scholarly journals Web Based Oil Spill Response System

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (1) ◽  
pp. 300313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eoin Howlett ◽  
Nicole Mulanaphy ◽  
Andrew Menton ◽  
Stephen Sontag
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Response Effort ◽  
Remote Collaboration ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Response System ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Oil Spill Modeling ◽  
The Impact

When oil is spilled in a marine environment the impact can be catastrophic to a sensitive region damaging natural resources. It is important to respond quickly and efficiently to maximize the response effort and minimize the impact. In order to plan and train for incidents within the Shannon Estuary in Ireland, The Shannon Estuary Anti-Pollution Team (SEAPT) required a centralized system for its members to allow for remote collaboration and effective response. SEAPT required the ability to seamlessly run and share oil spill models in conjunction with their response planning assets and sensitivity and vulnerability information. RPS ASA leveraged OilmapWeb, a web based oil spill modeling system, as a platform to build a custom oil spill modeling and response system. This customized system allows remote users to run and retrieve oil spill models and relate the output to GIS and multimedia response information. This decision tool is designed to produce fast and accurate results to improve response times and deploy the most effective response plans. The system provides a common operational picture for this region allowing for greater response collaboration and increased preparedness. This helps SEAPT to improve their response planning and facilities the sharing of information remotely in the case of an incident.

Simulating the Behaviour and Fate of an Oil Spill Using a Coupled Three-Dimensional Hydrodynamic Model

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (1) ◽  
pp. 901-918
Author(s):  
James A. Stronach ◽  
Aurelien Hospital
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Hydrodynamic Model ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Local Network ◽  
Dimensional Model ◽  
Three Dimensional Model ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Water Properties ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Oil behavior and fate have been simulated extensively by several spill models. These simulations can be greatly enhanced by the use of a coupled three-dimensional model of currents and water properties to determine oil transport and weathering, both on the water surface and in the water column. Several physical and chemical processes such as vertical dispersion in response to wave action, resurfacing when waves die down, sinking through loss of volatiles and dissolution are essential in assessing the impact of an oil spill on the environment. Dissolution is especially important, considering the known toxicity of several of the constituents of liquid hydrocarbons. For this study, a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model of coastal British Columbia was coupled to an oil trajectory and weathering model in order to simulate the complete fate and behaviour of surface, shoreline-retained, dissolved, sunken and dispersed oil. Utilization of a three-dimensional model is the key to adequately modelling the transport of a spill in an estuarine region such as in the Strait of Georgia, B.C., where the distribution of currents and water properties is strongly affected by estuarine processes: the Fraser River enters at the surface and oceanic waters from the Pacific enter as a deep inflow. Three-dimensional currents and water properties were provided by the hydrodynamic model, H3D, a semi-implicit model using a staggered Arakawa grid and variable number of layers in the vertical direction to resolve near-surface processes. Waves were simulated using the wave model SWAN. Winds were obtained from the local network of coastal light stations and wind buoys. Stochastic modelling was conducted first, using only surface currents, to determine probabilistic maps of the oil trajectory on water and statistical results were extracted, such as the amount of shoreline oiled and the amount of oil evaporated, both for the ensemble of simulations constituting the stochastic simulation, as well as for any particular individual simulation. Deterministic scenarios were then selected and the fate of the oil, such as the dissolved and sunken fractions, was tracked over a 14 day period on the three-dimensional grid. This method has been used for environmental impact assessment and spill response planning.

