS and GGTN are synonymous in that we are
both focused on improving safety of life at sea and protecting the
natural environment by setting standards,” says Lino Costa.
“This agreement between our two organizations offers further
appropriate environmental protection and risk mitigation for offshore
exploration and production in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian
Sea.”
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