ESTIMATING THE RESPONSE GAP FOR TWO OPERATING AREAS IN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, ALASKA

2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 (1) ◽  
pp. 615-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim L. Robertson ◽  
S. Anil Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Prince William Sound ◽  
Sea State ◽  
Response System ◽  
Operating Limits ◽  
Oil Spill Response

ABSTRACT Technological advancements in oil spill response systems have contributed to more proficient oil spill response operations. Yet, there are still times when oil is being shipped but environmental conditions, such as wind, waves, temperature, and visibility, preclude effective spill response operations. The Response Gap is this window between the point of maximum mechanical response capacity and the weather-based limits of oil transportation. To quantify the Response Gap for two operating areas in Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska, historical datasets of the environmental factors known to affect the open-water mechanical response system were assembled. Each dataset contained observations related to four environmental factors: wind, sea state, temperature, and visibility. These datasets were used in a “hind-cast” to evaluate how often environmental conditions exceed the response operating limits. Response operating limits were determined based on a thorough review of the published literature, existing contingency plans, regulatory standards, and after-action reports, with the objective of establishing realistic limits for the existing open-water response system. Response limits were then coded using the colors red (response not possible), yellow (response possible but impaired), and green (response possible) for a particular environmental factor during each operational period. A Response Gap Index (RGI) was calculated to incorporate the interactions between environmental factors. Once the RGI was computed for each observational period, the dataset was summarized to produce an estimate of the amount of time that the Response Gap existed. The met-ocean climatology is characterized using histograms and joint-probability distribution plots, with the RGI superimposed. At Hinchinbrook Entrance, sea state exceeded the operating limits 19.2% of the time and wind exceeded the limits 2.9% of the time. When the environmental factors were considered together, the response limitations were exceeded 37.7% of the time. Not surprisingly, the response limits were exceeded more often in winter (65.4% of the time) than in summer (15.6% of the time). Results for Central PWS indicated that the response limitations were exceeded only 12.6% of the time. The paper discusses ways to improve the present subjective quantification of response limits, particularly through additional field trials and modeling of mechanical recovery systems.

BioBind - Airborne clean-up of oil pollution at sea with biogenic oil binders

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (1) ◽  
pp. 1431-1440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Siewert ◽  
Martin Powilleit ◽  
Fokke Saathoff
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Sea State ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Response System ◽  
Scale Field ◽  
Large Scale Field ◽  
Oil Spill Response ◽  
The Baltic

ABSTRACT The success of oil spill response operations is mainly dependent on the response time and the weather and sea state conditions. That's where the research project “BioBind” is setting the focus: To develop an oil spill response system fast to apply and sea state independent. Within this project a network of eight different partners from universities, research institutes and medium sized companies work from summer 2011 to summer 2014. The paper provides an overview on the oil spill response research project “BioBind” and focuses on a large scale field experiment carried out in summer 2013 with the RV “E.M.Borgese” at the Baltic Sea.

WASTE MINIMIZATION CONCEPTS APPLIED TO OIL SPILL RESPONSE

1993 ◽  
Vol 1993 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale Ferriere
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Response Strategy ◽  
Waste Minimization ◽  
Waste Generation ◽  
Oil Spill Response ◽  
Oily Waste

ABSTRACT Lessons learned from past U.S. oil spill response histories show that prudent waste management principles have not been a primary consideration in making decisions for tactical response to major open-water oil spills. Contingency planners (government and industry) consistently choose a mechanical response strategy usually resulting in significant shoreline impact and waste generation (secondary pollution from response actions). Generally, the Environmental Protection Agency's waste minimization hierarchy is not used when managing a major open-water oil spill, subsequent cleanup of oiled shorelines, response to oiled wildlife, and final disposal of oily waste. Contingency plans do not adequately weigh the ecological ramifications from response-generated waste and response-generated pollution when deciding how to protect the environment. This paper shows how the EPA's waste minimization hierarchy should be used during all phases of an oil spill response: strategic planning, tactical planning, and response execution.

