Oil spill prompts procedure reassessment

Mark McAllister, the group’s chair and Fairfield Energy chief executive, said: ‘While the measures companies take under the current regulatory regime in the UK continental shelf [UKCS] have been effective in preventing blowouts over the last 20 years of operations, what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico dictates that we must reassess the provisions and procedures we employ here and the extent of our preparedness for oil-spill prevention and response.

‘The Advisory Group, which includes representatives from Oil & Gas UK, its member companies, regulators and trade unions, were keen to start this comprehensive review at the earliest opportunity so that, if appropriate, the industry in the UK is poised to respond quickly to the recommendations or learnings that may arise from the investigations in the US,’ he added. ’This is the most efficient way to help ensure that the arrangements in the UKCS continue to be fit for purpose.’