Dialogue Continues to Build with OESI-led Forums. all agreed that those involved in shallow-water operations

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1 OCEANEWS Dialogue Continues to Build with OESI-led Forums In This Issue PI s Corner OESI Outreach The Challenge of Employee Participation Director of Ops Thoughts Upcoming Events Since our last newsletter, OESI has convened three Forums for Dialogue. Specifically, the Forums have addressed Human Factors, Blowouts in Shallow Water, and Taking SEMS to the Next Level. During the Human Factors Forum, discussion revolved around organizational elements and design decisions, safety culture, reliable systems, and industry needs. Breakout sessions focused on organizational elements and design decisions. More can be found about the Human Factors Forum on page 5. The Blowouts in Shallow-Water Forum focused on the operating environment and deliberated the need for a different technical perspective in the shallow-water environment. With the assistance of experienced panel members leading robust discussion the consensus was that there should continue to be a single approach. However, all agreed that those involved in shallow-water operations must understand the shortened timelines for action and reaction. Turn to page 6 for more about the Blowouts in Shallow-Water Forum. In July, OESI hosted a Forum to discuss Taking SEMS to the Next Level. This was an opportunity for BSEE to engage in dialogue with offshore energy stakeholders about continuous improvement of the Safety and Environmental Management System (SEMS), to discuss what the system could be and contribute to in the future. This Forum was preceded with a survey conducted by OESI in order to determine stakeholder perspectives and priorities on this important area of safety capability. Further discussion of this Forum can be found on page 7. OESI continues to work with industry leaders and our Advisory Committee to move forward on the areas identified by these forums. As with all OESI Forums, the agenda, presentations and summaries can be found online at OceaNews, Vol 2, No. 1 1 Fall 2015

2 PI s Corner - Dr. Sam Mannan How do we improve performance in ocean energy operations? Naturally the answer to this question is very complex and requires the participation of many stakeholders (e.g., industry, governments, academia, public interest groups and others). The role played by academia with regard to process safety education and competency development in process safety is a very important component in this effort of making progress in process safety performance. Different levels of education are needed in terms of process safety for various individuals in the organization. At the undergraduate level, process safety education should be included in all engineering disciplines. That is because it is not just chemical and petroleum engineers who have to deal with process safety matters. It is quite often we find mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, civil engineers, as well as other engineering disciplines who end up working on process safety projects or managing projects where process safety is a key component. For this very reason, I am also opposed to creating a Bachelor s degree specifically for process safety because it has the possibility of some specific negative outcomes. A really unwanted negative outcome of creating a Bachelor s degree in process safety would be the perception that other engineering disciplines do not have anything to do about process safety. And that would be disastrous because good process safety performance requires the active commitment and participation by everyone working in the plant or on the platform. With regard to integrating process safety into the chemical engineering curriculum, I believe that key individual elements of process safety should be threaded into undergraduate chemical engineering courses that serve as the foundation of chemical engineering discipline (e.g., thermodynamics, kinetics, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer), that safety topics should be the seamless and almost invisible threads that bind the whole together. In addition, process safety should be taught as a stand-alone final year course (like process design with which it should have a close relationship) that should integrate principles from all the foundations on which it is based. A similar approach that should integrate principles from all the foundations on which it is based. A similar approach could be tailored for the other engineering disciplines as well (i.e., petroleum engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering). Finally, some thought needs to be given to integrating components of process safety, inherent safety, management systems and leadership to disciplines outside engineering, such as chemistry, management, and accounting. Often management and accounting majors find themselves in leadership positions which have a direct and major impact on process safety. Finally, we must also address the role played by MS and PhD programs in the overall development of safety education and competency programs. Continuing education and certification programs are another way to acquire and maintain competency in process safety. In the near future, OESI will be launching short courses and continuing education programs on various topics in offshore process safety, loss prevention, risk assessment and related topics. OceaNews, Vol 2, No. 1 2 Fall 2015

