Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
the federal government. At the time, the federal regulations embodied
within Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Order 8, the forerunner of Title 30,
Part 250, of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), required the struc-
tural design of an offshore facility to be stamped by a registered profes-
sional engineer.
The NRC study (Marine Board 1977; Gerwick 1977) determined that a
third-party review would be of value and recommended that a process be
developed and implemented by USGS. Subsequently, USGS developed and
implemented a process, known as the CVA program, that is still part of the
facility oil and gas permitting and approval process overseen by BOEMRE.
The charge to the NRC panel covered fixed offshore platforms. Today, the
oil and gas CVA program covers not only fixed offshore platforms but also
permanent floating facilities and deepwater production riser systems.
One of the first topics addressed by the panel was the implications of
terminology. “Certification” by a “certified verification agent” had a num-
ber of perceived definitions, and specific programs were associated with
the term “platform certification” in some European regulatory regimes.
There was concern that certification might imply
that the structure was certified to withstand all environmental and man-made
impacts upon the structure. However, it is not possible to certify uncondition-
ally that the platform will at all times be safe for operating personnel, or with-
stand the effects of all storms and seismic conditions, collisions or accidents or
that the environment will not be endangered.
Nevertheless, a procedure is required, whatever its designation, to assure the
public, the Congress, the USGS and the owner/operator of the platform that
the environmental and operating factors have been given consideration in the
platform design, construction and installation. This procedure should also
indicate that appropriate reviews and inspections have been conducted to doc-
ument that the design, building, and installation of a platform are in confor-
mance with the applicable performance criteria, specifications, etc. This
procedure has been identified as “verification.” (Marine Board 1977, 8)
The study recommended that USGS, in addition to instituting a verifica-
tion program, increase staff capability for assessing agent competence and
approving facility permits.
The scope of a verification program was outlined. Three distinct areas—
design, fabrication, and installation—were described and recommended
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