From 1987 to 1990 SINTEF carried out the research project Reliability and Availability of Computer Based Process Safety Systems (PDS). Analytical models and methods were developed for assessing the overall reliability and LCC of computer based process safety systems. Safety system configurations that maintain high production regularity (low LCC) and at the same time fulfill the safety requirements were identified. This initial PDS project mainly considered Emergency Shutdown (ESD) systems.

A follow-up project, Control and Safety Systems Reliability (PDS-II) was carried out in 1992-93, and analysed the reliability, maintainability and maintenance support of process control and safety systems in offshore oil and gas production. It provided guidelines for improving the design and operation of the control and safety systems, and methods were developed for assessing the overall control and safety system reliability, considering human as well as technical safety barriers. Various methods for task analysis and human reliability analysis of control and safety systems were also described, and specific requirements on how to reduce human errors during maintenance of control and safety systems were obtained.

During the period 2003-2005, the project User friendly analysis tool for safety instrumented systems was carried out. The project was sponsored by the Norwegian Research Council and the PDS participants, and included an update of the model for common cause failures, revised modelling of systematic failures as well as an update of some definitions and terminology to be in line with the IEC 61508 taxonomy.

In 2006 the main activity in the PDS project was the Secure Safety (SeSa) project. Here a systematic and methodological approach to assess whether a given technological solution for remote access to SIS is acceptable is described in a separate SeSa project report.

During 2007-2009, the project “Managing and following-up the integrity of safety instrumented systems” was carried out. The project was sponsored by the Norwegian Research Council and the PDS members and included the following main activities:

• Updating the PDS data and method handbook (new versions were issued in January 2010)
• Using the method for practical SIL implementation and SIL follow-up in the operational phase
• Developing a computerized calculation program (“PDS tool”) which includes the PDS formulas and generic data, tailor suited for performing SIS calculations (at present for members only)
• Developing an example collection on how to use the method on practical projects

At present (2010-2012), a new research project is running. The project called “Development of barriers and indicators to prevent and limit pollutants to sea” focuses on barriers and indicators for preventing and limiting accidental releases of hydrocarbons to sea. Also this project is sponsored by the Norwegian Research Council and the PDS members.