Risk of a major accident on the Norwegian shelf on the increase

The risk of a major accident occurring on the Norwegian shelf is rising, according to a report from the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD). The development in the number of undesirable incidents linked to gas leaks, kicks and damage to load-bearing structures provides the major cause for concern, according to the report Development in risk level on the Norwegian shelf, Phase 3 – 200, the third in a series which started in 1999/2000. Gunnar Berge, director general, NPD, said: ‘This report confirms a trend we have observed, specifically that the risk of major accidents is rising. This is disturbing. On the other hand, the changes are not dramatic, but the report shows that we have great challenges in store on the Norwegian shelf when it comes to improving safety.’ He indicated that NPD does not merely record incidents and near-misses, but also attempts to find indicators that can provide early identification of the risk of major accidents for an entire industrial sector. The NPD initiated the Development in risk level on the Norwegian shelf project in 1999/2000, and the results are presented in annual reports. The objective of the project is to develop and apply measuring tools that illustrate the development in the risk level on the Norwegian shelf. The methods used in the project are based in part on incident-related indicators and socio-scientific analyses.