Seismicity and Seismic Risk in the Offshore North Sea Area

The Workshop on the Seismicity and Seismic Risk in the Off shore North Sea Area was intended to bring together experts from a variety of disciplines as well as interest groups with involve ment in siting, design and construction of offshore structures in the region. Participants came from the fields of geology, seismology, oceanography, geotechnical and structural engineering and risk analysis. The wide range of participant affiliations included institutes, Observatories, universities, oil companies, consultants and insurance firms. All nationalities around the North Sea were present, in addition to some experts from outside the region. All participants were present on the basis of personal invitation. The idea of organizing the Workshop stemmed from conside- tions, such as: the rapidly increasing material and personel investments and versatility of type of structures in the basin.during the past decade; - the present-day important role Jf the North Sea oil and gas production in the economy of Western Europe; and - the increase of potential environmental risks in the region. Although devastating earthquakes are almost unknown in the area and seismic hazard is not great, the seismic risk grows with the growing size and number of structures in the area. The study of the potential seismic risks, therefore, cannot be neglected any more. The siting and design of offshore platforms and submarine pipelines are controlled by the degree of their vulnerability as well as the seismic hazard. in the region.