One of the more important tasks of the Management is to ensure that a contingency plan is in place, before commencing operations, for the following situations:
- Blow-out contingency plan.
- Fire on land drilling rig/offshore drilling unit.
- Fire in facilities on land (drilling camp, construction camp, materials base, head office) as appropriate.
- Serious injury/illness in each centre of activity (drilling rig/unit, construction camp, materials base, head office, vessel at sea) as appropriate.
- "May-day" call from aircraft/vessel at sea (including third parties)
- Loss of contact with aircraft/vessel at sea.
- Road accident in urban areas.
- Loss of contact with road transport unit.
- Loss of access to land location for any reason.
- Loss of stability of offshore unit (collision damage to hull of a floating unit or loss of support by jack-up legs due to scouring/shallow gas).
- Diving emergencies.
- Oil spill offshore/onshore.
- Flow of H2S.
- Natural hazards as appropriate (cyclones, icebergs, earthquakes, etc.).
- Security incidents.
- Bereavement.
- International medical evacuations by air.
The contingency plan should define responsibilities and decide on the main lines of approach, with only as much detail as is thought essential. It is better to leave some latitude for individual action, as emergencies will never happen exactly as planned.
Contingency plans to be put into effect in the event of Security incidents should be made in consultation with Security