3 The Challenge of Employee Participation Thoughts from Ron White, CSHO; an OESI LinkedIn Group member In the spirit of continuous improvement... I want to share an experience that supports a process to get employee participation in managing SEMS. I have heard for years from management that getting employees to participate is extremely difficult. "Workers just are not comfortable speaking up." During a recent SEMS audit our audit team was allowed to observe a genuine approach to employee participation by an independent oil and gas operator. The audit team was advised of an opportunity to participate if we wanted to. I elected to participate. It went like this: Every morning at 6AM a conference call was held with a seriously dedicated management representative hosting the call on one end of the phone and every available worker including office management, contractors, subcontractors and in this case auditors on every offshore facility on the other end... discussing activities and concerns from the last 24 hours and expected activities and concerns for the next 24 hours. Attendance to the conference call was mandatory as announced in each site-specific orientation when arriving on the facilities. It was very personal. The participants were called upon by their first and last names and locations in many instances to engage in the conversation by the management representative hosting the call. Example: "David Smith at Eugene Island 111 how's it going? Do you have any observations, concerns or comments?" David Smith responds as appropriate. The conference call went on for quite some time while all participants had an opportunity to share their comments. Most of the workers participated... some were not so responsive. To determine the effectiveness of this employee participation event, I asked the workers later during normal operations what they thought of the opportunity to comment. The participants responses were enlightening. "We learn from others of concerns they are having at their facilities that may also affect our facilities." was one response. "It is really nice to know that if I have a concern that I think is important for the safety of my crew... I can share it with someone in management that really cares... and it will be handled." was another response. My favorite was, "This is Troy's baby and he really cares". Troy is the management representative that initiated and hosts this employee participation event. I worked offshore many years and had never had an opportunity like this to get things done that needed to get done. With SEMS II there is a requirement for operators to have an employee participation plan. There are many ways to get employee participation and operators should try to find something that is effective and works for them. We can all learn from this operator's efforts to get employee participation. Employee participation will only work if management is committed to its success. OESI Advisory Committee Selects Leadership and Moves Forward The OESI Advisory Committee met the afternoon of July 29, 2015 to select its leadership and to receive an update on OESI current and future efforts. After a short nomination process, members present cast their votes. When the count was complete, Mr. Dwight Johnston, of Shell, was selected as the Chair and Mr. Curt Jones, of Schlumberger, was selected as the Vice Chair. Discussions then focused on two topics; OESI tasking from BSEE Director, Admiral Salerno and the collaborative research efforts begun by the OESI partner universities. Both topics will continue to be updated to the Advisory Committee for their expert perspective and help in prioritizing OESI effort. Additionally, updates to these research areas will appear in future issues of OceaNews. The next meeting of the Advisory Committee will be held in January Dwight Johnston, Chair Curt Jones, Vice Chair OceaNews, Vol 2, No. 1 3 Fall 2015

4 OESI Partner University Research University of Houston One of the tenets of OESI is to facilitate collaborative research to support safe and environmentally responsible operations. Each of our three partner universities continue to conduct relevant research. This section is the first in a series of articles highlighting the ongoing research at OESI partner institutions. Daehak Kim, a PhD student in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department continues his research on Polymer Grafted Nanoparticle-based Oil Dispersants. Specifically, Mr. Kim is researching particle-based oil dispersants, mainly composed of inorganic nanoparticles such as silica nanoparticles are considered as environmentally friendly oil dispersants due to their biocompatibility and relatively low toxicity. The oil-water interfacial tension is reduced when nanoparticles segregate to the oil-water interface and this segregation is improved by grafting interfa- Daehak Kim cially active polymer brushes. In this research work, surfactant-like amphiphilic block copolymers (POEOMA-b -PS) were grafted from silica nanoparticles using a living radical atom transfer polymerization (ATRP) method in order to increase their interfacial activity. We have studied the interfacial activity of such hybrid nanoparticles using pendant drop interfacial tension measurements, and their structure using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Amphiphilic copolymer grafted nanoparticles significantly reduced oil water interfacial tension compared to the interfacial tension reduction induced by homopolymer grafted nanoparticles or the corresponding free ungrafted copolymer, and it is believed that hydrodynamic particle size and copolymer composition are controlling variables to determine the oil dispersion ability of nanoparticles. Moreover, hard and stable oil water emulsions were formed by applying the block copolymer grafted nanoparticles due to the formation of interparticle network structures, which were observed by cryo scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These polymer grafted nanoparticles with improved interfacial activity are expected to be effective emulsion forming and stabilizing agents. Scheme 1. General Scheme for the Synthesis of Initiator Attached Silica Nanoparticles and Surface-Initiated ATRP of POEOMA OceaNews, Vol 2, No. 1 4 Fall 2015

