The large increase of upstream operators in Latin America and the Caribbean, the development of offshore operations, the need to advance in raising the operational standards, the need to foster leadership and process safety culture and the concern of society about catastrophic events were the main drivers that led the Regional Association of Oil, Gas and Biofuels Sector Companies in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARPEL) to develop the 87th ARPEL Experts Level Meeting on “Process Safety in Exploration and Production of Oil and Gas”, that was held March 9-10 in Bogotá, Colombia.  

The event gathered a large number of important executives, technicians and specialists of the area of 34 companies, 11 countries, who shared experiences of projects and analyzed the latest technologies and management systems regarding process safety in upstream.

Maria Victoria Riaño, President of Equion, who participated in the opening ceremony, stated that “this Experts Meeting promoted by ARPEL has more significance than ever because of the circumstances that the hydrocarbons industry is facing, especially in our segment. The reason is simple: under a complex scenario of low prices, companies focus their efforts in the optimization and efficiency costs. However, the logic of the business survival, totally justified, raises the risk of set aside or belittle the importance of the integrity of operating assets. Definitely not. Despite the situation that affects everyone, it is vital that process safety continues in the strategic agenda of the companies”

Meanwhile, the President of the Organizing Committee of the 87th RANE and Vice President of Production and Projects of Equion, Alberto Consuegra, said that “As we meet through the convening of this RANE on process safety, we generate an space for reflection and encounter to evaluate our awareness and strengthen our leadership culture, encouraging to establish the prevention barriers and mitigation of operational incidents as well as in the best way structure simple and efficient management systems that integrate the appropriate elements  to manage the integrity and safety process risks”.

On the other hand, the Executive Director of the Center for Offshore Safety (COS), Charles Williams, said that “The world-wide post-Macondo response [Gulf of Mexico, 2010] has shown how effective the industry is when it collaborates. To achieve our safety goals and maintain our “license to operate”, we must demonstrate the commitment, support, capacity, and capability of the industry to continuously enhance safety and environmental protection. A key part of this commitment should be to increase the focus on safety management systems that include both personnel safety and process safety.

Williams added “The use of safety management for continuous learning and improvement, for enhancing skills and knowledge, and for analyzing, establishing, and maintaining barriers to major hazards will enhance safety effectiveness and demonstrate the renewed and enhanced spirit of the industry commitment to safety.”

In his presentation dedicated to “Process landscape and future challenges for process safety”, Michael Broadribb, Senior Principal Consultant of Baker Engineering and Risk Consultants, Inc., said that “The process safety landscape in the oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) industry is currently over-shadowed by the low crude oil price”. The expert also referred to how the companies can make a better use of its limited resources to maintain or even improve the performance of process safety.  

At the closing ceremony, the president of Chevron Colombia, Robert Hulett, stated that, as Country Manager for Chevron here in Colombia, preventing a Process Safety event is my number one priority. We cannot afford to have a major event, and I also believe that neither your company, nor our industry, can afford to have one either." 

"At this event, there have been many wonderful suggestions and shared learnings. I truly hope you will take something away to improve your own work, he concluded.”

The 87^th RANE agenda on "Process Safety in Oil and Gas Exploration and Production” featured more than 40 oral presentations and posters divided in six thematic sessions: process safety management systems; offshore operations; drilling, completion and intervention; oil processing plants and gas processing plants; transport through pipelines and technology and innovation.

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