Offshore Oil and Gas Installations Security ─ An International Perspective

Oil and natural gas, which today account for over 60% of the world’s energy supply, are often produced by offshore platforms that are intrinsically vulnerable to deliberate attacks. The changing security landscape and concerns about the threats of terrorism and piracy to offshore oil and gas installations is a major issue for energy companies and governments worldwide.

With the heightened concern for offshore oil and gas infrastructure security, this timely publication examines the protection and security of offshore petroleum installations. It analyses the different types of security threats facing offshore petroleum installations, the factors that make offshore installations attractive targets, the nature of attacks that have occurred throughout history and the devastating impacts that can result from deliberate attacks on these important facilities. Crucially, it then examines the international legal framework , state practice and initiatives of governments and industry that aim to address this vital problem. The author explores the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as other key international legal instruments and regulatory measures, with a view to determining whether international law adequately addresses the protection and security of offshore petroleum installations.

This is an indispensable reference work for oil and gas industry professionals, company security officers, policy makers, maritime lawyers and academics worldwide.

Mikhail Kashubsky is a Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Customs & Excise Studies (CCES), University of Canberra and Head of Secretariat of the International Network of Customs Universities (INCU).