Reducing Risk in Oil and Gas Production Operations

Remote operations are commonly employed in oil and gas installations in the North Sea and elsewhere. The use of information and communications technologies (ICT) has resulted in process control systems being connected to corporate networks as well as the Internet. In addition, multiple companies, functioning as a virtual organization, are involved in operations and management. The increased connectivity and human collaboration in remote operations have significantly enhanced the risks to safety and security. This paper discusses methods and guidelines for addressing different types of risks posed by remote operations: technical ICT-based risks, organizational risks and risks related to human factors. Three techniques are described: (i) ISO 27001 based information security requirements for process control, safety and support ICT systems; (ii) CRIOP, an ISO 11064 based methodology that provides a checklist and scenario analysis for remote operations centers; and (iii) CheckIT, a method for improving an organization’s safety and security culture.