An Application of Worst Case Scenario Concept in Oil Spill Response Planning for Offshore Drilling Operation in Brazil

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 (1) ◽  
pp. 371-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hélder O. Ferreira ◽  
Alexandre Cabrai ◽  
Álvaro Souza Junior
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Competent Authority ◽  
Offshore Drilling ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Oil Spill Modeling ◽  
Oil Spill Response ◽  
Under Construction

ABSTRACT The Brazilian oil and gas E&P sector has been experiencing important changes since the end of the state monopoly in 1998. These changes include a new regulatory environment which is still under construction, in particular the requirements for environmental protection. In this context, Resolution 293 of Brazilian National Environmental Council (CONAMA) was enacted regulating Facility Response Plans for oil spill incidents. These plans, which should be approved by the competent authority, include a vulnerability analysis that should discuss the probability of oil reaching certain areas as well as the environmental sensitivity of these areas. Oil spill modeling is an important tool to estimating the areas likely to be affected by an oil spill. Although oil spill modeling is also part of the environmental studies required in the environmental permitting process for oil E&P activities, there are not well defined criteria to compose the oil spill scenarios to be modeled. In order to demonstrate the impacts of different approaches in the results of oil spill modeling, a case study is presented related to an offshore drilling activity.

Towards a Tier 3 Infrastructure for Oiled Wildlife Response

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (1) ◽  
pp. 972-985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Kelway ◽  
Rob Holland ◽  
Saskia Sessions ◽  
Hugo Nijkamp
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Oil Exploration ◽  
International Shipping ◽  
Response System ◽  
Track Record ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Response Capacity ◽  
Multi Stakeholder ◽  
Tier 3 ◽  
Offshore Oil

ABSTRACT With increased international shipping, offshore oil exploration, and interest in remote regions and challenging environments, there is growing recognition within government and industry of the need to improve global oiled wildlife preparedness as part of oil spill prevention and response planning. In early 2012, an international gathering of industry, government and non-governmental stakeholders gave their support to further integrate oiled wildlife planning and to develop a Tier 3 wildlife response capacity; currently the biggest gap in wildlife preparedness. The Tier 3 system will utilise the expertise and track record of the world's leading oiled wildlife response organisations. Since 2012, discussions have continued and a process for developing and implementing a global oiled wildlife response system has been established and will be initiated in late 2014. This paper will explain the steps towards developing a multi-stakeholder global infrastructure for wildlife preparedness and share updates on the timeline and progress of the project to date.

INTEGRATING LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND RESOURCES INTO OIL SPILL PLANNING, PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 (1) ◽  
pp. 591-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joselito Guevarra
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Response Effort ◽  
Response Strategies ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Practical Guidelines ◽  
Commission Report

ABSTRACT Presently, close to 2 billion tons of oil is transported annually via international marine oil network. The increasing number of ships, especially bigger ones, has brought a sense of heightened concern to countries living in or close to these maritime corridors. Specifically, the concern is that of a major oil spill. The devastation caused by a major spill is always relative - to the amount, oil type, weather conditions, and most especially the area of impact. Coastal communities are especially vulnerable and those that have been hit by large spills, like in the Philippines, have borne the brunt of its force to its livelihood, resources and habitat. And most often than not, especially in remote areas, they are at the frontlines of combating the spill, whether it be clean up or other response strategies. The problem is that local communities are rarely formally integrated into the response planning framework such as in oil spill contingency plans. With more than half the world'S population living along or near the coastline, this is a valuable human resource that is untapped. The Alaska Oil Spill Commission report entitled ‘Spill: the Wreck of the Exxon Valdez’ recognized the vital role of local interests, local knowledge and experience in the response effort and suggested that ‘substantive roles should be given to the affected communities in any response system.’ The aim of this paper is to examine the current practices worldwide through case studies of how local communities are assimilated into the response frameworks and how these best practices can be formulated into practical guidelines that can be implemented effectively.

