Security Of The United Kingdom Offshore Oil And Gas Installations
Authors: Smart Alex , Hodgson Philip A.H. 
Published: December 2007

Introduction

The importance of offshore oil in the United Kingdom has greatly stimulated public comment on the security of installations. Some of this has been based on partisan attitudes, with little regard to the practical options open to those responsible for their security or, at worst, striving to publicize and denigrate current procedures in a manner that does little to help toward a solution of the problem.

The purpose of this paper is to encourage constructive thought by considering general factors in the formulation of security contingency plans in the context of government and company responsibilities. Specific procedures are not dealt with, since to do so clearly would offer a disservice to their effectiveness.

BACKGROUND AND DIMENSIONS OF THE PROBLEM

The Background

Few economic developments over the past 15 years have raised the hopes or fired the imagination of the nation more vividly than the discovery of the North Sea oil and gas fields. As the program of developing these assets was concurrent with the unprecedented increases in world oil prices, the escalation of international and indigenous urban guerrilla activity, and rising trends in crimes of violence, the problem of protecting the offshore oil and gas installations inevitably became a matter of public concern tinged with a degree of anxiety in some quarters.

The Dimensions

In setting the scene, it is helpful to establish the size of the offshore areas, the number of departments, agencies and companies involved, the installations deployed, and the work force employed offshore to develop the oil and gas resources.

The Sea Area

The total sea area, within the 200-mile limit and the international median lines with adjacent countries, exceeds a quarter of a million sq miles. The area of immediate interest, however, is in the North Sea, with major oil and gas fields to the north and adjacent to the median line with Norway, and the main gas production fields in the south.

Government Departments and Agencies

It is inevitable that an enterprise of the nature and scope of the North Sea oil and gas industry involves numerous government departments and agencies. Those of particular interest in the context of this paper are: the Dept. of Energy, the Home Office, the Scottish Office, the Dept. of Trade, various departments within the Ministry of Defense, and the chief constables for the appropriate regions.

Offshore Operation

Thirty-seven major companies, employing numerous contractors and subcontractors, now are involved in oil and gas operations and development offshore. About 130 platforms and rigs currently are operating or under construction offshore and this is likely to increase to 150 by the 1980's.

THE PURPOSE OF THE PAPER

The intention is to examine the problem of offshore highjacking, sabotage, arson, or serious malicious damage by urban guerrilla groups, or by individuals acting maliciously or irrationally, and outline the measures that deter, contain, or limit the impact of such activities. It is difficult to provide all the data required for a detailed provide all the data required for a detailed knowledge and understanding of the situation without impairing security. The paper, therefore, is limited to information that already has been published and to an outline of the security concepts and measures that create effective in-depth security, rather than precise details of the security procedures and precise details of the security procedures and contingency plans agreed by the U.K. Government and the Offshore Operators Association and implemented by operating companies.

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