BSEE increases safety inspection time offshore, saves American taxpayers $20 million
NEW ORLEANS -- Beginning April 1, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is increasing physical inspection time offshore, while reducing taxpayer burden by nearly $20 million over 3.5 years, providing significant cost-savings to the American public. Exploring ways to make inspections more efficient and reduce helicopter operating expenses, a team of BSEE leaders in the Gulf of Mexico Region developed the new approach.
“We streamlined how inspectors do their job offshore, while achieving a significant cost-savings,” said Michael Saucier, Regional Supervisor for District Field Operations, Gulf of Mexico region. “This new process will allow BSEE inspectors to increase physical inspection time on offshore oil and gas facilities.”
Taking advantage of technology allowing for access to electronic records onshore, BSEE’s inspectors will now have significantly more time to inspect operations offshore, ensuring safety at more than 2,200 facilities in the Gulf of Mexico. It will also reduce helicopter operating expenses 15%, without impacting safety and environmental protections.
“This approach greatly improves our inspectors’ efficiency, increasing safety oversight at OCS facilities,” said Director Scott A. Angelle. “Our team developed a smarter, safer strategy that provides more physical inspection time offshore and reduces government costs. This makes sense for the American taxpayer and increases our ability to ensure safe operations offshore.”
Oil production from the Outer Continental Shelf accounts for one of every 6 bbl produced in the United States. With 98% of all OCS energy produced from the Gulf of Mexico, it is critical that BSEE continues to maximize efficiency and ensure that oil and gas operations are conducted safely and in an environmentally sustainable manner.
