BP, ChevronTexaco and Shell are head-to-head competitors when it comes to matters of offshore oil and gas development and production in the Gulf of Mexico. But there are no turf battles among these oil majors when it comes to safety. That's why the three energy giants joined together to sponsor the 2004 Joint Contractor Symposium in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday, September 28.

More than 150 oilfield services contractors, 50 representatives from each host company and 11 other operators in the Gulf of Mexico attended the day-long conference which focused on setting standards for health, safety and environmental (HSE) issues in the Gulf of Mexico .

This is the second year BP, ChevronTexaco and Shell have hosted the conference as a means to generate dialog and help develop standardized HSE guidelines for contractors in the Gulf. The objectives of the meeting were to:

• Improve HSE performance by increased consistency and compliance ;
• Share best practices, improve efficiency and eliminate duplication; and
• Clarify and simplify common HSE requirements.

“While we may have different HSE policies and procedures, we all share the same philosophical objectives — to protect people and the environment,” says Gary Sauer, who served on the symposium planning committee.

During the symposium, operator and contractor representatives shared work accomplished since last year's event, including development of standardized requirements for Job Safety Analysis, Stop Work Authority, Behavior Based Safety, Helicopter Safe Landing and Underwater Egress Training and Short Service Employees. In addition, discussions were held relating to minimum training requirements for Gulf workers which is being worked under the name “SafeGulf”.

The event also included announcement of a “Stand Up for Safety Across the GOM” Day this fall. On October 6, BP, Shell and ChevronTexaco will sponsor the Gulf-wide event to show industry commitment to a program in which employees are empowered to “Stop the Job” should they observe an unsafe practice.

Melody Meyer, vice president, Gulf of Mexico Business Unit for ChevronTexaco and moderator for the symposium, says the example set by operators and contractors during recent Hurricane Ivan shows the industry's commitment to safety. “More than 20,000 personnel from 762 manned facilities, 16 platform rigs and 114 MODU's were evacuated before the storm hit. It was a huge safety success that was well planned and well executed by our industry. This symposium can only help us improve our HSE efforts.”

Kent Wells, vice president, BP, Gulf of Mexico Shelf Business Unit, says the joint symposium is the start of a great journey to make the energy industry in the Gulf safer. “We need to constantly remind ourselves that safety is not a competitive advantage. It's working together collectively to improve our safety so all of us benefit.”

“The sports world offers a good analogy for our industry,” agrees Frank Glaviano, regional production director, Shell EP Americas. “When we're on the playing field, we go head-to-head in competition. But none of us wants to see any member of any team get injured on the field of play.”

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