OFFB’s offices and situation rooms are unusually quiet this late autumn and dawning winter. The COVID-19 situation has transferred most activities to video conferences and home offices.
But with good infection control measures in place, it is still possible to meet when necessary.
On December 3rd, INEOS Oil & Gas Norway began its first exercises, involving all 20 members of its future 3rd line strategic response team. The goal of the day was to get to know the emergency room, talk through the team’s various tasks, and to carry out the first meeting, using the digital crisis information management tool CIM.
The run-up will continue in the new year, with emergency drills for all 3rd line emergency teams, collaboration exercises involving different levels within the company and the 2nd line emergency organisation provided by OFFB, and the 1st line on board the drilling rig. The rig contract for ‘Fat Canyon’ has not yet been awarded.
Preparing through the winter
General manager Erik Magnesen of INEOS is glad to get started with the emergency preparedness, and to brush up on the skills and knowledge required for the coming activities. The last time the company drilled an own-operated well was back in 2013, then under the name of DONG Energy.
“We have many experienced people in the team, but we also have some newcomers. Now the training has started, and we will be using the winter to cover all aspects,” Magnesen says.
He thinks it is important to get to know the situation room, and appreciates the opportunity to meet face-to-face, not just on Teams.
Safety with regards to the COVID-19 situation is well taken care of, with few people in the room, safe distance between the participants, and other infection control measures in place, he says.
Pleased with the emergency collaboration
INEOS Oil & Gas Norway joined the emergency response collaboration OFFB in 2019. Magnesen believes being a member of OFFB is optimal to the company. Through this, it gets access to methods and best practices, prepared together with a number of other operators on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. At the same time, it is backed up by a highly skilled emergency organisation.
“Safety permeates our entire operations, and it is on top of the agenda in everything we do. We are very satisfied with our membership in the OFFB. We want to be well prepared for drilling ‘Fat Canyon’, which is the biggest and most important activity for our company next year,“ says Magnesen.
The company’s ambition is to follow up with more wells in the years to come.
