A+Focus+on+Offshore+Safety+Recent+Reports+by+the+Marine+Board+of+the+National+Research+Council

// A Focus on Offshore Safety: Recent Reports by the Marine Board of the National Research Council //. Rep. Washington, DC: Marine Board National Research Council, 1996. Print ** Where does the author work, what else has s/he written about, and what are her/his credentials? ** The paper was written by committees under the Marine Board of the National Research Council. These committees include the Committee on the Safety of Marine Pipelines, the Committee on the Role of Technology in Marine Habitat Protection Enhancement, the Committee on Techniques for Removing Fixed Offshore Structures, and the committee on Undersea Vehicles and National Needs. ** What is the main topic or argument of the text? ** This article discusses ways in which safety may be enhanced in offshore oil events. These include the minimization or elimination of deaths and injuries, the reduction in pollution from mishaps and procedures, the improvement in marine pipeline safety, and the safe removal of offshore structures. ** Describe at least three ways that the main topic or argument is fleshed out. ** The pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico are over 30 years old, which is past their design life, and 98% of all oil spilled by the Offshore Continental Shelf (OCS) was due to the leakage of transmission and production pipelines. This was the case despite improvements to the pipelines in the 1990s. Another fault in this area has to do with the lack of complete data on offshore pipeline failures. This responsibility was recommended to go towards the Mineral Management Services (MMS) and OPS. The author suggests a risk analysis model based on zones. In addition, more frequent inspections of pipelines as well as geotechnical studies of soil conditions need to be conducted. Something that could conduct said tests and inspections would be a “subsea completion system.” It involves is a remotely operated vehicle as well as an autonomous underwater vehicle. More than a quarter of the platforms in federal and state waters were greater than 25 years old. The removal of platforms has been frequently been made by explosions. The removal technique depends on the depth of the platform. They suggest that the depth be reduced to 3 feet so as to increase safety. The article also discusses the safety of platform facility. For example, it would be important to consider how fires may be started if something like a maintenance area is too close to combustible substances. ** What three quotes capture the critical import of the text? **  · “The databases available from both government and industry often lack the engineering-related information and environmental data that is essential to the commitment of safety-related resources and application or development of safety regulations. Even without desired data, safety planning can be improved by use of modern risk analysis, and priorities for risk management can be clarified.”  · “Overall the offshore safety record is a good one with proven safety-related procedures and systems in place supported by workable regulations.”  · “Adequate provision for inspection and monitoring is essential in offshore and coastal project planning and implementation; yet, these elements are often missing or their availability is too short-term to be useful in determining success.” ** Explain how the argument and evidence in the text supports your research focus. ** The research focus is to assess the safety of underwater oil drilling. This paper outlines the safety concerns of platforms and pipelines. It gives suggestions on how the operation s of these structures can be made safer by inspection, tests, more detailed risk management, and the gathering of good data. ** List at least two details or references from the text that will be useful to other members of your research group. ** The following is a reference from the text. // Conversion, alteration, and loss of marine habitat are both a consequence and symptom of coincidental developments that include: //  · // a concentration and continuing growth of human populations in the coastal zone; //  · // a proliferation of industrial and residential shoreline development; //  · // human activities that degrade water quality; //  · // increasing commercial and recreational use of marine and estuarine areas; //  · // development of natural resources in the coastal zone; //  · // <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">physical changes in the environment, including subsidence, elevation, and sea level changes; and construction and maintenance of port and waterways systems and operation of associated commercial vessels. // <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">// <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Industrial activities, including offshore oil and gas development, are or can be major direct or indirect contributors to the above causes and symptoms; but, the committee determined that much can be done with existing habitat knowledge and engineering expertise to enhance, protect,restore, and create marine habitats. // <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">