Offshore rig, platform inspections protect personnel, environment

摘要

US Minerals Management Service (MMS) inspectors conduct field inspections of offshore drilling rigs and production platforms 7 days a week in the Gulf of Mexico, off California, and off Alaska. The Gulf of Mexico MMS region is responsible for the most inspections. In the gulf, 55 inspectors go offshore every day using 14 leased helicopters. One of the first things an Inspector notices is the housekeeping, Mike Saucier, MMS regional supervisor of field operations for the Gulf of Mexico said. Recentiy, a special MMS task force conducted numerous inspections of offshore cranes because of an increasing number of lifting incidents involving primarily cargo but also some personnel lifting accidents. Under the OCS Lands Act authorization, MMS conducts at least one annual announced inspection for each of the 3,700 production platforms in the gulf. MMS inspectors meet with representatives of both an oil company and also the drilling contractor involved.