On Tuesday, May 22, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will deliver opening remarks at the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s (BSEE) Technical Forum on Next-Generation Blowout Preventer (BOP) and Control Systems Technology, Management and Regulation, highlighting the extensive safety reforms taken by the Obama Administration since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The forum will be held at the Department of the Interior’s South Building Auditorium in Washington, D.C.
Building on the steps already established by the Department of the Interior, the BOP forum will allow industry and other stakeholders to provide feedback and input to BSEE on additional steps they may take to increase BOP safety. BSEE’s actions over the past two years have already improved the testing and certification requirements for blowout preventers.
Forum panels will be made up of representatives from government organizations, industry, trade associations, equipment manufacturers, consultants, training companies, and BOP monitoring companies. The event will be live-streamed at www.doi.gov/live.
Secretary Salazar will deliver opening remarks at 9 a.m., followed by the forum’s first panel, which includes Interior Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes, BSEE Director Jim Watson and Dr. Tom Hunter, chairman of the Ocean Energy Safety Advisory Committee. Secretary Salazar will participate in a media availability at 10 a.m. following the conclusion of the panel.
WHO:
Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior
David J. Hayes, Deputy Secretary of the Interior
Jim Watson, Director, BSEE
Dr. Tom Hunter, Chairman, Ocean Energy Safety Advisory Committee
Christopher A. Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of Energy
WHAT: Technical Forum on Next-Generation BOP and Control Systems
WHEN: Tuesday, May 22, 2012:
- 8:00 a.m. Doors Open
- 9:00 a.m. Introductory Remarks by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar
- 9:15 a.m. Panel #1 – Technology Needs from Deepwater Horizon
- 10:00 a.m. Media Availability with Secretary Salazar, Deputy Secretary Hayes, Director Watson and Dr. Hunter
- 10:00 a.m. Panel #2 – What new design requirements are needed to provide assurances that BOPs will cut and seal effectively under foreseeable operating conditions?
- 11:15 a.m. Panel #3 – What manufacturing, test, maintenance, and certification requirements should be established to ensure the operability and reliability of BOP equipment?
- 1:30 p.m. Panel #4 – What real time technologies are available to measure the 'health' of BOPs in service and aid in detecting and responding to 'kicks'?
- 2:45 p.m. Panel #5 – What type of training and certification should be required for key industry personnel?
- 4:15 p.m. Closing Remarks by BSEE Director Watson
WHERE: South Interior Building Auditorium
1900 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, D.C., 20245
MEDIA: All credentialed media are invited to cover the event. The 10:00 a.m. media availability will be held outside the Auditorium (foyer area). The event will be live-streamed at www.doi.gov/live.
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