Fruitful HSE dialogue

Knut Thorvaldsen, director HSE and operations at the OLF, chaired the meeting and opened by emphasising the importance of new and smaller participants on the NCS.
"We welcome all new players," he said. "You’re very important for the development of Norway’s oil industry. We’re ready to do all we can to organise matters so that your expectations are met."
He also emphasised that an open and professional dialogue between the industry and the PSA could lead to better solutions and a win-win position for both sides.
Gunnar Leistad from Maersk later told the meeting that the forum for best HSE practice is to become an integrated part of OLF.

Questions
Several presentations were given during the meeting with opportunities to put questions, and participants were divided into groups during the programme to formulate new queries to the PSA. Some unclear issues were clarified, while a number of subjects were raised which will form the basis for further dialogue.
One of those who was well satisfied with the question-and-answer session is Leif Sandberg from Canadian energy company Nexen.
"I believe discussion fora like this are extremely valuable," he says. "All sides have something to learn from each other. The NCS has clearly changed drastically during the past decade, with the number of players increasing markedly over a short time. The PSA’s regulations were largely formulated when the NCS looked very different. An entirely new world calls for adjustments. As I understand the PSA, it seems to be taking note of changes in the industry, which I think is a positive signal."

Fruitful
Finn Carlsen from the PSA is also satisfied with the discussion, and feels that such exchanges of views are definitely fruitful.
"Since there are so many new players on the NCS, it’s been a good opportunity for us to engage with many of them at the same time. Our regulations are formulated to maintain high standards. At the same time, we’re also here to be challenged and to learn.
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It emerged during the discussion that a number of participants want to see greater predictability on the part of the PSA. It was claimed that a number of new players had to keep reinventing the wheel during their start-up phase.
Asked for his response to these comments, Mr Carlsen maintains that understanding of the regulations is good in the petroleum industry.
"However, new and small companies in particular must take good time when they’re starting up and become fully familiar with the responsibilities they’ve taken on. It will also be up to the industry itself to create good routines and guidelines within the applicable regulations. Our impression is that the companies collaborate more than before, but that there’s still a good deal to be gained from information sharing – particularly between licensees and operators."

Presentations in Pdf format:

Agenda and dialogue, Knut Thorvaldsen, OLF

Roles and responsibilities, Olav Hauso, PSA

Roles and responsibilities for licensees and operators on the Norwegian continental shelf, Hilda Kjeldstad, PSA

Challenges and experiences, Knut Thorvaldsen, OLF