PREPARING FOR FIRST OIL
ABSTRACT In this paper the author draws from experience gained at the new ENL (ExxonNefigas) Export Terminal at DeKastri in the Russian Federation. The Terminal received first oil in late September 2006, to export through 5 new build tankers loading at the new Single Point Mooring facility. The oil is produced to the east of Sakhalin, and is pumped via the Chaivo Terminal across Sakhalin Island and the Tartar Straights to mainland Russia. Once ashore the pipe route turns south to DeKastri, a total run of approximately 230 kilometres. The main task set was to prepare for and conduct a Tier 1 Drill for Offshore and Shoreline Response, so as to demonstrate to the Russian Authorities the ENL capability and level of readiness. There was a large amount of equipment to be commissioned, stored in a dedicated Oil Spill Response (OSR) warehouse within the terminal. Equipment is also located on 2 dedicated vessels used for mooring and icebreaking duties. The response team to be trained were all Russian Nationals, many of whom had already attended nationally accredited courses but lacked practical experience. For this reason the priority for training was to assess the most likely scenarios along pipelines, the terminal and the SPM, and to conduct a series of exercises building up to weekly Drills that encompassed all aspects of a real mobilisation. The acting team lead had to supervise briefings, select appropriate equipment, and identify logistics and safety and welfare arrangements. At the operational location the seasonal variation of the weather is a huge factor, so it was vital to run exercises to cover all eventualities both onshore and offshore. As well as the preparation of the team and equipment response procedures had to be examined and modified, introducing a system to ensure complete readiness of all the factors that contribute to an effective Tier 1 response. The paper will explore the process of preparing for first and identify issues faced along the way.