THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY`S COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE ARCTIC

THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY’S
COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE ARCTIC
OPERATIONS: AN INNOVATIVE ARCTIC OIL
SPILL RESPONSE TECHNOLOGY - JOINT
INDUSTRY PROGRAMME
JOSEPH MULLIN
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF OIL AND GAS PRODUCERS
February 18, 2013
JIP BACKGROUND
Increased focus on oil exploration in Arctic and sub-Arctic
regions
Unique aspects of Arctic exploration present different
challenges for environmental protection
Last few decades have seen significant advances in Arctic
spill prevention and response technology
Example oil spill research projects:
• SINTEF Oil in Ice JIP
• OHMSETT Dispersant Work
• Spill Detection/Monitoring Trials
February 18, 2013
JIP BACKGROUND
Joint committee of IPIECA and API formed to review past research
on spills in ice, identify advances, and prioritise and determine
research needs
Resulted in recommendation to establish a new JIP to undertake
research in six key areas:
• Dispersants
• Environmental Effects
• Trajectory Modelling
• Remote Sensing
• Mechanical Recovery
• In Situ Burning
Photo: DF Dickins
February 18, 2013
JIP OBJECTIVES
•
Create international research programme to further enhance
industry knowledge and capabilities in the area of Arctic oil spill
response
•
Build upon the progress industry has made during its many
decades of research and development in the area of oil spill
response in Arctic and cold weather conditions
•
Bring together the world’s foremost experts on oil spill response
research, development, and operations from across industry,
academia, and independent research centers
•
Ensure research integrity through technical peer review and
public dissemination of results.
•
Working together, the JIP companies are ensuring the most
efficient use of resources, funding and expertise to improve
technologies and methodologies for Arctic oil spill response.
February 18, 2013
CURRENT STATUS
9 PARTICIPATING COMPANIES
•
BP
•
Chevron
•
ConocoPhillips
•
Eni
•
ExxonMobil
•
North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC)
•
Shell
•
Statoil
•
Total
February 18, 2013
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
The Communications Committee provides information and
education as well as developing outreach programmes on
the commitment and progress made by the member
companies to continue developing oil spill response
technology in the Arctic through research conducted by this
Joint Industry Programme.
• Work with Technical Working Groups to disseminate research
results.
Photo: J. Mullin
• Hill+Knowlton Strategies selected as JIP media support services
contractor.
Photo: Ohmsett
February 18, 2013
JIP PROJECTS
DISPERSANTS
1. Fate of dispersed oil under ice
• Create a detailed numerical modelling tool that predicts the
potential for a dispersed oil plume to resurface and reform
a new slick under the ice.
• This project will be conducted in two phases. Phase 1 will
determine what data already exists to support model
development.
Photo: Ohmsett
• Phase 2 will focus on gathering the additional data required
to run and validate the model and then to model surface
and subsurface dispersant use scenarios.
• Sintef was awarded the Phase 1 contract with final report
due in 2Q/2013.
Photo: DF Dickins
February 18, 2013
JIP PROJECTS
DISPERSANTS
2. Dispersant testing under realistic
conditions
7
•
Define the operational limits of chemical dispersant and
mineral fines in Arctic marine waters.
•
Conduct laboratory and large-scale basin experiments on
the efficacy of chemical dispersant and mineral fines in
various sea ice and salinity conditions and a range of oils.
•
Identify regulatory requirements and permitting process
for dispersant and mineral fines use for each Arctic
nation/region.
•
The DFO-Canada-Sintef consortium was awarded the
contract with deliverables due starting in 2Q/2013.
February 18, 2013
Photo: Ohmsett
Photo: DFO Canada
JIP PROJECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
3. Environmental impacts from Arctic oil
spills and oil spill response technologies
• Identify and conduct the research necessary to improve the
knowledge base that supports NEBA and decision making.
• Phase 1. Conduct a comprehensive review on the
environmental impacts of arctic oil spills and from the
technologies used to respond to such spills and identify
research necessary to improve "net environmental benefit
analysis" (NEBA) decision-making.
Photo: DF Dickins
• Phase 2. Prioritise identified activities and conduct the most
crucial ones that improve the knowledge base for NEBA.
• Phase 3. Conduct two separate NEBA workshops in Arctic
regions.
• NewFields was awarded the Phase 1 contract with final report
and searchable database due in 2Q/2013.
8
February 18, 2013
Photo: DF Dickins
JIP PROJECTS
TRAJECTORY MODELLING
4. Trajectory modelling in ice
•
Advance and expand the oil and gas industry’s oil spill
modelling capability within the Arctic.
