What's happening offshore?

As at 30 September 2021, NOPSEMA’s regulatory oversight covered 41 production facilities, seven mobile offshore drilling units, six vessels, 90 pipelines, seven pieces of subsea infrastructure and one seismic activity. 

Of the 41 production facilities we regulate, 29 are in production, one has suspended production temporarily, and 11 have ceased production permanently and require timely decommissioning.

In Q3 2021 NOPSEMA undertook 27 inspections and 44 assessments of safety cases, diving safety management systems, well operations management plans, and environment plans comprising seven new submissions and 37 revisions.  NOPSEMA also undertook 74 other assessments such as facility scope of validations and well abandonment reports. One exploration drilling environment plan, three seismic survey environment plans, and one offshore project proposal were published on NOPSEMA Consultation Hub for public comment.

Offshore, the number of hours worked has increased approximately 33% from the same period last year. This reflects progression toward a ‘new normal’ following the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on offshore facilities from travel restrictions and social distancing requirements.

While the offshore industry has maintained its strong safety record with a consistent reduction in personal injuries, recent lost time injury data may suggest increased attention is required to prevent future incidents. 

NOPSEMA continues to take a strategic approach to promoting, monitoring and enforcing compliance by regularly evaluating data, identifying emerging issues, undertaking targeted information campaigns and, where appropriate utilising a range of enforcement actions. Over the quarter NOPSEMA issued 15 enforcement actions, 13 relating to decommissioning activities and two relating to lifting operations.

Through its strategic approach to monitoring and enforcement NOPSEMA recognised the real and significant threat from lifting operations as well as dropped objects and crane failures. In response we sought to highlight this threat and promote better practice during the quarter by publishing a safety alert for lifting operations and hosting a crane safety workshop.