Abstract:
The study assessed the risk management practices on AKPO FPSO as related to the environmental
risks attached with the project. The study specifically assessed the frequency and severity of oil
spill on AKPO FPSO, the environmental impact of Loss of Primary Containment and risk
management practices on AKPO FPSO using bow-tie strategy. The research is a survey type,
which focused on the use of bow-tie strategy in managing risk in the oil and gas sector. It involves
the gathering of information about risk management practices and its effects on operational
performance of AKPO FPSO. The survey design involves developmental study that reveals the
prevailing state of affairs of risk management practices over a period of time, particularly in
Nigeria. The study area is Rivers state, with concentration on AKPO floating production storage
and offloading (FPSO) vessel. AKPO FPSO was commissioned in mid-2005 by Total Upstream
Nigeria following the successful development of the AKPO oil and gas field, 200km south of Port
Harcourt off the coast of Nigeria in West Africa. For this study, the target population were HSE
experts that are involved in AKPO FPSO operations within the period of the study, including
Total Nigeria Plc staff and consulting firms. This study used total population sampling, a non-
probability sampling. Total population sampling is a type of purposive sampling technique that
involves examining the entire population (i.e., the total population) that have a particular set of
characteristics. Using interview, as the research instrument and secondary data, the data obtained
were analyzed for normality to ensure its suitability using standard multivariate analysis. The
study found that that there were more cases of loss of primary containment, that is, oil spill before
the deployment of bow-tie strategy on AKPO FPSO and after its deployment. Findings from the
study further revealed that although there is a difference in the total volume of LOPC released,
however this difference is not statistically significant (p = 0.529). The study also found that thereis reduction in the frequencies of LOPC since the deployment of bow-tie strategy on AKPO FPSO.
The study concluded that the potentials of the bow-tie strategy need to be fully optimized in
managing risk on AKPO FPSO. It further concluded that the bow-tie strategy deployed on AKPO
FPSO should be optimized in order to record more significant impact. Also, reports from various
departments involved in maintaining and implementing risk management practices on the oil
facility should be harnessed into the operations of bow-tie strategy .
