APPENDIX G
Session 15: Oil Spill Response
Presented at:
Objective
The objective of this session is to demonstrate that an
effective oil spill response can be implemented at any time of
the year, including during the winter, if a well control incident
results in a flow of oil to the surface during the drilling
Overview
This session describes:
•
the basis of an Oil Spill Response Plan
•
factors that influence success
•
seasonal response options
•
go-forward planning
Control
Response
Spill
Response
Kick
Response
Kick
Containment
Kick
Detection
Kick
Prevention
Control
Response
Control
Response
Spill
Response
Spill
Response
Kick
Response
Kick
Response
Kick
Containment
Kick
Containment
Kick
Detection
Kick
Detection
Kick
Prevention
Oil Spill Response Plan Basis
The basis of the Oil Spill Response Plan is to:
•
ensure a rapid and sustained response•
keep oil off shorelines•
ensure that all options are available for use•
use the latest research and technologies•
set specific and realistic design criteria•
acknowledge that it is not always possible to remove all oil from the environment•
recognize that natural recovery can be effective in removing oil from the environment•
apply a net environmental benefits analysis to:•
reduce environmental impactsFactors that Influence Success
Factors that influence success include:
•
the safety of response personnel and the public•
weather conditions•
the sea state•
the presence of ice•
the type and characteristics of oil•
the volume and duration of a spill•
the rapid availability of equipment and resources•
logistics•
the availability of a trained and experienced workforce and contractorsResponse Options
Seasonal Response options include:
•
Fall:•
Containment and recovery by ship-based booms and skimmers•
Dispersant application on open water, natural and icebreaker-induced leads•
In situ burning by aerial application of igniters•
Winter:•
In situ burning•
Ice slotting to bring oil to the surface for burning or removal•
Tracking oil under ice to identify movement for spring response•
Spring:•
In situ burning of melt pools•
Dispersant application in open leads•
Specialized skimmers for brackish ice conditions•
Open Water:•
Dispersant application•
Recovery by booms and skimmers•
In situ burning using fireproof boomsGo-Forward Planning
•
Oil spill response planning will include responses to all types of spills, volumes and circumstances that could be encountered, including a sustained blowout during the winter•
Global experience on well-control spills shows that:•
most spills from well control incidents are small and of short duration•
some spills might continue for a few days until the well bridges over naturally•
a sustained release of oil might occur in rare cases•
Modelling studies of different spill scenarios will be carried out using Beaufort Sea data to aid in planning•
Ongoing research studies supported by Imperial and ExxonMobil include:•
2009 field studies, including developing an understanding of:•
the effect of the Mackenzie Delta Plume on oil contact with the shoreline•
oceanographic conditions at the Ajurak site affecting oil dispersion and transport•
the movement of ice over the Ajurak site through the winterGo-Forward Planning (cont’d)
•
Developing a three tier, escalating response capability for oil spill response in the Beaufort Sea, including:•
Tier 1 – vessel and shore base immediate response•
Tier 2 – enhancing regional capability for extended response time•
Tier 3 – national and international support services for longer term response, if needed•
Working with regulators to ensure that all response options are available•
Integrating Tier 2 capability with government response organizations•
Communicating with, and seeking input from, the Inuvialuit on spill response – for example, an oil spill workshop is planned for January 14 to 15, 2010, inInuvik
•
Developing a specific Ajurak Drilling Program Oil Spill Response Plan for:•
review and feedback by the Inuvialuit•
approval by regulators•
Implementing the approved plan before spudding the well, including:•
purchasing equipment and resources, and stockpiling them on vessels in the region•
training personnel, and developing and bringing on third parties or contractorsConclusion
•
Safety of response personnel and the public is the first priority.
•
Techniques are available for open water, ice conditions and
shoreline response that can be effective in late season and
over the winter.
•
All response options have their limitations, so a variety of
options will be available to fit the circumstances.
•
Improvements to the spill response capability will result from
effective planning, including:
•
reviewing plans with northern regulators and agenciesEmergency Response Model
Corporate Support
Emergency Support Groups (ESG)
In-Country/Project Activation Emergency Response Team
Corp
Third Tier Response
Full RRT Second Tier Response Co-op/Mutual Aid First Tier Response Local/Site
Strategic
(Issues Mgmt)
Tactical
(Incident Mgmt)
Increasing I
ncident Severity
Increasing I
ncident Severity
Increasing I
ncident Severity
In Country ESG Business Unit ESG Incident OccursERT
ERT
ESG
ESG
Increasing I
ncident Severity
Increasing I
ncident Severity
Site Specific ERT HQ ESG
Affiliate ESG
Tier 2 (Emergency Response is from Facility plus Mutual Aid Groups)
¾ Large, but under control ¾ Mutual-Aid groups activated
¾ Third party contractor equipment is needed ¾ National media attention
Tier 3 (ER is from Facility, Mutual Aid, and Service Agreement Providers)
¾ Large and not under control
¾ Significant government presence
¾ Large environmental impact
¾ Human welfare impact
¾ Disruption to commerce
¾ Global media attention
¾ International concern
Tier 1 (Emergency Response is from Facility or Site)
¾ Small and under control ¾ On Company Property
¾ Local equipment is sufficient ¾ Local media attention
Global Response Network Compliments Local Efforts
•
Tier 3 Oil Spill Cooperatives provide equipment and expertise
to support response operations
–
Single OSRO (e.g., OSRL) can facilitate and coordinate access
to services and expertise from all GRN members
–
Mobilize experienced response advisors and specialists to aid
field teams in strategic and tactical response decisions
•
Personnel practiced on successful and efficient integration into
ongoing Tier1/2 responses
–
Equipment and strategies for on-water containment and recovery
that will succeed under diverse and challenging conditions
–
Capacity to store recovered oil & oil/water mixtures on site
–
Equipment, supplies and expertise to support in-situ burning
–
Equipment, supplies and expertise to support dispersant
operations
Some equipment dedicated to “Area of Interest”; portion of resources released by board
Portable tanks, bladders Variety of weir,
disc, rope mop Limited
Offshore WCRC/
ECRC
Some equipment dedicated to “Area of Interest”; portion of
resources released by board vote
Portable tanks, bladders Variety of weir,
disc, rope mop, advancing
Offshore and shoreline Alyeska/
SERVS
Some equipment dedicated to “Area of Interest”; portion of
resources released by board vote
Portable tanks, bladders, barges Good variety and
numbers for different oils, ice stage
34,000’ Offshore +Shore seal ACS
Some equipment dedicated to “Area of Interest”; portion of
resources released by board vote
Portable tanks, bladders Good variety/ numbers for different oils Significant Offshore and Shoreline MSRC
NARRT authorized to mobilize Tier 2/3 spill resources; Stockpiles already packaged for air transport Portable tanks, bladders Good variety/ numbers for different oils Significant Offshore and Shoreline OSRL/ CCA Mobilization Issues Storage Skimmers Booms OSRO
Tier 3 OSRO’s Support Burning/Dispersant Operations
•
Majority of GRN OSRO’s stockpile igniters to support in-situ
burning
•
Majority have technical support personnel to direct field safety
•
All have capability to support dispersant operations from
vessel or aircraft platforms
–
Spray systems for small and large vessels
–
Spray systems for helicopters deployment
–
Access to small and large fixed wing aircraft
•
All have access to international stockpiles of dispersants to
support operational demand
LORI skimmer
Gulf of Finland spill cleanup
with LORI
Rope mop skimmer