DEVELOPING A GUIDELINE FOR OIL SPILL RISK ASSESSMENT AND RESPONSE PLANNING FOR OFFSHORE INSTALLATIONS

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (1) ◽  
pp. 314-327
Author(s):  
Torild Ronnaug Nissen-Lie ◽  
Odd Willy Brude ◽  
Ole Oystein Aspholm ◽  
Peter Mark Taylor ◽  
David Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Response Strategies ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Offshore Installations ◽  
Oil Spill Response

ABSTRACT Following the April 2010 Gulf of Mexico (Macondo) oil spill and the 2009 Montara incident in Australia, the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP) formed the Global Industry Response Group. This Group identified nineteen oil spill response recommendations (OGP, 2011) that are being addressed via an Oil Spill Response Joint Industry Project (OSR-JIP) during 2012–2014. The OSR-JIP is managed by IPIECA on behalf of OGP, in recognition of IPIECA's long-standing experience with oil spill response matters. One of the nineteen recommendations concerned the development of an international guideline for offshore oil spill risk assessment and a method to better relate oil spill response resources to the risk level. Consequently, the OSR-JIP has published a guideline covering oil spill risk assessment and response planning for offshore installations. This paper describes the development and content of the guideline, including how the oil spill risk assessment process provides structured and relevant information to oil spill response planning for offshore operations. The process starts by defining the context of the assessment and describing the activity to be assessed. Thereafter it addresses a series of key questions:What can go wrong, leading to potential release of oil?What happens to the spilled oil?What are the impacts on key environmental - both ecological and socio-economic - receptors?What is the risk for environmental damage?How is the established risk utilised in oil spill response planning? The guideline draws on existing good practices in the determination of oil spill response resources. It promotes consideration, in tactical and logistical detail, of the preferred and viable response strategies to address scenarios covering the range of potential oil spills up to the most serious. The methodology to evaluate the potential spill scenarios utilizes a series of questions:What are the viable techniques/strategies to deliver response with greatest net environment benefit?What are the tactical measures required to implement the identified response strategies, considering technical, practical and safety factors?What Tiered resources are required to mount the tactical measures and achieve effective response? The paper summarizes the useful tools, key information and the necessary level of detail essential to perform an oil spill risk assessment for use in oil spill response planning.

WILDLIFE RESPONSE: PART OF THE PLAN

2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 (1) ◽  
pp. 349-352
Author(s):  
Curt Clumpner
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Specific Response ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Seasonal Behavior ◽  
Response Strategies ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Efficient Management ◽  
Wildlife Rehabilitation ◽  
Oil Spill Response

ABSTRACT When an oil spill impacts wildlife, the success of the wildlife response often depends on the quality of the preplanning and the responders ability to manage the factors that they can control. While factors such as season and weather, seasonal behavior and lifecycle stages of wildlife cannot be controlled, training of personal, equipment caches and pre-identifying facilities can have a huge influence on the success or failure or a wildlife response. Effective planning prior to the event is the only way to assure maximum preparedness and effective response. Wildlife response planning has become a key component of oil spill preparedness and response. With the recent publication of the IPIECA Report: A Guide to Oiled Wildlife Response Planning, planning for wildlife response has become an accepted and expected component of any oil spill contingency plan. Depending on available resources, appropriate response strategies may include any of a variety of tools: assessing impacts, use of dispersants, protective booming, hazing, wildlife rehabilitation and euthanasia. A good wildlife plan should address each of these issues and provide the information and guidance to necessary for responders to make appropriate and timely decisions that will maximize the success execution of the plan and the objectives of the specific response. This paper will outline the components necessary in a good wildlife plan within a framework that should be familiar to oil spill response planners. It will include a strategy section, an action section and a data section. As with every other phase of the response there are a variety of factors that affect the success of the wildlife plan. These include efficient management of all resources including the human resources, equipment and facilities. Quick initiation of the operations is critical to minimize the time between oiling of animals when they are collected and rehabilitation initiated. This paper will provide a framework for planners or responders with little or no wildlife experience to assist them in planning for the wildlife component within the overall response.

