Oil Spill Response Planning for Shells Offshore Exploration Program in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea

Alaska Forum on the Environment Anchorage, Alaska

February, 2008
Alan A. Allen, Spiltec
for Shell Exploration & Production Co.

Two Floating Drill Systems

Two OSR Platforms

Four Polar Ice Breakers

Tanker
Alan A. Allen

Alaska

Beaufort Sea

Alan A. Allen

Location: Beaufort Sea (12 to 15 miles offshore) Timing: July through October
(primarily Open Water)

Depth: ~ 30 meters
Beaufort Sea

(100 feet)

Alan A. Allen

Key Spill Response Planning Issues:

Worst Case Discharge: Subsea Blowout (5,500 bbl/day (WCD) or ~230 bbl/hour) Duration of Release: State (15 days); MMS (30 days) Overall Storage (emulsion + H2O): ~ 287,000 bbl
Beaufort Sea

Alan A. Allen

Operating Environment (Open Water)

Possible Pack Ice Incursions &/or Early Stages of Freeze-up

A. Allen

A. Allen

Alan A. Allen

Operating Environment (Open Water)

Winds: Gentle to Moderate, ENE 40 60 % of the time WSW 20 40 % Strong Winds (>15 kt) Westerly, ~24% (Aug.) ~37% (Oct.) Gale Force Winds (34-40 kt), <2% of the time Visibility: July/Aug. <1 mile ~ 25 % of the time October (freeze-up) <1 mile ~ 17% of the time Daylight Hours: ~21 hrs (Aug.) to ~11 hrs (Oct.) Waves/Current: Generally low wave-energy environment; mixed semidiurnal tides of ~612; wind-driven waves/currents. A Beaufort Scale (Wind Force) 4 (11 to 16 kt), capable of producing wave heights of 3 to 5 feet, could be exceeded ~30% of the time during the late open-water season.

Alan A. Allen

Potential Operating Environment

(Freeze-up) Initial stages (grease ice & slush)

* Transition to 8/10+ may occur rapidly * First ice along coast & lagoon areas * Typically mid-to-late October offshore * Consolidation slower offshore, wind & waves breaking ice as it forms;

K Vaudrey

As freeze-up continues, fast ice edge expands seaward, thickens and becomes more stable out to water depths of 4 to 5 meters in October/November, & nearly 15meter depths in December.

Dome Petroleum

Alan A. Allen

(Late Freeze-up to Mid-Winter)

Fast Ice Transition Zone

Ice Environment

A. Allen D. Dickins

Fast Ice Edge

K. Vaudrey

Alan A. Allen

Cold Region Influences on Oil Fate & Behavior

Air & water temperatures often at or below oil pour points. Increased oil viscosity and equilibrium thickness. Reduced spreading rates and coverage areas. Decreased evaporative loss rates. Reduced natural degradation rates. Spread and transport limited by ice and/or snow. Natural absorption of oil by ice and snow. Reduced exposure to shorelines, birds, fish & mammals due to absorption & encapsulation by ice/snow.
Alan A. Allen

Oil Behavior On, In & Under Ice

Alan A. Allen

RESPONSE GOALS
1. Immediate 2. Sustainable 3. Flexible 4. Advanced
Large mobile response system (OSRV) at each drill site Trained Response Crews on location at all times Trained Backup Response Crews Ready Nearshore/Shoreline Response Pre-staged Equipment Logistics, Berthing, Food, Medical, etc. Changing Wind/Sea Conditions Cold Viscous Oil & Emulsions Nature & Amount of Ice State-of-the-Art Vessels & Equipment High-Volume Recovery & Elimination World-Class Training & Team Building
Alan A. Allen

RESPONSE SOLUTIONS
1. Immediate 2. Sustainable
North Slope & Village Response Teams

NANUQ

ENDEAVOR

3. Flexible
Mechanical Removal

Burning
Potentially

Dispersants

4. Advanced
Alan A. Allen

Immediate Offshore Response Equipment

Vessels/Barges
OSRV Endeavor Barge Arctic Tanker Skimming Boat Workboats Mini-Barges Skimmers Large Brush Skimmers Vertical Rope Mops Built-in Brush Skimmers Mini-Brush Skimmers Boom Offshore Boom Fire Boom Misc. (8) 200-m (each) Deflection/Containment Booms (2) 500 (each) water-cooled fire booms (3) 100-bbl towable bladders; Heli-Torch; Pumps: Sorbents; Tools, etc.
Alan A. Allen

(1) (1) (1) (1) (6) (4)