•
Project will create or adapt an existing, oil spill modelling
tool for open water with ice and then integrating the results
into established oil spill trajectory models.
•
9
Final research proposals are currently being reviewed and
project initiation is expected in 1Q/2013.
February 18, 2013
Photo: SINTEF
JIP PROJECTS
REMOTE SENSING
5. Oil spill detection and monitoring in low
visibility and ice
•
Advance oil spill remote sensing and mapping capabilities in
darkness and low visibility, in broken ice, and under ice.
•
Project is split into two elements: surface and subsea remote
sensing and will be performed in a phased approach.
•
Phase 1 - Assess existing and emerging technologies capable of
determining the presence of oil and mapping its extent.
•
Phase 2 - Conduct essential research activities that improve oil
spill remote sensing and mapping in Arctic marine environments.
•
C-CORE was awarded the surface remote sensing contract and
Polar Ocean Services/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
awarded the subsea remote sensing contract. Final reports for
both projects are due in 2Q/2013.
February 18, 2013
Photo: Transport Canada
Photo: DF Dickins
JIP PROJECTS
MECHANICAL RECOVERY
6. Mechanical recovery in ice
• Identify approaches to facilitate the development of new or
improved mechanical recovery equipment for use in the Arctic.
• Workshop to generate concept ideas conducted 6-8 March 2012
in London, UK.
Photo: Ohmsett
• Contractors selected to conduct high level feasibility evaluations
in four technology areas:
• Remote Recovery Units - Aker Arctic
• New Vessel Design Concepts - Aker Arctic
• On-board Oil/Water/Ice Separator - Lamor
Photo: Alaska Clean Seas
• On-board Recovered Oil Incinerator – SL Ross
Environmental Research Ltd.
• Final reports for all feasibility evaluations are due in 2Q/2013.
February 18, 2013
JIP PROJECTS
IN-SITU BURNING (ISB)
7. State of knowledge
• To understand the degree to which in-situ burning (ISB) can
be used effectively as a response technique in Arctic
conditions and to raise the awareness of the significant
body of knowledge that currently exists on all aspects of
burning as a response tool.
Photo: SINTEF
• Project to be conducted in two concurrent phases.
• Phase 1 - State of knowledge on In Situ Burning in Arctic
offshore environments.
• Phase 2 - Preparation of education and outreach materials.
• SL Ross Environmental Research Ltd was awarded the
contract with final deliverables due in 1Q and 2Q/2013.
February 18, 2013
Photo: Industry Task Group
JIP PROJECTS
IN-SITU BURNING (ISB)
8. Aerial ignition systems
• Provide technology improvement that delivers a safe,
reliable, and precise means of aerial ignition and improves
oil slick targeting to support use of in-situ burning
• Project will be initiated in 2013.
• Research efforts are being coordinated with existing efforts
to avoid duplication and to gain leverage of programme.
Photo: J. Mullin
Photo: A. Allen
February 18, 2013
JIP PROJECTS
IN-SITU BURNING (ISB)
9. Chemical herders to expand ISB window
of opportunity
• Information and knowledge needs to advance the use of
chemical herders to support in-situ burning as a response
tool.
Photo: Ohmsett
• The Technical Working Group (TWG) is currently reviewing
research conducted to date and their findings.
• Requests for Proposals (RFP) will be developed and issued
in 2Q/2013.
Photo: J. Mullin
February 18, 2013
JIP PROJECTS
FIELD RESEARCH
10. Field Research
• Evaluation of countermeasure technologies and conduct
related research in a field setting.
• The Technical Work Group (TWG) is assessing most
promising regions to focus future efforts.
• Currently working the other Arctic JIP TWG’s to develop
experimental scenarios.
Photo: J. Mullin
Photo: DF Dickins
February 18, 2013
SUMMARY
•
Build upon the progress industry has made during its many
decades of research and development in the area of oil spill
response in Arctic and cold weather conditions.
•
Create international research programme to further enhance
industry knowledge and capabilities in the area of Arctic oil
spill response.
•
Bring together the world’s foremost experts on oil spill
response research, development, and operations from
across industry, academia, and independent research
centers.
•
Ensure research integrity through technical peer review and
public dissemination of results.
•
Working together, the JIP companies are ensuring the most
efficient use of resources, funding and expertise to improve
technologies and methodologies for Arctic oil spill response.
February 18, 2013
THANK YOU
QUESTIONS?
CONTACT INFORMATION
• Joseph Mullin – Programme Manager
[email protected]
• John Campbell – JIP Administrator
[email protected]
• Becky Peavler – JIP Executive Committee Chair
[email protected]
February 18, 2013
ORGANISATION
February 18, 2013