(a) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for safety of vital oil and gas installations/
pipelines in the country;
(b) whether safety audits of oil and gas installations/pipelines are being conducted at regular intervals;
(c) if so, the details thereof during the year 2012-13, installation-wise;
(d) whether a number of serious lapses/ shortcomings have been noticed during such audits;
(e) if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the remedial measures taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SMT. PANABAAKA LAKSHMI)
(a) Oil industry maintains the highest level of safety standards. The safety measures include both
proactive and secondary measures to combat any unsafe situation and are systematic in nature. Some of
the safety measures taken by the Industry include incorporation of in–built safety aspects at the nascent
stage, that is, during the design stage itself. These include process safety hazard analysis with remedial
measures, instrumentation and safety interlocks, safety during design of equipment etc.
Further, the Government of India vide resolution dated 10th January, 1986, has set up a Safety Council
to ensure proper implementation of the various aspects of safety of all the Oil & Gas Installations in
India. The Safety Council is headed by Secretary, Petroleum & Natural Gas. The Safety council is
assisted by a technical body, the Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD), which has expertise in the
design of facilities, operations, maintenance, fire and safety aspects etc.
OISD, over the years has developed technical expertise in overseeing safety in entire Oil & Gas Sector
including onland & offshore exploration.
(b) and (c): OISD conducts safety audit of oil and gas installations at regular intervals. The details
of number of external safety audits carried out by OISD during the year 2012-13 are given as under:-
Installations 2012-13 Refineries & Gas 23 Processing Plants Marketing Installations 79 Cross Country Pipeline Installations (Kms) 2943 Exploration & Production 68 Installations