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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Statement of Task." National Academy of Engineering and National Research Council. 2012. Macondo Well Deepwater Horizon Blowout: Lessons for Improving Offshore Drilling Safety. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13273.
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Appendix A

Statement of Task

At the request of DOI, a National Academy of Engineering/National Research Council (NAE/NRC) committee will be convened to examine the probable causes of the Deepwater Horizon explosion, fire, and oil spill in order to identify measures for preventing similar harm in the future. The NAE/NRC committee’s review will focus on an assessment of technologies and practices and include the following tasks:

1. Examine the performance of the technologies and practices involved in the probable causes of the explosion, including the performance of the “blowout preventer” and related technology features, which ultimately led to an uncontrolled release of oil and gas into the Gulf of Mexico;

2. Identify and recommend available technology, industry best practices, best available standards, and other measures in the United States and around the world related to oil and gas deepwater exploratory drilling and well completion to avoid future occurrence of such events.

The NAE/NRC committee will issue two reports:

1. An interim letter report that addresses the probable causes of the Deepwater Horizon explosion, fire, and oil spill and identifies potential measures to avoid such events. This report will be issued no later than October 31, 2010, with the intent that the committee’s preliminary findings and/or recommendations will be considered in the joint investigation by MMS (BOEM) and the Coast Guard, the Presidential Commission, and any other formal review or investigation of the Deepwater Horizon explosion, fire, and oil spill.

2. A final report that presents the committee’s final analysis, including findings and/or recommendations, called for in tasks (1) and (2) above by June 1, 2011 (prepublication version of report), with relevant dissemination activities and a final published version to follow by December 30, 2011.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Statement of Task." National Academy of Engineering and National Research Council. 2012. Macondo Well Deepwater Horizon Blowout: Lessons for Improving Offshore Drilling Safety. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13273.
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If at any time in the course of the NAE/NRC committee information-gathering activities information is acquired indicating a public health or safety risk, the NRC will notify DOI of the availability of such information.

The project is sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Note: The prepublication version of the final report, initially due in June 2011, was completed in December 2011.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Statement of Task." National Academy of Engineering and National Research Council. 2012. Macondo Well Deepwater Horizon Blowout: Lessons for Improving Offshore Drilling Safety. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13273.
×
Page 136
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A: Statement of Task." National Academy of Engineering and National Research Council. 2012. Macondo Well Deepwater Horizon Blowout: Lessons for Improving Offshore Drilling Safety. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13273.
×
Page 137
Next: Appendix B: Public Agendas of the Committee on the Analysis of Causes of the Deepwater Horizon Explosion, Fire, and Oil Spill to Identify Measures to Prevent Similar Accidents in the Future »
Macondo Well Deepwater Horizon Blowout: Lessons for Improving Offshore Drilling Safety Get This Book
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The blowout of the Macondo well on April 20, 2010, led to enormous consequences for the individuals involved in the drilling operations, and for their families. Eleven workers on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig lost their lives and 16 others were seriously injured. There were also enormous consequences for the companies involved in the drilling operations, to the Gulf of Mexico environment, and to the economy of the region and beyond. The flow continued for nearly 3 months before the well could be completely killed, during which time, nearly 5 million barrels of oil spilled into the gulf.

Macondo Well-Deepwater Horizon Blowout examines the causes of the blowout and provides a series of recommendations, for both the oil and gas industry and government regulators, intended to reduce the likelihood and impact of any future losses of well control during offshore drilling. According to this report, companies involved in offshore drilling should take a "system safety" approach to anticipating and managing possible dangers at every level of operation -- from ensuring the integrity of wells to designing blowout preventers that function under all foreseeable conditions-- in order to reduce the risk of another accident as catastrophic as the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill. In addition, an enhanced regulatory approach should combine strong industry safety goals with mandatory oversight at critical points during drilling operations.

Macondo Well-Deepwater Horizon Blowout discusses ultimate responsibility and accountability for well integrity and safety of offshore equipment, formal system safety education and training of personnel engaged in offshore drilling, and guidelines that should be established so that well designs incorporate protection against the various credible risks associated with the drilling and abandonment process. This book will be of interest to professionals in the oil and gas industry, government decision makers, environmental advocacy groups, and others who seek an understanding of the processes involved in order to ensure safety in undertakings of this nature.

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