When two high performing organisations such as GlobalSantaFe and BHP Billiton Petroleum partner, it is probably not surprising when the result is excellent performance, but the achievements of the GlobalSantaFe drillship GSF C.R. Luigs have surpassed all expectations.
The ultra-deepwater rig, working in the US Gulf of Mexico for BHP Billiton Petroleum, has been awarded the US Department of the Interior’s Mineral Management Service (MMS) Safety Award for Excellence for the outstanding manner in which it conducted its contract drilling operations in the Houma district in the Gulf of Mexico throughout 2005. The GSF C.R. Luigs underwent nine MMS inspections during 2005 without a single non-compliance and had no lost-time accidents during the year.
In addition to the MMS award, the rig was honoured as GlobalSantaFe’s “Rig of the Year 2005” for the floater category. This internal award recognises outstanding safety, environmental, and operational performance.
Dedicated employees
GlobalSantaFe leaders recognise the commitment and energy it has required to achieve these awards.
“The success of the GSF C.R. Luigs is a direct result of the hard work of our dedicated employees, and consistent positive interaction with a great customer, BHP Billiton,” says GlobalSantaFe vice president of operations, Marion Woolie.
The partnership between GlobalSantaFe and BHP Billiton continues with the new Neptune development in the US Gulf of Mexico. BHP Billiton is building on the achievements of GSF C.R. Luigs for the GlobalSantaFe rig, the GSF Development Driller I.
John Stobart, world wide drilling manager says: “Through our partnership with GlobalSantaFe, BHP Billiton benefits not only from good safety practices but also exceptional drilling performance. Safety is the way we do our business. At BHP Billiton it’s called zero harm. It means that all BHP Billiton, contractor and service company management drive an identical message of care to our crews. It means crews and managers share a zero tolerance approach to unsafe acts and conditions. It means we are aware of and aggressively look out for hazards and manage all risks. It means no one has to prove it is unsafe to stop work, but we all have to prove it is safe to start. Finally, it means our best-in-class rigs are safe and happy homes to loyal crews who line up to come back.”
HSE culture drives business performance
DNV has worked with both rigs conducting assessments against the requirements of BHP Billiton’s World Wide Drilling HSE and community management system and assisting both organisations in their pursuit of excellence. DNV staff visited Houston and offshore Gulf of Mexico to conduct these assessments and were hugely impressed by the outstanding cooperation and joint leadership displayed by Global-SantaFe and BHP Billiton. It was evident that both GlobalSantaFe and BHP Billiton use their health, safety and environmental culture and activities to drive their business performance.