Review and proposed extension of the APPEA Method for estimating levels of financial assurance

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
David Horn ◽  
Kristina Downey ◽  
Andrew Taylor

In 2014, the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) published the ‘Method to assist titleholders in estimating appropriate levels of financial assurance for pollution incidents arising from petroleum activities’, referred to as the APPEA Method. The APPEA Method provides a standard approach to quantifying the appropriate level of financial assurance required under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (OPGGS Act). The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environment Management Authority (NOPSEMA) endorsed the APPEA Method for an initial period of 2 years (until December 2016) with the requirement that APPEA review the method against a broader range of case studies to confirm its validity. In 2017, APPEA applied the APPEA Method to 18 case studies, comparing independently calculated cost estimates with the APPEA Method cost band for each case study. For 17 of the 18 case studies, the independent cost estimate was less than the APPEA Method cost band, confirming the validity of the APPEA Method for those case studies. For one of the case studies involving marine fuel oil, the APPEA Method cost band potentially underestimated the response and clean-up costs. The robustness of the APPEA Method can be improved by amending the hydrocarbon type impact score for fuel oils. Based on the review, NOPSEMA has since endorsed the APPEA Method until September 2018. The APPEA Method is currently endorsed for incidents in which the total volume of hydrocarbon released is <1 000 000 m3 and the total volume of oil ashore is <25 000 m3. Based on an assessment of the response and clean-up costs from three additional case studies that exceeded these limits, amendments to the APPEA Method are proposed that would extend the range of incidents to which it could be applied.

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 277 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Horn ◽  
Felicity Harrison ◽  
Andrew Woodhams ◽  
Miranda Taylor

APPEA has developed a method to assist titleholders estimate appropriate levels of financial assurance for pollution incidents arising from petroleum activities. In 2013 the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (OPGGS Act) was amended to strengthen the polluter pays principles of the act and clarify and broaden its financial assurance requirements. Those amendments included provision for regulation requiring titleholders to demonstrate financial assurance as a prior condition for the acceptance of an environment plan (EP) by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environment Management Authority (NOPSEMA). The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) has developed a standard method that can be used by titleholders to estimate the level of financial assurance required under the OPGGS Act. The APPEA method broadly follows the approach first proposed by Oil & Gas UK in their Guidelines to assist licensees in demonstrating Financial Responsibility to DECC for the consent of Exploration & Appraisal Wells in the UKCS. The method involves two steps: (i) estimate the cost of well control (if appropriate); and, (ii) estimate the cost of the operational response. For the purposes of estimating the cost of operational response, a pollution incident is assigned to one of eight cost bands, according to its potential impact, based on three parameters: the hydrocarbon type, the total spill volume and the potential shoreline impact. The APPEA method was applied to 10 case studies, spanning a range of petroleum activities, hydrocarbon types and geographical regions. The case studies demonstrated that the operational response costs for each of the case studies are broadly captured by their respective cost bands.


1995 ◽  
Vol 39 (01) ◽  
pp. 95-101
Author(s):  
Cherng-Yuan Lin ◽  
Chein-Ming Lin ◽  
Che-Shiung Cheng

An experimental investigation is presented of the influences of emulsification of marine fuel oils A and C with water on the micro-explosion phenomenon and combustion characteristics of a burning droplet. The amount of surfactant and water-to-oil ratio by volume in the emulsion are varied to observe the variations of ignition delay, flame length, time required to attain the maximum flame length, duration as well as intensity of micro-explosion, flame appearance, and overall burning time. The measurements show that the emulsification effects on the combustion of marine fuel oils A and C are different. A droplet of C-oil emulsion is shown to be influenced by the addition of water and surfactant more significantly. The micro-explosion phenomena of droplets of A-and C-oil emulsions are seen to occur after and before their ignition, respectively. In addition, separate combinations of water and surfactant content exist for these fuel oils to achieve better emulsification effects on combustion. Droplets of emulsions with W/O = 15/85, E% = 2% for fuel oil A and W/O = 25/75, E% = 1% for fuel oil C are found to have the most violent droplet-disruption phenomenon and the longest flame length.


Author(s):  
Takaaki Hashimoto ◽  
Senichi Sasaki

The combustion characteristics (ignition delay and combustion period in this paper) of marine heavy fuel oil are affected by many factors such as density, carbon residue, asphaltene, aromaticity and carbon/hydrogen (C/H) ratio. When investigating the causes of operational problems in diesel engines, what properties should we check to find whether the main causes of the problems are related to fuel oil or not? What is the threshold of ignition delay and combustion period of fuel oil? The authors studied these topics using a combustion test apparatus called FIA 100, and arrived at the following conclusions: 1. The aromaticity index (CCAI) and the C/H ratio have good correlation with the combustion characteristics of marine fuel oil. These factors cannot be ignored during troubleshooting. 2. The carbon residue and asphaltene in fuel oil have no correlation with ignition delay, but have some correlation with the combustion period. 3. There is practically no correlation between the average molecular weight of fuel oil, and both ignition delay and combustion period. 4. Tentative threshold values of ignition delay and combustion period can be set for fuel oils of poor quality (flame retardation).


Paliva ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 16-23
Author(s):  
Dominik Schlehöfer ◽  
Aleš Vráblík ◽  
Rarek Černý

Maritime transport is a significant contributor to the environmental pollution. For this reason, the maximum sulfur content in liquid marine fuels has been drastically reduced since January 1st 2020 for deep sea areas. This reduction can be solved by diluting the conventional high sulfur fuels with suitable low sulfur components. However, mixing two or more components with each other carries a potential risk of incompatibility or instability of the final product, especially in the case of longer storage and subsequent transportation to the end consumers. For the above reasons, this work deals with the mapping of alternative raw materials that could be used to produce very low sulfur fuel oils (VLSFO) with a sulfur level up to 0.5 wt%. A total of 5 raw materials (1 conventional fuel oil – HSFO and 4 alternative raw materials) were characterized. The individual raw materials were compared to each other with regard to the quality properties required for marine fuels according to the ISO 8217. Subsequently, the suitability of these raw materials for further mixing was outlined in order to meet the required quality parameters for marine fuel mixing.


