Assessment of International Standards for the Safe Exploration, Production and Transportation of Oil and Gas in the Barents Sea.

From left to right: Nils Andreas Masvie, Regional Director, DNV Energy, Mrs Vlada Rusakova, member of Gazprom Management Committee, Mrs Marina Fokina, interpreter, Henrik O. Madsen, President and CEO of DNV. In the background: Mrs Tatjana Lobanova, Deputy head of Gazprom Department of strategic development. Photo: DNV/Nina E. Rangøy. Photo of seal: luth.no

The final report of this Russian-Norwegian cooperation project was approved by the project steering committee in March 2010. The report provides common, agreed recommendations for the use of international industry standards in Russian and Norwegian waters in connection with oil and gas operations in the Barents Sea. More than 100 experts from recognised Russian, Norwegian and international organisations have participated in seven expert working groups, focusing on safeguarding life, the environment and asset values and taking into account the additional cold climate challenges which face the oil and gas industry in these waters.

The report has been sent to industry, public and standardisation organisations in Norway, Russia and internationally. The report is offered as guidance for operators, contractors and manufacturers that will be involved in oil and gas activities in the Barents Sea, be it on the Russian or Norwegian side. It is further assumed that authorities may find the recommendations useful in connection with their supervision activities, and finally that standardisation organisations will consider the proposed amendments to international standards in connection with their regular updating of such standards.

In total, 130 recognised industry standards have been assessed and, while half of them may be used in the Barents Sea as they are, amendments are recommended for the other half in order to maintain an acceptable safety level.