Oil industry resource aims to avoid another Piper Alpha

An oil industry resource aiming to pull together decades of knowledge in an attempt to avoid another Piper Alpha disaster has been welcomed by Lord Cullen, the judge who conducted the inquiry into the tragedy.

Encompassing the Future: Offshore Oil and Gas Operations is a resource intended to bring together 40 years of industry experience.

In July 1988 the Piper Alpha platform exploded, claiming the lives of 167 men. Lord Cullen said lessons from the disaster must not be forgotten.

He said: “Painful lessons were learnt from the tragic events on 6 July, 1988.

“These lessons, like so many others in the industry, must never be forgotten.

“They should be used to ensure the safety of the people who work in it, the protection of the environment and the overall economic health and sustainability of offshore operations.”

Energy minister Paul Wheelhouse added: “The oil and gas industry makes a huge contribution to the Scottish economy, and will continue to do so for decades to come.

“Ensuring that the highest safety standards are applied across the industry is, of course, a key priority for all of us, and it is also essential to North Sea sustainability in the long run.”