"What
I hear most often from oil and gas insiders is that putting
the information technology together, linking it with the
safety and risk theory, is the hardest part. That, though,
is one of EQE's core competencies."
--Mike
Sevenoaks
Head of EQE’s Houston software group.
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racking
safety, quality and environment-related data remains one
of |
the more
d ifficult aspects for offshore operators juggling a multitude
of competing demands, according to Mike Sevenoaks, head of EQE’s
Houston software group. When incidents, accidents, near misses
and equipment failures go unreported, it becomes impossible
to track trends, identify areas of concern, prevent similar
incidents, alter the design of future installations for increased
safety and utility, and to account for the out-of-pocket expenses
associated with the event. Sevenoaks recalls a European offshore
project in the nineties where it was eventually determined that
$1.6 million had been spent on incidents in a one year period
even though not a single major unplanned event was ever reported.
"There
are a lot of reasons why event data does not get reported,"
said Sevenoaks. "Probably the number one reason I hear is,
lack of an intuitive time-saving system in which to do it.
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If the process
for reporting an incident is laborious or counter to your business
process, it is not going to happen with regularity and accuracy."
Additionally,
many current systems for reporting events are in EXCEL or ACCESS
databases, which lack the robustness of information technology (IT)
designed specifically for HSE or quality data. This has led some
in-house information management departments to develop their own
systems for managing event data. "It can very easily become a costly
exercise for these departments," said Sevenoaks. "Without a background
in safety and risk, it requires an incredible amount of time, research
and liaison."
Even then, the
resulting product may not approach the utility of a product developed
by risk experts. While tracking incidents is a number one concern,
other areas where IT can make a significant impact include:
- modeling
potential risks and safety cases for an installation
- managing
the risk that an installation may be exposed to over its lifetime
- tracking
events and connecting them with corrective or remedial action
- utilizing
email interfaces to manage these actions
- reviewing,
on line, an incident or event for determination of root causes
- reporting
to regulatory bodies like MMS or HSE
Sevenoaks supports
and develops risk and safety-related IT products from EQE, a world
recognized leader in risk services.
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