Oxy and Valaris received the 2026 Safety Leadership Awards at the annual Center for Offshore Safety (COS) conference in Houston for developing digital technologies that help identify operational risks and improve safety in marine operations.
Oxy's Awards for AI Initiatives
Oxy received this award in the operator category for two AI-based initiatives in its operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The company's COACH AI Observation tool enhances the accuracy and completeness of safety observations using a conversational workflow. Additionally, an AI trend analysis initiative analyzes the observations provided for standard weekly reporting.
According to COS, these tools help Oxy identify hazards and recurring areas at risk while increasing accountability for interventions and steering their observation program towards more proactive risk management.
Valaris Awards for BarrierPulse System
Valaris received the contractor award for the BarrierPulse system, which is a real-time system developed to monitor the integrity of critical marine safety barriers. This platform includes over one million operational assurance data points covering maintenance, workforce capability, drills, change management, and operational risk assessments.
Rather than simply classifying safety barriers as either present or failed, BarrierPulse tracks gradual and cumulative degradation to identify potential warning signs before reaching escalation thresholds. Valaris has used this system to improve visibility towards reducing barriers and prioritizing actions to mitigate risks associated with major incidents.
Colin Fraser, Chief API Officer at the Center for Offshore Safety and Safety Programs, said, "This year's winners have effectively leveraged emerging technologies and industry experiences to develop tools and processes that reduce risks and enhance safety in marine operations."
The Center for Offshore Safety selects finalists annually in the operator and contractor categories, and participants at the annual conference vote to determine the award winners.
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