API publishes Bulletin 97 on Well Construction Interface
API announced the publication of API Bulletin 97, Well Construction Interface Document Guidelines, First Edition, on 4 December.
The newly published documents provide guidance on information that is to be shared regarding well construction and rig-specific operating guidelines. It is intended to align the lease operator’s safety and environmental management system with drilling contractor’s safe work practices.
IADC spearheads new IMO resolution
In June 2010, at a Diplomatic Conference in Manila, Philippines, major amendments were adopted to the STCW Convention and Code (the “Manila Amendments”). With keen insight, IADC realized that these amendments would ultimately impact IMO Resolution A.891(21) – The Recommendations on Training for all Personnel on MOUs (published in 1999), and as such, the offshore industry.
Following the conference, IADC formed a task force to draft the revisions for IMO Res. A.891 to update the training required by offshore mariners as reflected in the new STCW amendments. This task force, led by John Pertgen, IADC director of offshore technical and regulatory affairs, included both flag State representatives and IADC members, who worked diligently until it was completed in 2012.
Thereafter, they submitted to IMO their revised draft resolution, which was then reviewed and endorsed by the STCW Subcommittee, the Maritime Safety Committee and ultimately approved at the IMO 28th Assembly in December 2013.
This updated reference will soon be reissued as IMO Resolution A.1079(28) and entitled Recommendations for the Training and Certification of Personnel on Mobile Offshore Units (MOUs).
OSHA issues request for information on oil and gas well drilling exemption
The 9 December 2013 Federal Register OSHA proposed to remove the oil and gas well drilling and servicing operations exemption from process safety management (PSM) and prevention of major chemical accidents coverage.
The preamble to the PSM final rule explained that OSHA excluded these operations because it had begun a separate rulemaking for oil and gas well drilling and servicing operations (48 FR 57202). However, the agency subsequently removed the oil and gas well drilling and servicing operations rulemaking from its regulatory agenda, and OSHA never promulgated a final rule for these operations.
In light of this history, OSHA requests public comment on whether to retain or remove the exemption as stated in § 1910.119(a)(2)(ii).