Measuring Response: A Balanced Response Scorecard for Evaluating Success

1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 (1) ◽  
pp. 685-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph T. Kuchin ◽  
Larry L. Hereth
Keyword(s):  
Public Perception ◽  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Initial Reaction ◽  
Response Evaluation ◽  
Response Effort ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Response Organization

ABSTRACT The success of a response is frequently measured in a variety of ways including initial reaction, public perception, physical and/or monetary damage to the environment, amount spent on the response, effectiveness of restoration efforts and other, often conflicting or contradictory measures. A recent review of responses since the Exxon Valdez reflected many positive organizational and technological advances as well as other areas with unsolved problems. Despite these innovations the authors have found no comprehensive system, agreed upon by the response community, that systematically evaluates the success of the response effort. This paper proposes a model for response evaluation that highlights six key areas that must be addressed to adequately define success before, during and after a response. The areas are: (1) human health and safety; (2) natural environment; (3) economic impact; (4) public communication; (5) stakeholder service and support; and (6) response organization. Each of these areas has critical success factors. By assessing these critical success factors, as part of a Balanced Response Scorecard, a response organization has the chance to modify actions during the response to ensure the best opportunity for success. Once fully integrated, the response evaluation model could influence the response process and community relations, and lead to increasingly effective response planning and operations. Minimizing consequences of an incident requires not only a sound management system, good people, and equipment, but also goals that can be measured against agreed upon standards or criteria. This baseline, although driven by the subtleties of each geographic area, will provide the opportunity for response organizations and communities to reach consensus on success, thereby improving our ability to protect our national interests and building an increased sense of shared stewardship.

scholarly journals Improving Response Planning by Using Numerical Models to Test Geographic Response Plans

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle G. McGrath ◽  
Tatyana Yanishevsky
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
The United States ◽  
Computerized Testing ◽  
Environmental Response ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Response Options ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Cost Constraints

ABSTRACT 40 CFR §300.210 outlines the requirements for each Area Committee to develop an Area Contingency Plan (ACP) for its designated area. These requirements include a list of equipment and personnel available to ensure an effective and immediate removal of a discharge. Many Area Committees take this direction to the next step and develop Geographic Response Plans (GRP) or Geographic Response Strategies (GRS) for inclusion in the ACP. These plans provide pre-identified deployment strategies for how to coordinate an effective response and protect sensitive sites in the event of an oil spill. GRPs are typically developed by Area Committee representatives behind the doors of a meeting room. While these experienced members know their regions very well and offer a wealth of knowledge in oil spill response tactics, the developed GRPs are typically not field-tested due to the cost constraints of deploying equipment. Even if an Area Committee is able to sponsor a field deployment, the equipment is only being tested against one set of environmental conditions. In addition, typical ACPs contain hundreds of GRPs. It is not possible to deploy equipment to test all of those plans. Numerical models can be used to electronically test GRPs under all possible environmental conditions. These models run quickly, allowing multiple iterations of environmental scenarios, in a short amount of time. By providing the capability to implement response options within the model, users can simulate a variety of combinations of countermeasures, including surface and subsea dispersants, in-situ burning, skimming, and booming. Analyzing the model outputs can allow Area Committee members to adjust the response plans to maximize effectiveness of the GRPs. The September 2018 update of the U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Environmental Response Manual supports the use of computer simulations for validating these plans. By developing a comprehensive computerized testing process of GRPs, the Area Committees can ensure that the coasts of the United States are protected from the devastation of an oil spill.

CAN OIL SPILL RESPONSE PLANS BE FUNCTIONAL AND REGULATORY COMPLIANT?