Oil Spill Simulation in Rivers

1991 ◽  
Vol 1991 (1) ◽  
pp. 593-600
Author(s):  
Poojitha D. Yapa ◽  
Hung Tao Shen ◽  
Steven F. Daly ◽  
Stephen C. Hung
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Vertical Mixing ◽  
River System ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Ohio River ◽  
Oil Slick ◽  
Oil Spill Response ◽  
Dimensional Surface ◽  
St Lawrence River

ABSTRACT Computer models recently have been developed for simulating oil slick transport in rivers, including the connecting channels of the Great Lakes, the upper St. Lawrence River, and the Allegheny-Monongahela-Ohio River system. In these models, a Lagrangian discrete-parcel algorithm is used to determine the location and concentration distribution of the oil in the river as well as the deposition of oil on the shore. The model for the Great Lakes connecting channels (ROSS) is a two-dimensional surface slick model which considers advection, spreading, horizontal diffusion, evaporation, dissolution, and shoreline deposition. The model is applicable to both open water and ice covered conditions. Models for the St. Lawrence River and the Ohio River System are developed based on a two-layer scheme (ROSS2) which considers vertical mixing and emulsiflcation processes in addition to the processes considered in the surface slick model. All of these models are implemented on microcomputers and can be used as integral parts of oil spill response programs to assist cleanup actions.

Temporary Response System for Viscous Oil By Fishery Technique

1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 (1) ◽  
pp. 1193-1194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaki Saito ◽  
Joji Ouchl
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Central Area ◽  
Initial Response ◽  
Polluted Area ◽  
Response System ◽  
Viscous Oil ◽  
Self Defense ◽  
Temporary Response ◽  
Oil Spill Response

ABSTRACT Generally it takes at least several hours (a few weeks if unlucky) for the vessels, instruments, and responders to arrive at the polluted area. Until that happens, there are no means for preventing the oil spreading except “self-defense” by neighboring people such as fishermen, volunteers, and staff of the local government. After spreading out along the shoreline, they should keep their own local shoreline clean from oil landing while the professional response in the central area is operated. temporary response instruments are necessary for such initial response and self-defense; otherwise, amateur responders have little more than their hands for products to use for the oil spill response. This paper describes that the fishery net system with bark is one of the effective instruments for such a purpose, especially for recovering the viscous oil.

EVOLUTION OF A WORLD-CLASS TANKER ESCORT SYSTEM

2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 (2) ◽  
pp. 1167-1172
Author(s):  
Vincent B. Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Gulf Of Alaska ◽  
Prince William Sound ◽  
The Disabled ◽  
Oil Spill Response ◽  
Subarctic Climate ◽  
World Class ◽  
Best Available Technology ◽  
Pass Through ◽  
Available Technology

