The past couple of years have been nothing short of challenging for offshore operators in the United States. The BP Deepwater Horizon spill in April 2010, the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history, raised serious doubts about the future of offshore exploration in the U.S. First came the six-month moratorium on deep-water drilling, promptly followed by a slew of new regulations involving well design, inspections, safety certification, emergency response and worker training. The recent relaxation of the moratorium has come as a bit of a respite for the industry, but not without the additional burdens of new safeguards. A greater scrutiny of asset safety puts the onus on maintenance and inspection procedures in an industry already battling rising maintenance costs, higher compliance, and an aging workforce. The oil and gas industry is no stranger to the outsourcing model of non-core activities such as maintenance. However, in the new environment, the offshore operators are expected to seek a solution-oriented approach to their maintenance and compliance-related requirements. This development is likely to auger well with the vendors that differentiate themselves with the right blend of synthesized solutions and one-stop offerings.
Offshore Service Industry White Paper
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