The National Commission on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling set out the need for sweeping reforms that would accomplish no less than a fundamental transformation of the oil and gas industry’s safety culture.  In response to this tragic event, the Society of Petroleum Engineers organized a Summit in July 2012 to discuss the Human Factor: Process safety and Culture.  Output from this Summit included the formation of a Technical Section.  The Society also agreed to issue Technical Reports and the first Technical Report to be issued by SPE is entitled “The Human Factor: Process Safety and Culture”. 

This presentation explains how the Technical Report was written, presents an overview of the topics covered in the TR and explains how members can participate in promoting and evolving the concepts presented in the TR.  While improvements in the Technical aspects of sensors, intelligent information processing and alarms has been achieved it is the human factor that is often the most difficult to change. How can we improve risk recognition and decision making in safety-critical situations?  How can we influence the individual to do the right thing when nobody is looking?

The Society of Petroleum Engineers from time to time plans to issue a Technical Report presenting technical information on a topic where publication would be of benefit to the public and the SPE membership.  The purpose of these reports is to provide an evaluation of the state of technology and present technical guidance.  Technical Reports are not meant to be a recommended practice or standard.  They are meant to be disseminated through press releases, SPE magazines, communications to SPE members, etc. and to be available as a free download from SPE.org and OnePetro.  The appropriate Technical Director is charged to ensure periodic review to keep the Technical Report current.