ABSTRACT The Ship Escort Response Vessel System (SERVS) of Alyeska Pipeline Service Company (Alyeska) in Valdez Alaska is responsible for overseeing the prevention, preparedness, and response activities for the safe transportation of oil through Prince William Sound. Since the inception of SERVS in 1989, escort vessels have accompanied laden tankers through Prince William Sound from the Valdez Marine Terminal to the Gulf of Alaska, a distance of approximately 70 miles. The tankers pass through the pristine Prince William Sound, which encompasses over 2,500 square miles, with fjord-like topography and a subarctic climate. The evolution of the tanker escort system began with the emergency order issued by the state of Alaska in 1989 immediately after the grounding of the Exxon Valdez. A fleet of 12 vessels, each singular in purpose, was quickly developed: three dedicated pairs of escorts (comprised of an escort response vessel and tug), response barge standby vessels, and four dedicated docking tugs. The emphasis was more on oil spill response than prevention, and there was little interchangeability between vessels and their missions. In subsequent years, a variety of factors has caused changes to the escort system and vessel mix. These included the Disabled Tanker Towing Study, Prince William Sound Risk Assessment Promulgation of Federal Escort Requirements, oil spill response responsibility in the Gulf of Alaska, tanker vapor recovery, reduction in pipeline throughput, and weather restrictions. Additionally, industry instituted voluntary measures such as ice scouts and sentinel standby escorts for inbound tankers in ballast have affected the escort system, in addition to the experience gained in the operation the system. As the escort system matured, there was a marked emphasis and focus on oil spill prevention, fleet modernization, and multipurpose vessels to increase capabilities while maximizing efficiencies. Alyeska/SERVS embarked on a dedicated strategy to upgrade the specialized vessel fleet of 12 vessels to a fleet composed of fewer multipurpose vessels. This strategy encompassed a technological and operational enhancement of the fleet, significantly improving the prevention posture while maintaining the necessary response capabilities. Today, the Alyeska/SERVS escort fleet consists of nine multipurpose vessels. The cornerstones of the escort fleet are the two 10,192 horsepower Voith Schneider enhanced tractor tugs and the three 10,192 horsepower ? drive Prevention and Response Tugs, all specifically designed, constructed, and outfitted for tanker escorting. The combination of these vessels for tanker escorting utilizes complimentary best available technology to ensure the safe transit of tankers through Prince William Sound.

Guanabara Bay Oil Spill 2000, Brazil – Cetacean Response

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 (1) ◽  
pp. 1035-1037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Kirwan John Short
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
Guanabara Bay ◽  
Operational Strategies ◽  
Response System ◽  
System A ◽  
Oil Spill Response

ABSTRACT On the 18th January 2000 a broken pipeline owned and operated by the oil company Petrobras spilt some 1300 tonne of bunker fuel into Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro. The wildlife response was divided amongst 2 operational strategies and included – avian fauna and cetaceans. This paper deals with the cetacean response only. Cetaceans are generally not considered as an important feature of an oil spill response. Contingency planning for cetaceans in oil spills is now becoming an important element for preparedness for some countries. The cetacean response in Guanabara Bay specifically targeted a pod of about 70 members of the species Sotalia fluviatilis, a small dolphin that inhabits the bay. The response included the development of a plan that included a response system, a monitoring program and action plans. The response system detailed the mechanism for the plan to work and adopted the incident control management system. The monitoring program related to the study of any short term or long term deleterious effects resulting from the spill and consisted of basic spatial, temporal and behavioural studies. Action plans were developed specific to the character of Guanabara Bay and included the rescue and rehabilitation strategies necessary to respond to oil affected cetaceans. A training program was then developed and implemented to personnel who were to enact the cetacean response.

Public Perceptions on the Use of Oil Spill Response Methods in Alaskan Waters and the Level of Trust in Organizations to Prevent Oil Spills

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 (1) ◽  
pp. 349-352
Author(s):  
Leslie A. Pearson
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
State Legislature ◽  
Coast Guard ◽  
Seasonal Abundance ◽  
Commercial Fishing ◽  
Prince William Sound ◽  
Cook Inlet

ABSTRACT All of the cleanup methods available for responding to a marine oil spill in Alaska have operational limitations. In Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet, non-mechanical response methods such as the use of chemical dispersants or in situ burning can be requested as secondary cleanup options. This study identifies citizens’ concern and determines the preference of response methods and perceived effectiveness of each method. Environmental risks, values, and the level of trust residents in communities of Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet are also examined., A correlational research design was used to answer research questions with survey data collected by randomly sampling 1657 residents in fifteen communities of Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet. Of the 1657 surveys mailed a response rate of 41% was obtained. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were used to analyze the survey information. General descriptive statistical analysis was used to examine responses to each statement in the survey. Inferential statistical analysis was used to quantify the direction and strength of a relationship between variables., In general, 92% of the respondents support the use of mechanical recovery methods, 61% support the use of in situ burning and 45% chemical dispersants. The population recognizes burning as a means of removing large quantities of oil from the sea surface and the environmental risk of displacing pollutants into the atmosphere. Environmental concerns associated with the use of chemical dispersants are tied to seasonal abundance of and impact to marine organisms, amount of area and subsistence use and dependency on marine resources., The survey population's ecological priorities are commercial fishing, sea mammals and sea birds. The U.S. Coast Guard and Commercial Fishing Associations are held to the highest level of trust while the Alaska State Legislature and U.S. Congress received the lowest level of trust for ensuring Alaska waters remain oil free.

