Offshore Oil Emergencies – New Quick Response Aid

To help oil companies respond best in major emergencies J J Black Consultancy launch 'The Single Platform System (SPS)'

One of the key benefits of this new service is that senior executives in head offices in London, Houston or elsewhere can respond to an emergency, at least initially, via remote access over the internet without jumping on a plane.

Jim Black, Managing Director of J J Black Consultancy Limited, explains: “As the service allows energy companies to see all assets in any geographical area - including those assets that they do not own or operate - it means that, in the event of an emergency, for example a vessel in distress, the oil company can identify the nearest asset, such as another vessel, crew boat, or even drilling rig, and then contact the local authorities, usually the coastguard, to request assistance. This can save a considerable amount of time, money and potential threat to life in the early stages of an emergency response.”

He adds: “Outside any emergency, the Single Platform System also allows energy companies the facility to track the physical locations of their assets such as vessels, tugs, crew boats, containers, drilling rigs, cranes, and company vehicles. This means that assets can be deployed more efficiently which can save companies millions of pounds or dollars in their operations.”

The Single Platform System is a merger of a comprehensive asset management system and an automatic identification system to allow companies to make the best use of their assets and minimise waste in allocating and deploying these assets and then make it easier and quicker to respond effectively and efficiently to any emergency.