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  • Since the Industrial Revolution, oil has been one of the most important commodities in the world.

    • Oil in our world today


      When processed into petroleum, it is a key energy source around the world, powering vehicles and planes, and creating heating and electricity. Alongside being a dominant energy source, petroleum is also used to make plastics, paints, chemicals and much more. Without oil, the world we live in today would likely be unrecognisable.

      In 2019 market research by IBISWorld estimated that the total revenues for the oil and gas drilling sector came to approximately $3.3 trillion USD. This sector is sometimes referred to as the oil and gas exploration and production industry, or E&P, and comprises companies that explore for, develop and operate oil and gas fields.

      • The risks of oil


        Extracting oil from it's natural reservoirs in the earth is a complex and difficult task. Oil is extracted by using an oil rig to drill deep into the earth. As many reservoirs are found underneath the sea bed, there are many oil rigs built off mainland in the ocean. These offshore drilling rigs are large and impressive structures that make the extraction of oil buried deep beneath the ocean possible. The scale and complexity of the task however means that the system is vulnerable to accidents. The most well-known of these is the potential for an oil spill. While oil spills can happen on land as well, when drilling at sea these mistakes can have particularly disastrous effects. 


        Oil spills at sea


        Oil spills are devastating for society for a number of reasons. Environmentally, they cause an immense amount of damage to the local flora and fauna. Their effects can damage ecosystems and the biodiversity they contain.

        To effectively manage the risk of an oil spill, there are a growing number of regulations by international organisations. Alongside these regulations are industrial Standards that assist in ensuring a safe oil and gas industry. The primary international Standard that all those in the sector should be familiar with is ISO 19900:2019. 


        ISO 19900


        This international Standard specifies the general requirements and recommendations for the design and assessment of both fixed and floating offshore structures. It's comprehensive and applicable to all types of offshore structures and the materials they use, including steel, concrete and aluminium. This Standard provides the design principles that allow for safe and successful stages of construction of the structure, for safe use during its intended life, as well as safe decommissioning of the site.

        ISO 19900 is used when assessing the structure, as well as when adding to or modifying the original structure. It also addresses quality control aspects of the structure, seeking to mitigate all possible risks. Underneath this General Requirements Standard exist a family of other Standards that can help keep offshore drilling safe for both employees and their surrounding environment.

        • Artic Operations in oil and gas

          • Standards for every situation


            Finding the correct Standards for a company's offshore structure is crucial to its success. Different offshore structures exist in a variety of environments and there are Standards to support them all. The ISO 35101, ISO 35202, ISO 35103, ISO 35104, ISO 35105, and ISO 35106 are excellent examples. This suite of Standards addresses all Arctic operations for offshore drilling within the oil and gas industry. From defining the working environment and establishing the principles on EER plans (escape, evacuation, and rescue), to detailed requirements and specifications that ensure environmental monitoring is fit for purpose, this suite of Standards ensures a safe and reliable oil and gas industry.

            • Global interoperability in the oil and gas industry

              What happens when technologies diverge and advance separately in parallel (or even unparallel) streams?

            • Standardisation in the oil and gas industry

              Standards enhance the safety of industry operations, help keep costs down, reduce waste and minimise confusion

            • The oil and gas value chain

              Discover the three sectors and the important role of Standards in each

            • A Standards Management solution customised to your needs

              Access over 1.5 million local and international Standards from over 350 publishers

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