VESSEL RESPONSE PLANS: A TILE IN THE MOSAIC OF THE NATIONAL RESPONSE SYSTEM1

1995 ◽  
Vol 1995 (1) ◽  
pp. 926-926
Author(s):  
Duane Michael Smith
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
The Past ◽  
Response System ◽  
National Response ◽  
Vessel Response ◽  
Oil Spill Response

ABSTRACT With the implementation of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 came the requirement for vessels to develop plans for responding to oil spills from their vessels. While some companies had such plans in the past, the National Response System did not formally recognize their existence. Individual vessel response plans must now be viewed as an integral part of the National Response System. All of the parties that could be involved in an oil spill response must begin to view themselves as one tile of many that make up the mosaic known as the National Response System.

COLD REGIONS SPILL RESPONSE1

1979 ◽  
Vol 1979 (1) ◽  
pp. 355-358
Author(s):  
Gordon D. Marsh ◽  
Lawrence A. Schultz ◽  
Frank W. DeBord
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Coast Guard ◽  
Cold Regions ◽  
Response System ◽  
Arctic Pollution ◽  
Broken Ice ◽  
System Requirements

ABSTRACT As a part of its Arctic Pollution Response Research and Development Program, the U.S. Coast Guard in 1977 awarded a systems analysis contract to ARCTEC Incorporated to identify the pollution response system requirements for dealing with spills in ice-infested waters. A cold regions oil pollution response system was defined through an engineering and cost effectiveness analysis of six oil spill scenarios, selected to encompass the broad range of oil spill and environmental conditions likely to be encountered offshore Alaska. Also identified were modifications to the system required to extend the response capability to the seasonally ice-infested waters of the lower 48 states, including the Great Lakes, the northern rivers, and the northern coastal regions. Projections were made of the behavior of the spilled oil in ice-infested waters, and oil spill response scenarios were developed for three levels of spill response. Three distinctly different types of spill response operations were identified: (1) for a thick, stable, level shorefast ice situation; (2) for a dynamic, hum-mocky, heavily concentrated broken ice situation; (3) for the case of light broken ice and open water. The presence of ice was found to aid response efforts in some cases and to hinder or preclude response efforts in others. This paper discusses the three types of spill response required for cold regions and reviews the six Alaskan and three lower 48 scenarios used to define the system requirements.

MARINE OIL SPILL RESPONSE OPTIONS: THE MANUAL

1997 ◽  
Vol 1997 (1) ◽  
pp. 881-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott B. Robertson ◽  
Alexis Steen ◽  
Robert Pavia ◽  
LCDR David Skewes ◽  
Ann Hayward Walker
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Response Options ◽  
Marine Oil ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Oil Spill Response ◽  
Response Decisions ◽  
Different Response ◽  
Response Method

ABSTRACT When planning response activities for an oil spill, decision makers must react to a wide range of circumstances. Decisions will vary depending on the type of petroleum product spilled and the nature of the impacted habitat. Response decisions will be based on tradeoffs dealing with the environmental consequences of the spilled oil and the response method selected, as well as the efficiency and effectiveness of the method. A new manual, Marine Oil Spill Response Options for Minimizing Environmental Impacts, is being jointly produced by industry and government to facilitate decision making for both prespill planning and incident response. Guidance will be provided through matrix tables indicating the relative environmental consequences of the different response options used for various categories of oil in open water and shoreline habitats. This paper describes the contents of the new manual.

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