Paliva ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 16-23
Author(s):  
Dominik Schlehöfer ◽  
Aleš Vráblík ◽  
Radek Černý

Maritime transport is a significant contributor to the environmental pollution. For this reason, the maximum sulfur content in liquid marine fuels has been drastically reduced since January 1st 2020 for deep sea areas. This reduction can be solved by diluting the conventional high sulfur fuels with suitable low sulfur components. However, mixing two or more components with each other carries a potential risk of incompatibility or instability of the final product, especially in the case of longer storage and subsequent transportation to the end consumers. For the above reasons, this work deals with the mapping of alternative raw materials that could be used to produce very low sulfur fuel oils (VLSFO) with a sulfur level up to 0.5 wt%. A total of 5 raw materials (1 conventional fuel oil – HSFO and 4 alternative raw materials) were characterized. The individual raw materials were compared to each other with regard to the quality properties required for marine fuels according to the ISO 8217. Subsequently, the suitability of these raw materials for further mixing was outlined in order to meet the required quality parameters for marine fuel mixing.


1995 ◽  
Vol 39 (01) ◽  
pp. 86-94
Author(s):  
Cherng-Yuan Lin ◽  
Chein-Ming Lin ◽  
Cheh-Skiung Chen

The effects of water-to-oil ratio, surfactant content, stayed time, and homogenizing speed on the emulsification characteristics of emulsion activity, emulsion stability, and mean micro-water-droplets diameter for a light distillate fuel oil and a heavy residual fuel oil are experimentally investigated. It is revealed that after centrifuging, the emulsion of the distillate fuel separates into four distinct layers from top to bottom of a test tube. Also, an emulsion of the distillate fuel oil emulsified with surfactant Span 20 is shown to have more fluctuating variations of emulsion activity and mean diameter of water droplets with homogenizing speed. A saturated state of the emulsion with the surfactant addition appears as the surfactant content = 1.5 to 2.0%. Higher surfactant content than 2% is shown to deteriorate the emulsification characteristics of these fuel oils. In addition, the residual fuel oil is found to have better emulsification characteristics in comparison with the distillate fuel oil.


2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 (2) ◽  
pp. 1323-1326
Author(s):  
David Usher ◽  
Kenneth Edgar

ABSTRACT Recent marine casualty events in the United States and overseas, involving vessels that are not carrying oil as their primary cargo, have once again highlighted potential problems faced by response personnel when attempting to transfer heavy (high viscosity) oils such as marine fuel oils (MFOs) (Figure 1). During such operations, dealing with the high viscosities typically encountered with these products is an important aspect of the operation's planning, direction and overall success. The problem is not a new one and oil transfer specialists have, over the years, developed equipment and techniques for handling these products (Figure 2). This paper will elaborate upon some of those techniques by presenting two case histories where transfers of heavy oils was successfully accomplished under adverse conditions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 77 ◽  
pp. 42-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pari Shafaei Gholami ◽  
Parvin Nassiri ◽  
Rasoul Yarahmadi ◽  
Abdolamir Hamidi ◽  
Roksana Mirkazemi

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (1) ◽  
pp. 2017109
Author(s):  
Silje Berger ◽  
Hilde Dolva ◽  
Hanne Solem Holt ◽  
Kaja Hellstrøm ◽  
Per Daling

In 2014 the Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA) conducted an environmental risk and oil spill response analysis related to possible oil spills from shipping in the areas of Svalbard and Jan Mayen. One of the key findings were that due to regulations to ban heavy fuel oil in protected areas, the most likely spill scenarios are spills of distillate marine fuel oils. Furthermore, the cold climate is expected to slow down oil weathering processes, and in calm weather situations this may call for active response, even to spills of light fuel oils. Also along the coast of mainland Norway, response options to spills of light fuel oils is an emerging topic. This includes not only MGO/MDO, but also several new products formulated to meet the 2015 Emission Control Areas (ECA) sulphur limit, also referred to as hybrid fuel oil / ultra low sulfur fuel oil (ULSFO). Previous experiences from spills of light fuel oils in Norwegian waters have been summarized; however, some recommendations for response remain inconclusive. Hence, the need for increased knowledge of the characteristics of light fuel oils and relevant response options is recognized. SINTEF analyzed a range of light fuel oils on behalf of NCA. This initial screening included chemical characterization (GC-MS/GC-FID) and identification of physical properties, i.e. viscosity, density, pour point, flash point, as well as emulsifying properties. Based on these results, five different fuel oils were selected for further examination, including:- Weathering predictions and improved trajectory modeling- Chemical and toxicological characterization of water accommodated fraction (WAF)- Laboratory tests of properties related to dispersant use and ignition, both in order to explore the applicability of dispersants and in-situ burning as response techniques, and to determine windows of opportunity for the different oil types. Laboratory tests are performed at 2 °C and 13 °C, reflecting “arctic” / cold climate conditions and North Sea summer conditions. Furthermore, mechanical recovery will be tested on the same oil types in the NCA test facility (abstract submitted by Holt & Frost). The results from this ongoing project will be presented from an operational viewpoint. They are expected to give insights useful to response planning, decision making during spill incidents, and enhanced response options for future spills of distillate marine fuel oils and ULSFO, especially in cold climates and arctic environment.


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