5 OESI Leads Dialogue on Human Factors On March 10, 2015, the Ocean Energy Safety Institute (OESI) convened top academic and research experts from various companies, universities and organizations to discuss the role of human factors and their integration into offshore operations. The goal of this workshop was to allow members of the ocean energy industry to discuss issues related to human factors, as well as to identify tasks and research topics that might fill gaps in the current state of offshore operations to make them safer and more environmentally sound. The forum was held at the Doubletree Intercontinental Hotel in Houston, TX. Dr. Camille Peres gave an overview of Human Factors, and the emphasis on areas of organizational elements and design descions. These areas were the focus of the two panel sessions and the breakout sessions. The morning discussions involved presentations addressing organizational elements and design decisions, including those by representatives from the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Pacific Science and Engineering Group, WorleyParsons, Human Factors Associates, Shell, and Transocean. The afternoon focused on two breakout sessions: one that addressed how organizational elements can further enable safe and responsible offshore energy operations, and another addressing how decisions on designs can further enable safe and responsible offshore energy operations. Results of the breakout discussions, which consisted of identifying research topics and required tasks, were reported and discussed during a general session, which was followed by a recap of the day s event and closing remarks. The Human Factors Workshop, which included 84 participants, was successful at bringing together industry, academia, and the government in an environment of dialogue and cooperation. Areas of focus determined throughout the Forum include: Identify, and train leaders at all levels to minimize disconnect of safety culture perceptions. Translate science into industry-specific information. Develop business case for Human Factors Engineering and Integration. How does Human Factors Engineering fit into expectation of operational excellence? Reengineering of design lifecycle. Make Human Factors Engineering standards accessible and interpretable. The summary from this forum is available on the OESI website. The presentations are also available on the OESI Forums section of the website. The ideas and topics developed during this event will be discussed by leadership and the Advisory Committee to develop a path forward in appropriately addressing the findings. OceaNews, Vol 2, No. 1 5 Fall 2015

6 OESI Forum Focuses on Blowouts in Shallow-Water On March 11, 2015, the Ocean Energy Safety Institute (OESI) convened top academic and research experts from various companies, universities and organizations to discuss blowouts in shallow water. The goal of this workshop was to allow members of the ocean energy industry to discuss issues, as well as identify tasks and research topics that might fill gaps in the current state of offshore operations to make them safer and more environmentally sound. The forum was held at the Doubletree Intercontinental Hotel in Houston, TX. The initial morning discussions involved presentations addressing industry efforts and lessons learned, including representatives from the Center for Offshore Safety, American Petroleum Institute, and Society of Petroleum Engineers. The second session involved speakers from Rowan Company, the University of Houston, and WorleyParsons, who discussed industry and regulator efforts to maintain focus on increasing the safety culture in shallow water operations. The afternoon consisted of two breakout sessions: one focused on efforts that could address shallow water blowouts to enhance safe operations, and another focused on addressing how regulators and industry might cooperatively further develop a safety culture in shallow water operations. Results of the breakout discussions, which consisted of identifying research topics and required tasks, were reported and discussed during a general session, which was followed by a recap of the day s event and closing remarks. This Forum, which included 54 participants, was successful at bringing together industry, academia, and the government to discuss this area of safety emphasis. Some areas of focus determined throughout the Forum include: Optimize response time. Develop predictive science for kick detection. What competency and skills do we need in SW, and how do we train for them? Develop effective simulation and training. Study international data on BSW. The summary from this forum is available on the OESI website. The presentations are also available on the OESI Forums section of the website. The ideas and topics developed during this event will be discussed by leadership and the Advisory Committee to develop a path forward in appropriately addressing the findings. OceaNews, Vol 2, No. 1 6 Fall 2015

