Opinion
in the Houston Chronicle2
that “display screens
at the primary workstation used to operate drill controls on the Deepwater Horizon, called the A-chair, had locked up more than once before the deadly accident.” Given the amount of embedded software in oil-rig systems, or the dozens of operations that are carried out under software control, it is no wonder that software is getting the third degree. Software is relatively easy to write. Reliable, safety-critical software can be complex and challenging: however in truth often it is not much harder to write than the software that is powering the browser that you’re probably using to read this. To really get close to perfection, it requires independent testing so that the developers’ assumptions, and even egos, are not allowed to stand in the way of the quest for those last few elusive bugs. Independent testing of something that is already been tested in the normal way, by its developer, is undeniably an extra expense. It is not a prohibitive expense though – just the one that is most likely to be cut when money’s tight and financial control is wielded by those that don’t really understand the true value of what they’re cutting. Our experience is that cost pressures are all too
oilandgas_0109:world_pipeline_0805 24.11.2008 11:32 Uhr Seite 1
often allowed to bear on the safety-critical part of the software development process. Do we skip physical safety checks on trains and boats and ’planes? Not likely! So how is it OK to let finance directors and others of their ilk cause the cutting of corners when it comes to the more abstract and less tangible factors in the safety equation? Until independent testing, by truly qualified testers, is recognised as sacrosanct within safety- critical developments then we’ll continue to have aircraft falling out of the sky, runaway cars, space- launch disasters and yes, oil rig disasters. It is time to start changing attitudes now. ●
REFERENCES 1 “Deepwater Horizon Incident—Internal Investigation,” draft report, Transocean, 8 June 2010, p. 15;
http://energycommerce.house.gov/ documents/20100614/
Transocean.DWH.Internal.
Investigation.Update.Interim. Report.June.8.2010. pdf.
2 B Clanton, “Drilling Rig Had Equipment Issues, Witnesses Say—Irregular Procedures also Noted at Hearing,” Houston Chronicle, 19 July 2010;
www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7115524. html.
Brian Luff, chairman at Critical Software, Chilworth, Southampton, UK.
www.critical-software.co.uk Brazil • China • Denmark • France • Germany • Great Britain • India • Mexico • Portugal • Romania • Spain • Sweden • USA
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