300 Response Vessel with 12,000-bbl storage 200 Response Barge & Tug with 16,800 bbl storage 513,000 bbl Tanker for recovered emulsion + water 47 Self-Propelled boat with built-in skimmers 34 workboats for boom towing 249-bbl barges

(4) (2) (2) (2)

Lamor 205 m3/hour (over-the-side 5-brush system) Crucial 80 m3/hour (over-the-side skimmers) Lamor 82 m3/hour skimmers in 47 boat (above) Vikoma 14 m3/hour skimmers (OSRV & Endeavor)

300+ Feet Ice Class A1

Multi-Purpose Vessel Spill Response Onsite Command Anchor Handling Ice Management Supply Dynamic Positioning 41 crew and responders Rapid Transit for lightering recovered oil Skimmers (over-the-side) (2) Lamor 5-brush Rope Mop & Mini-Brush Work Boats (2) 34-ft + Rescue Boom Conventional & Fire Resistant Onboard Storage 12,000 bbl, (1) 100-bbl Bl.) High Volume, Viscous Oil Lightering capability
Alan A. Allen

Nanuq

Arctic Endeavor
205 Feet Ice Strengthened
History of operations in the Beaufort Sea Skimmers (over-the-side) (2) Lamor 5-brush Rope Mop & Mini-Brush Self-propelled Skimmer 47-ft with (2) Built-in Lamor Brush Units Work Boats (4) 34-ft + Rescue Tug Support Point Barrow

Boom - Conventional & Fire Resistant Onboard Storage 16,800 bbl (4) 249-bbl Barges (2) 100-bbl Bladders High Volume, Viscous Oil Lightering capability
Alan A. Allen

State-Of-The-Art Recovery System (2) per OSRV Each with 5 Durable Brush Conveyor Belts High-Volume Recovery Rate (up to 205 m3/hour or >1,200 bbl/hour) With 20% Derating (>250 bbl/hr), exceeds WCD Effective with fresh or weathered viscous oils High efficiency (>80%) in light to moderate seas Rapid Deployment Can lift quickly to avoid ice

LAMOR Brush Skimmer

Alan A. Allen

47-ft with (2) Lamor 2-Brush Built-in Units

Shallow Draft High Speed Transit Good Maneuverability
(in and around ice)

Advancing Brush Skimmer

Alan A. Allen

Response Plan: Offshore

Open Water
Ignition of Oil/Gas at Surface for Vapor Control & Partial Removal of Oil Concentration of Oil Escaping the Blowout with OpenApex Boom Containment & Recovery of Oil with OSRV & Endeavor Barge Containment & Recovery of Oil with 47-ft Skimmer & U-boom Configurations Controlled Burning of Oil with Fire Boom downstream of Blowout
Alan A. Allen

Primary Response Strategy

Alan A. Allen

Controlled Burning Downstream

R. Ellis

Alan A. Allen

Controlled Burning
(Concentration of Oil with Open Apex)
Containment & Relocation for Burn
Fire Boom Swath typically 300 to 500

Conventional Boom

Alan A. Allen

Response Plan: Offshore

Use of Ice Breakers and Blowout Lift to Keep Oil Exposed at the Surface Ignition of Oil/Gas at Surface for Vapor Control & Partial Removal of Oil Concentration of Oil without Large Boom Configurations (rely on short out-rigger boom deflection, wind-herding of oil against ice & natural containment) Recovery of Oil with Nanuq, Endeavor & 47-ft Skimmer (working along the edge of heavy ice concentrations and in pockets of oil trapped by ice) Aerial Ignition of Oil without Fire Boom (burning oil herded against heavy ice concentrations and in pockets of oil trapped by ice)
Alan A. Allen

Freeze-Up

Broken Ice Recovering Isolated Pools of Oil

CISPRI

R. Ellis

ACS

Alan A. Allen

Broken Ice Burning Isolated Pools of Oil

Typical Burn Residue

A. Allen

Oil trapped in pockets Oil herded against ice by the wind

A. Allen

R. Belore & D. Dickins

Alan A. Allen

Response Plan Nearshore/Shoreline

Open Water
Deployment of ACS personnel & equipment from West Dock, Kaktovik and Pt. Thompson Pad. Containment & Recovery of Oil with Temporary Storage in MiniBarges, and Lightering of oil to Offshore vessels or West Dock. Deflection of Oil away from Shoreline with Boom to Recovery Boat & Barge. Protection of Environmentally Sensitive Sites with Exclusion & Deflection Boom. Deflection of Oil along Shoreline to Natural Collection Sites for Recovery with Shore-based Skimmers & Temporary Storage Onshore. Removal of Oil & Oiled Debris from Contaminated Shore.
Alan A. Allen

