Offshore Safety and Technology

Technology has brought about significant improvements in the environmental protection and safety records of offshore oil and gas platforms.

• Measurement While Drilling (MWD) technology is a major advance in environmental protection and industrial safety. It allows for the detection of potentially unstable or high pressure zones during drilling operations. Installed immediately above the drill bit, MWD technology aids in determining proper positioning to prevent blowouts, casing failures and other potentially serious problems.

• Global positioning systems have enabled oil and gas producers to vastly improve the locating of subsurface hazards such as pipelines, ship wrecks and other potential hazards.

• Technological advances in extended reach horizontal and slant drilling allow offshore producers to use fewer platforms, pipelines and other facilities. This new drilling technology allows for the development of untapped reserves of oil and gas tens of thousands of feet away from stationary drilling platforms by “bending” the drill bit at angles to reach outward rather than just straight down from the platform as is the case with traditional technology.

• Other advances in technology include high resolution inspection and monitoring devices, called smart pigs, that are sent through undersea pipelines to test wall thickness and detect microscopic defects. Remotely operated vehicles equipped with video cameras and other sensing equipment are used to inspect pipelines and offshore platforms.

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