Insights and Learning from IOGP Global Upstream Process Safety Event Data

The International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) is a global organization in which member companies identify and share best practices to achieve improvements in many areas including upstream process safety. Since 2014 IOGP has published an annual process safety event (PSE) data report based on data submitted in alignment with the upstream and downstream reporting criteria in IOGP Report 456 and API RP 754. Participating IOGP Member Companies voluntarily contribute to the process safety data collection process. Lagging Tier 1 and Tier 2 PSE data are submitted for trending and benchmarking. Submitted event information includes a narrative description for Tier 1 PSE, with identification of the point of release, barrier failures and associated causal factors. A review of each data submission is conducted by Member Company specialists in process safety and data reporting to confirm the Tier 1 classification. The systematic and transparent reporting of Tier 1 PSE, and the annual review process, allow the analysis of the point of release, the material released, release rate and consequences of each event. This information enables the classification as a Tier 1 to be confirmed. During the data review process, a keyword is also allocated to further categorize the Tier 1 PSE and help identify trends and learning. The keywords are based on threat lines in a generic PSE bow tie, which are updated as new threats are identified. In addition, the review of specific events is used to update PSE classification examples on the IOGP website and to raise awareness of emerging risks associated with human performance, design, operational practices, or geographic seasonal PSE areas of concern. Having the largest database of upstream process safety performance and fatality data, gives IOGP a unique opportunity to encourage upstream industry collaboration and sharing of best practices to prevent process safety events. An example of this is the development of the IOGP Process Safety Fundamentals (PSF), which were based on IOGP PSE fatality data, to provide a standardized industry approach to the prevention of high consequence process safety related events.