7 Summer Forum Topic Discusses Taking SEMS to the Next Level The Ocean Energy Safety Institute (OESI) facilitated dialogue between industry, academia, regulators, and non-governmental organizations in a Forum on July 29, 2015 to discuss Taking Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) to the Next Level. The goal of the event was to enlist stakeholders to discuss continuous improvement in the ability of SEMS to successfully manage known and new risks associated with offshore oil and gas activities, as requested by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). BSEE and the Industry are searching for ways to ensure that SEMS can act as a regulatory tool as well as an operational management tool that will help further enable safe and environmentally responsible ocean energy operations. Attendees will interact with presenters and participate in facilitated discussion in order to share their thoughts and ideas on a future SEMS ; what it could be, what it could include, ways it could be used. Presenters and facilitators included representatives from industry, academia and the government who are experts in SEMS today and most importantly, what SEMS can be in the future. The forum was held at Cemo Hall on the campus of the University of Houston, in Houston, TX. Following welcome remarks by Mr. Jim Pettigrew, presentations were provided by representatives from BSEE, DNV- GL, and the Center for Offshore Safety. These discussions centered on continual improvement, a history of SEMS and a possible path for SEMS in the future. Preliminary findings from the recent SEMS Next Survey were presented, enabling a large group discussion. The afternoon focused on three simultaneous breakout sessions with attendee participation; each session independently discussing a path forward for SEMS. A report from the API RP 75 Update Committee was summarized in the re-convened general session. Results of the breakout discussions were then reported and discussed. Some areas of focus determined throughout the Forum include: Should Human Factors be included in SEMS? Assurance that SEMS is reasonable and prudent. Incentivize SEMS. Better sharing and learnings of best practices and lessons. Should leadership measures be included in API RP75? Develop KPIs. Utilize KPIs to ask specific questions that seek to get to the root of a problem. The importance of open discussion was stressed regarding Safety and Management Systems development and improvement by experts within the industry and BSEE. The timing of this Forum was noted to be particularly relevant, given that results from SEMS II audits are now coming in. This Forum included 100 participants from industry, academia, and the government who successfully provided desired input about the future direction of offshore Safety and Environmental Management Systems. The summary from this forum is available on the OESI website. The presentations are also available on the OE- SI Forums section of the website. The ideas and topics developed during this event will be discussed by leadership and the Advisory Committee to develop a path forward in appropriately addressing the findings. OceaNews, Vol 2, No. 1 7 Fall 2015

8 UT Austin Brings Capability to OESI with World Class Labs As a partner in the Ocean Energy Safety Institute (OESI), the University of Texas Drilling Program brings great expertise in drilling and downhole conditions. Specifically, both the Drilling Lab and the Cementing Lab, under the direction of OESI Co-Principal Investigator Dr Eric Van Oort, are world-class academic research efforts. The primary emphasis areas of the Drilling program are: Automated drilling control Intelligent mechanization and automation Modeling, simulation, and empirical validation of downhole environments Monitoring, data analytics and Big Data Utilizing both a hardware-in-the-loop drilling simulator, and a Real-Time Operations Center; UT Austin is a leader in developing applied basic research efforts to address Industry-related drilling issues. UT Austin is one of the few academic research institutes in the world with a state-of-the-art zonal isolation lab and an active (ultra-) deepwater cementing research and development program. Equipment in the UT lab (consistometers, curing chambers, ultra-sonic cement analyzers, and others) can simulate the downhole environment of all current and future deepwater wells. The capability exists to test to 40,000 psi, temperatures up to 600 F, and all conventional and alternative cement slurry types. They have also developed custom equipment for bonding evaluation of cement-to-rock and cement-to-steel, as well as tensile bond. UT Austin s Drilling Program is a valued member of the OESI team, and their efforts to develop and embrace technologies that help optimize drilling and completion, as well as automate well construction tasks for efficient, repeatable performance further contribute to safe and environmentally responsible offshore energy operations. OceaNews, Vol 2, No. 1 8 Fall 2015

