05/07/2011 - Prompted by several high profile offshore drilling accidents, G20 Leaders took the initiative in 2010 to create the Global Marine Environment Protection (GMEP) Working Group comprised of G20 countries and international organisations. Its mandate is to “share best practices to protect the marine environment, to prevent accidents related to offshore exploration and development, as well as marine transportation, and to deal with their consequences.”

The G20 GMEP WG collaborated with the OECD to organize a business seminar on 5 July 2011 to examine best practices and mechanisms to better share them in future. Marking the first time that the GMEP WG actively engaged with the offshore oil and gas industry, the seminar included companies from around the world*, G20 and other invited countries and international associations and organisations**.

Participants discussed the latest  developments in the offshore oil and gas industry’s efforts to ensure safety and to minimize the environmental impacts of offshore oil and gas exploration and development. Conclusions underlined the need for international cooperation to prevent offshore oil spills and to develop emergency preparedness and response strategies. Participants expressed a desire to continue this work by further exploring mechanisms to exchange best practices.

• For further information about this meeting, please contact Fabrizio Pagani
• For further information about the OECD's work with G20, please visit: www.oecd.org/g20
  

* Companies involved:

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), BP, China Offshore Environmental Services Ltd, ConocoPhillips Limited (U.K.), ENI S.p.A (Italy), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (India), Petrobras, Petroleos Mexicanos – Pemex,  Saudi Aramco, Shell Exploration and Production Services BV, Shell Global Solutions BV, Shell (USA),  STATOIL,  Technip Corporate Services,  Total (France).

** International organisations involved:
International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC),  International Association of Oil & Gas producers (OGP), International Energy Agency (IEA), International Energy Forum (IEF), North Sea Offshore Authorities Forum (NSOAF), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).