Alaska Clean Seas (ACS) Support (Offshore & Nearshore)

Provision of strong team of experienced boat captains and crews for response under arctic conditions Proven experience working in remote locations under harsh conditions Vessels and barges capable of supporting containment, recovery and lightering activities well offshore and in shallow, nearshore areas Systems capable of working in and around a wide range of freeze-up and break-up conditions
Alan A. Allen

Alaska Clean Seas: Nearshore Response

Rapid Transit to Spill Control Site

Alan A. Allen

Alaska Clean Seas: Nearshore Response

Recovery & Storage Shallow-Water Capability Including Ice

Alan A. Allen

Alaska Clean Seas: Shoreline Response

Priority Protection Sites Staging of Equipment Protective Booming Beach Cleanup

Alan A. Allen

Nearshore Diversion and Recovery of Oil

Protection of environmentally sensitive shoreline area Recovery away from the shoreline directly to a mini-barge
Alan A. Allen

Shoreline Deflection & Exclusion Booming

Concentration of oil at natural and/or man-made collection sites Diversion of oil away from Priority Protection Sites
Alan A. Allen

Shoreline Cleanup & Blockage of Sensitive Backwater Areas

Physical removal of oil and oiled debris on beaches Temporary blockage of marshes & other wetland areas

Alan A. Allen

Response Plan Nearshore/Shoreline

Freeze-Up Pooled Oil is Recovered with Response Boats where Safe & Practical Physical Removal of Oil In/On New Land Fast Ice must wait until Ice is Stable & Safe to Work Oiled Ice and Shorelines are Marked and Worked from Shore wherever possible Oil In Pools & Against Land Fast Ice & Shorelines is ignited with the Heli-Torch Unburned Oil & Burn Residues are Removed when Ice becomes Stable
Alan A. Allen

Nearshore Recovery in Broken Ice

Recovery of oil wind-herded & trapped within ice cakes nearshore Transfer of recovered oil directly to a mini-barge
Alan A. Allen

Shoreline Recovery & Storage

Open Water Broken Ice

Deflection of oil toward shore for recovery with portable skimmers Temporary storage of recovered oil in bladders or Fast-Tanks Burning of isolated pools of oil

Alan A. Allen

Nearshore Recovery in Broken Ice

Alan A. Allen

Nearshore Operations with Airboats

Alan A. Allen

Nearshore Ignition of Oil in Ice

Heli-Torch ignition of oil wind-herded & trapped within ice cakes Burning gelled fuel released upstream and allowed to drift into oil
Alan A. Allen

Enhanced Oil Spill Response

Ice Management

Alan A. Allen

Management/Deflection of Ice
By angling the deflection barge with a crosswind, oil can be herded by the wind against the deflected row of concentrated ice to enhance burning & recovery.

Movement of large ice floes

Breaking of continuous light ice cover to enhance deflection

Ba r ge R OS or

Se

m i-c

le ar

ed

ak

Blowout
Alan A. Allen

Enhanced Oil Spill Response

Ice Management

Recovered Oil Transfer

Alan A. Allen

Enhanced Oil Spill Response

Ice Management Recovered Oil Transfer

Oil Herding

I.Buist

Alan A. Allen

Enhanced Oil Spill Response

Ice Management Recovered Oil Transfer Oil Herding
Ground penetrating radar Tests in Norway 2006 (Dickins/Boise State/SINTEF)

Oil Detection/Tracking
Ice Tracking Buoy (Metocean)
Alan A. Allen

Enhanced Oil Spill Response

Ice Management Recovered Oil Transfer Oil Herding Oil Detection/Tracking
Disp. Applic.

Enhanced Dispersion Azimuthal Prop Wash

Dispersant Application

Figures/Photos: ExxonMobil

Alan A. Allen

Summary Oil Spill Response in The Arctic

Response Goals
Immediate Sustained Flexible Advanced Vessels & Equipment Mechanical & Burning Transfer & Storage Trained Responders

Resources

Priority Protection Sites Pre-Staged Equipment Shallow-Water Recovery Aerial Ignition Shoreline Cleanup

Shoreline Protection

Ice Management Recovered Oil Transfer Oil Herding Oil Detection/Tracking Dispersant Application
Alan A. Allen

Enhancements

Key Ingredient For Success ?

Alan A. Allen

Alan A. Allen