OGInsights has connected with over 50 offshore operators since March 2020 to review how operations have adapted to ensure the health and safety of their workforces. As soon as the seriousness of COVID-19 came to light oil, companies on the whole have been massively responsive in prioritising the implementation of COVID-19 measures above all else.
When the outbreak first happened there was definitely a scramble to secure helicopter space to transport people back onshore. However it was not an easy start with many helicopter providers refusing to take any personnel that showed even remote symptoms of COVID-19 - luckily this was quickly resolved by the installation of screens between the pilot and passengers. This was a huge issue at the time as one infection offshore would have quickly spread across an entire platform. During this scramble, some companies even resorted to chartering dedicated private helicopters in order to ensure ability to transport personnel.
Rig rotas have now been revised to minimise the frequency of crew changes - this does mean some staff have been offshore for much longer than original planned. Some rotas now even incorporate an extra week once personnel arrive onshore to enable self-isolation before starting the clock on the normal onshore stint. On the other end of the cycle, majority of companies are now requiring staff to arrive up to a week early before going offshore to allow time for thorough testing and results.
On the whole, the industry has reacted and adapted well in managing COVID-19 with only a handful of instances where entire fields or crews have been infected.
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