The Operators Co-operative Emergency Services (OCES) is the organisational framework under which oil and gas companies operating in the waters of the North Sea and adjacent waters of the North West European Continental Shelf co-operate and share resources in the event of an emergency situation.
The agreement is available here.
Emergency Preparedness
Under national legislation, the operator of an offshore installation is required to have in place effective contingency plans for emergency situations. Operators are also required under international conventions to provide assistance to anyone in distress at sea.
In addition to these duties, the offshore industry believes that shared resources provided by other members with the ability to assist provides the best means of containing an emergency involving one of its members. To promote and facilitate this sharing of resources, the national associations have a declared policy of mutual support between members and have put in place the necessary arrangements and procedures to ensure that support can be provided effectively.
Exercises
In addition to exercises carried out by individual operators to test emergency procedures, frequent inter-operator exercises take place. National associations and their members participate in international search and rescue exercises. These exercises could involve civil and military search and rescue resources from many European nations and provide the industry with an opportunity to experience close co-operation with civil and military operations personnel in simulated but realistic circumstances.
Organisation
The six national associations are the participants in OCES, and represent the interests of their member companies. Each association appoints a representative to the OCES Executive Committee. Chairmanship of the Executive Committee rotates between Association every second year.
The Executive Committee is responsible for the overall effectiveness of OCES, and meets regularly to review arrangements and to consider developments in emergency response policy and capabilities.
The individual association representatives ensure that their offshore operating company members remain fully appraised of developments. Other offshore industry interests who are not members of OCES are kept informed of OCES business through the offshore oil and gas industry's international association, the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP).
National Associations
The existence of national associations formed by offshore operating companies enable the industry as a whole to deal with matters of common interest within each country and with industry interests in adjacent countries. The associations are:
Denmark
Danish Operators (representation by Maersk Oil)
Telephone: +45 7911 1280 and +45 75180366
E-mail: docc@maerskoil.dk copying doccpost@maerskoil.dk
Germany
Wirtschaftsverband Erdoel-und Erdgasgewinnung eV (WEG)
Telephone: +49 5111 21720
E-mail: info@erdoel-erdgas.de
Ireland
Irish Offshore Operators Association (IOOA)
Telephone: +353 1 825 5444 and +353 1 497 5716
Mobile: +353 86 829 6064 and +353 86 834 0155
E-mail: fergusbcahill@eircom.net copying info@iooa.ie
Netherlands
Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association (NOGEPA)
Telephone: +31 7034 78871
Mobile: +31 617 240493
E-mail: asg@nogepa.nl
Norway
Norwegain Oil Industry Association (Norsk olje og gass)
Telephone: +47 5184 6500
E-mail: postmottak@norog.no
UK
Oil & Gas UK
Telephone: +44 1224 577250
Mobile: +44 7659 183 999
E-mail: info@oilandgasuk.co.uk