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (1) ◽  
pp. 1846-1858
Author(s):  
Martin Cramer ◽  
Bridget O’Farrell-Villareal ◽  
Guy Miller ◽  
Niell Irvin ◽  
Phil Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Regulatory Compliance ◽  
General Information ◽  
Guidance Document ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Oil Companies ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Oil Spill Response

ABSTRACT In the event of an oil spill, rapid and effective response actions are the key to minimizing impacts to the environment and local communities. Consequently, oil spill response plans (OSRPs) should be prepared in a user friendly format that maximizes access to crucial information and focuses on the critical first few hours or days of a response. While existing OSRPs are generally adequate, they typically are not organized logically and contain fairly general information that focuses on the overall response rather than the initial stages. For many plan holders the primary, or in some cases the only, objective when preparing OSRPs is obtaining regulatory approval and believe there is little latitude in deviating from the format or content of previously approved plans to make them more functional. Following the 2010 Macondo incident in the Gulf of Mexico, the American Petroleum Institute (API) sponsored Joint Industry Task Force (JITF) identified the need to enhance the usefulness of OSRPs. A workgroup was convened consisting of representatives from integrated and independent oil companies and spill response planning consultants to develop a guidance document for preparing OSRPs that are highly functional and regulatory compliant. The JITF guidance document includes a detailed OSRP outline that provides the intended purpose and recommended content and format for each section. The primary features include:Information presented in the general order required when responding to an oil spillFocus is on the first 24 hours when guidance is needed the mostKey information is provided in tabular or graphical formats at the front of each sectionInitial responder health and safety issues are addressed that are often missing in OSRPsSimilar information is located in the same section to avoid searching multiple sectionsMore expansive and detailed information, response guidance and specific cleanup strategies are referenced, as appropriate, in other documents The guidelines were designed to be Gulf of Mexico centric with the concepts being applicable to all industry sectors and regions of the world. Similar to the Integrated Contingency Plan concept developed in 1996, they can be adapted to comply with multiple oil spill planning regulations. They were, however, designed specifically to comply with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) 30 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 254 and Notice to Lessees NTL 2012-N06. The draft guidelines were reviewed and well received by BSEE and the few regulatory compliance issues they identified were addressed in the final document. Therefore, it is possible to prepare OSRPs that are both functional and regulatory compliant.

The impact of fire and rescue service first responders on participant behaviour during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN)/Hazmat incidents

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-298
Author(s):  
Francis Long ◽  
Georgia Bateman ◽  
Arnab Majumdar
Keyword(s):  
Relevant Literature ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Human Behaviour ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rescue Service ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Behavioural Aspects ◽  
The Impact

PurposeDecontamination following chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN)/Hazmat incidents is a critical activity carried out in order to mitigate and contain the risk posed by any hazardous materials involved. Human behaviour plays a crucial role in such incidents, as casualties will have little understanding of the situation they find themselves in, leading to uncertainty in what actions to take. This will result in very difficult circumstances within which first responders must operate. However, the importance of human behaviour appears to be a fundamental element being missed in the preparation, training and planning assumptions being made by emergency services and planners in preparation for these events.Design/methodology/approachThis paper looks to understand the scope of this omission by reviewing relevant literature on the subject and engaging with Fire and Rescue Service personnel and managers in the UK. This study utilised semi-structured interviews with 10 Fire and Rescue Service Mass Decontamination Operatives, four Fire and Rescue Service Hazardous Material Advisers and three Fire and Rescue Service Strategic Officers participating. These interviews were then analysed using a thematic framework to identified key themes from the research which were then validated using two independent researchers to provide an inter-rater reliability measure. Finally, a follow-up validation questionnaire was also developed to test the validity of the themes identified and this was completed by another with 36 Fire and Rescue Service Mass Decontamination Operatives.FindingsBoth the literature review and interviews undertaken with emergency responders and mangers demonstrated the crucial importance of accounting for behavioural aspects in these situations especially in regards to the likely levels of compliance to be expected by responders and the potential problem of casualties not remaining at the scene of an incident to undergo decontamination.Originality/valueThis research identifies a number of key themes so far not recognized through any other research and in doing so offers insights into potential flaws in the UK Fire and Rescue Service response planning for CBRN/Hazmat incidents requiring mass decontamination. It is intended that this research will inform further study into the areas identified in order to ensure gaps in planning, training and strategies for mass decontamination operations can be more fully informed and if required allow for a more effective response.

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