9 OESI Outreach BSEE Conducts Site Visit Members of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), Offshore Regulatory Programs Office attended an on-site visit of OESI at Texas A&M University. Attendees included Dr. Sam Mannan, OESI; Dr. Eric van Oort, OESI ; Mr. Doug Morris, BSEE; Mr. Andre King, BSEE; Mr. Jim Pettigrew, OESI; Mr. Paul Robinson, OESI; and Ms. Valerie Green, OESI. The visit was to ensure that OESI efforts are aligned with stakeholder expectations and to discuss activities for the coming years. The daylong visit covered areas of interest from both BSEE and OESI; and included updates on collaborative research efforts between the partner universities, Advisory Committee efforts, and work being done in support of Director Salerno s high-interest areas. Interaction between OESI and the Houston-based BSEE Engineering Technology Assessment Center (ETAC) was also on the agenda as the ETAC is beginning to come on-line in its efforts. Overall, Mr. Morris was pleased with the progress of the Institute and the direction that it is heading for the future. OESI Invited to Present at ECM3 in Aberdeen Jim Pettigrew, the Director of Operations, travelled to Aberdeen, Scotland to participate in the 3rd International Symposium on Energy Challenges and Mechanics (ECM3). This symposium, hosted by the University of Aberdeen, brought together researchers from over 40 countries around the world for two days of presentations and discussions "to facilitate a rich exchange of knowledge between academia, industry, and research societies whom seek solutions to address energy challenges worldwide." The Director presented the background and mission of OESI, as well as areas of focus developed through recent Forums for Dialogue. There was much interest in understanding and learning from the path that OESI takes in future efforts, and which will lead to future opportunities for international research collaboration. National Academy of Sciences Outreach The Director of Operations has continued to develop the relationship between the OESI and the National Academy. Earlier this year Jim Pettigrew visited the National Academy in Washington DC, to meet with Dr Kim Waddell and his group to discuss the ongoing efforts of the Gulf of Mexico Research Institute (GOMRI). Many of the research efforts and focus areas of GOM- RI intersect with the mission of the OESI, to help enable safe and environmentally responsible offshore operations. Additionally, the Director has been participating in the Academy s Transportation Research Board effort in the Application of Real-time Monitoring of Offshore Oil and Gas The Director of Operations Operations. These discussions of industry experts are exchanges ideas at NAS. helping frame the future capabilities of the industry and BSEE. Additionally, there are many opportunities out of these discussions for further efforts by the OESI. OceaNews, Vol 2, No. 1 9 Fall 2015

10 OESI Outreach (cont d) OESI Group visits Ocean Star Museum From the Ocean Star, Offshore Energy Center s website The Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig Museum and Education Center is located on Galveston Island, Texas, less than an hour from downtown Houston, the world's petroleum capital. Visitors board the retired jackup drilling rig and view a video about the offshore industry. The museum features three floors of models and interactive displays illustrating the story of offshore oil and gas from seismic technology to exploration and production. Scale models of production platforms, actual drill bits and remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) as well as videos and exhibits explain drilling, geology, seismic, well servicing and production. OESI Investigator Dr. Camille Peres, and a group of students who have been supporting OESI efforts, were able to tour the Ocean Star and learn firsthand about the operations of a drilling rig. This in-person experience will further develop their practical education and the foundation upon which they will base their perceptions during future research efforts. All agreed that the trip was valuable, but that it might be better to visit an outdoor steel structure at some other time than July in Galveston! Director visits U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Earlier this year Jim Pettigrew, the OESI Director of Operations, visited with U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) leaders at their Headquarters in Anacostia, MD. Mr. Dan Lawrence and Mr. Dennis Fahr met with the Director to learn more about what OESI has been chartered to accomplish and discuss ways that OESI and USCG may be able to work together in the future. With OESI s charter to help enable safe and environmentally responsible offshore energy operations and USCG s responsibility for offshore vessel certification, inspection and monitoring; there will be many opportunities to work together in the future. Discussions continue to determine the level of USCG participation in OESI, as both a participant in future events and as a member of the Advisory Committee. Upcoming Events January 2016 API Exploration and Production Winter Standards Meeting, Renaissance Hotel, Austin, TX 13 January 2016 OESI Advisory Committee Meeting, Lloyd s Register Houston, TX February/March 2016 OESI Forum for Dialogue (date and topic coming soon!) 26 April 2016 OESI Advisory Committee Meeting, Center for Offshore Safety Houston, TX April 20-22, 2016 NOIA Annual Meeting, Washington DC OceaNews, Vol 2, No Fall 2015

