Safer offshore Gulf system grants

In 2018, the National Academies’ Gulf Research Program (GRP) sponsored two workshops to identify specific research areas to improve process safety within the offshore oil and gas industry. “The Human Factors of Process Safety and Worker Empowerment in the Offshore Oil Industry” workshop was organized to examine a holistic approach to synthesizing scientific knowledge related to the role of the worker in the context of organizational, social, and physical structure of offshore oil operations. The workshop explored best practices and lessons learned from other high-reliability industries for the benefit of enhancing safety in the offshore industry. “SPE Summit: Safer Offshore Energy Systems” was conceived to identify research gaps in offshore operations from exploration through production that could result in safer offshore development. Those two workshops were used to identify and prioritize areas of research for the Safer Offshore Energy Systems Grants 4 competition. GRP is seeking proposals for research and/or design of pilot projects to improve offshore safety. In the case of pilot projects, the intent of this solicitation is to support the background work needed to develop and design a pilot program; future implementation would involve the use of funding other than that sought under this solicitation. The GRP is interested in four specified areas, but will welcome proposals for other areas of research that could lead to improved understanding of safety culture within the context of offshore oil and gas operations. Additional information about application requirements of the submission and review process will be posted by Dec. 19, at which time the online application system for the RFA will open. (Source: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine 12/2018)