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Technology
Assessment & Research (TA&R) Program
| Project Number |
297 |
| Date of Summary |
April 09, 1999 |
| Subject |
Comprehensive Spill Response
Tactics for the Alaska North Slope-Oil in Broken Ice Spill Response Scenarios |
| Performing Activity |
SL Ross Environmental Research Ltd., D.F.
Dickins and Associates, Ltd., Vaudrey an Associates, Ltd. |
| Principal Investigator |
Mr. Steve Potter |
| Contracting Agency |
Minerals Management Service |
| Estimated Completion |
Complete |
| Description |
This a Joint
Industry Project (JIP) between MMS and Alaska Clean Seas. This study was performed for
Alaska Clean Seas and MMS on behalf of the North Slope Spill Response Project Team, a task
group formed to develop comprehensive oil spill response plans for petroleum operations on
the North Slope of Alaska. The objective of the study was to evaluate the capabilities to
recover spilled oil from very large oil well blowouts occurring during broken ice
conditions in the southern Beaufort Sea. The study team considered six well-defined oil
well blowout scenarios and determine in quantitative terms:
1. Whether the mechanical cleanup systems that are currently available on the North
Slope are adequate to satisfy Alaska State requirements for cleaning up spills from
blowouts in broken ice conditions.
2. Whether additional resources would significantly improve the existing mechanical
recovery capability, and to what extent.
3. What the maximum cleanup capabilities might be for dealing with blowout spills in
broken ice if all possible cleanup techniques were considered.
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| Progress |
This study
described, in detail, the behavior and fate of the six blowout scenarios and the likely
effectiveness of countermeasures in recovering the resulting spills on water and ice. The
effectiveness of the mechanical recovery systems that exist on the North Slope were
assessed. Then the possible benefits were evaluated of adding more mechanical systems to
the response and of adding dispersant use and in situ burning to the mix of response
options available. Also discussed is the potential benefit of igniting and burning the
blowout at the source and thus preventing a major marine spill from occurring. |
| Report |
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AA (222 pages) |
Evaluation of Cleanup
Capabilities for Large Blowout Spills in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea During Periods of Broken
Ice, submitted by SL Ross Environmental Research, D.F. Dickins and Associates, and Vaudrey
and Associates, June 1998. |
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