11 Director of Ops Thoughts One of the favorite parts of my job is the opportunity to get out and meet the professionals of the Ocean Energy Industry and learn more about the things that are important to them, so that ultimately we all can continue to improve safe and environmentally responsible operations. I was honored to join literally thousands of industry professionals at my first Offshore Technology Conference this year! This was an incredible professional development opportunity for me, and more importantly an opportunity to continue to introduce OESI s mission to more and more folks across the industry. Hearing leadership from the spectrum of stakeholders speak on the importance of Safe and Environmentally responsible operations was refreshing and insightful. I look forward to many future OTCs. I had the opportunity to visit with the incredible professionals at Boots and Coots earlier this year. I not only had the opportunity to talk with their operational leadership about OESI goals and vision; but as importantly I was able to gain a better understanding of the adventure of well control from their unique perspective. For someone who grew up with Hellfighters as my favorite movie, this outreach effort was personally and professionally rewarding. I ve had the opportunity to meet with many of our Advisory Committee members in their environment and learn more about what they do and why. I was offered the honor to address the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) Board of Directors meeting. Randall Luthi s (President of NOIA) background certainly speaks for itself, but the group of industry leaders that I was able to talk with about what OESI is and looks to do in the future was a unique opportunity. In fact, many other outreach opportunities developed from this event, and I ll touch on those in future columns. I look forward to learning more about what you all do to make our Country energy-strong; as well as sharing more about what OESI looks to do to help further enable safe and environmentally responsible ocean energy operations. In our Next Issue OESI Grand Challenge Research Update Advisory Committee Members in the Spotlight University of Houston Research Lab Capabilities Results of October Advisory Committee Meeting OESI Leadership Offsite Mission The primary mission of OESI is to provide a forum for dialogue, shared learning, and cooperative research among academia, government, industry, and other non-governmental organizations, in offshore energy-related technologies and activities that ensure safe and environmentally responsible offshore operations. OESI will coordinate and focus an effort to identify scientific and technological gaps and to recommend improvement of drilling and production equipment, practices, and regulation. OESI will gather, consider, and harmonize the proposals promoted by other research and development centers and other groups to inform BSEE on technological and other developments within the offshore industry. Additionally, OESI provides a forum for the continuous education and training of BSEE and BOEM employees to ensure that the federal workforce maintains the same level of technological expertise as the engineers, scientists and technical experts in the oil and gas industry. OceaNews, Vol 2, No Fall 2015

12 Contact Information PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr. M. Sam Mannan, PE, CSP, DHC Regents Professor and Executive Director Mary Kay O Connor Process Safety Center Texas A&M University Telephone: (979) Mail: mannan@tamu.edu DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS: James Pettigrew Captain, USN (Ret) Ocean Energy Safety Institute 3122 TAMU College Station, TX Telephone: (979) Mail: jim.pettigrew@tamu.edu PROGRAM MANAGER: Paul Robinson Ocean Energy Safety Institute University of Houston Energy Research Park Bldg # Gulf Freeway Houston, TX Telephone: (713) perobinson2@uh.edu CO-PI S: Dr. Rashid Hasan Professor Texas A&M University Telephone: (979) Mail: rashid.hasan@pe.tamu.edu Dr. Eric van Oort Professor University of Texas at Austin Telephone: (512) vanoort@austin.utexas.edu Dr. Ramanan Krishnamoorti Professor University of Houston Telephone: (713) Mail: ramanan@uh.edu Connect with OESI! Website; Visit our website for more information and updates on OESI efforts at: Listserv: Once registered, you will receive updates and upcoming event information Sign up here: LinkedIn: To become a member of the OESI group, you must be a LinkedIn member. Request to join our group here: OceaNews, Vol 2, No Fall 2015