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<p>Although many duty holders undertook extended maintenance shutdowns in 2021, these
were often not enough to eliminate the backlog issues. As well as through its day-to-day
regulatory activities, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also impacts on offshore
safety through membership of working groups. One of these is the Asset Integrity Task
Group (AITG). AITG members include Apache, BP, CNOOC, CNR, Repsol Sinopec, TAQA as
well as the Oil and Gas Authority and Oil and Gas UK. The AITG’s current key focus
relates to addressing asset integrity issues, including maintenance backlog, through
a more effective focus on Process Safety Leadership. The offshore industry signed
up to improving its approach to Process Safety Leadership at the Oil and Gas UK’s
Health & Safety Conference in 2019.</p><p> </p><p>Outcomes of HSE’s working on
alternative means than traditional shutdowns to address maintenance backlogs, include
the recognition by industry that a move towards more sustained asset integrity campaigns
for late life installations is required. Potential solutions include increasing the
size of the offshore workforce using flotels or jack-up drilling rigs in accommodation
mode alongside production installations and more frequent maintenance campaigns; more
extended shutdowns and Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSOs) being
taken off station for extensive maintenance that cannot be done offshore.</p>
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