Formal Safety Assessment of a Marine Seismic Survey Vessel Operation, Incorporating Risk Matrix and Fault Tree Analysis

Abstract

In maritime safety research, risk is assessed usually within the framework of formal safety assessment (FSA), which provides a formal and systematic methodology to improve the safety of lives, assets, and the environment. A bespoke application of FSA to mitigate accidents in marine seismic surveying is put forward in this paper, with the aim of improving the safety of seismic vessel operations, within the context of developing an economically viable strategy. The work herein takes a close look at the hazards in North Sea offshore seismic surveying, in order to identify critical risk factors, leading to marine seismic survey accidents. The risk factors leading to undesirable events are analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. A risk matrix is introduced to screen the identified undesirable events. Further to the screening, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is presented to investigate and analyse the most critical risks of seismic survey operation, taking into account the lack of historical data. The obtained results show that man overboard (MOB) event is a major risk factor in marine seismic survey operation; lack of training on safe work practice, slippery deck as a result of rain, snow or water splash, sea state affecting human judgement, and poor communication are identified as the critical risk contributors to the MOB event. Consequently, the risk control options are focused on the critical risk contributors for decision-making. Lastly, suggestions for the introduction and development of the FSA methodology are highlighted for safer marine and offshore operations in general.

Risk Analysis of Equipment Loss During Marine Survey Operation by Integrating Fault Tree to Bayesian Network

“…To date, two studies related to safety assessment have been found in marine survey operations. Several authors used FTA (Fault Tree Analysis) to investigate and analyse the most critical risks of seismic survey operations [1] and utilise FTA to improve the Safety of Marine Cable Survey Operations [2].…”

Improving Safety of Marine Cable Survey Operation Through Safety Assessment using the Formal Safety Assessment Method (Case Study RV. Baruna Jaya)

“…On the other hand, the methodology itself is being tried and succeeded when applied to vessel safety improvement; Safety in Traditional Shipping [6], Safety on Ship Collision [7], Shipping Traffic [8]. However, FSA study regarding safety on marine survey is scarce, especially FSA study that focus on survey or research vessels [9]. Asuelimen et al study on FSA of Marine Seismic Survey Vessel Operation approaches the risk assessment of research vessels by FSA application incorporating Fault Tree Analysis and Risk Matrix.…”

Ice-Water-Gas Interaction during Icebreaking by an Airgun Bubble

“…In comparison with bubbles generated from electric sparking and underwater explosion, high-pressure airgun bubbles are less studied and have mainly been used in seabed resource exploration [23]. Giles [24] used a device comprised of eight to twenty-three airguns, which released airgun bubbles to obtain the sample sections of marine seismic exploration in the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean offshore California.…”