An oil and gas industry project to examine how the UK North Sea could stop or deal with a Macondo-like blowout was described yesterday as the “largest review of oilspill response ever undertaken”.
Giving its final findings at an industry gathering in Aberdeen, the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group (Osprag) said the North Sea’s regime was robust but there was always room for improvement.
The group, founded following the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico last year, has already been behind the creation of a capping device capable of halting uncontrolled flow from a UK North Sea well.
Yesterday’s event in the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre also feature a series of recommendations, including the founding of two permanent groups: a well life-cycle practices forum and oilspill response forum.
Osprag chairman James House, managing director of Apache North Sea, said there had been unprecedented co-operation between industry, government and unions in what was believed to be the largest review of oilspill response and practices undertaken. He added: “Osprag’s achievements have been outstanding and set the pace and standards to be emulated by the industry elsewhere.”
The review findings contained much praise but there were also concerns, including how the industry would meet the costs of a major blowout and if it had access to enough equipment, materials and people to deal with a disaster.
Exercise Sula, 86 miles off the west coast of Shetland over two days in May, tested the UK’s response to a large spill. It highlighted communication problems plus uncertainty about the rules on burning oil off the surface of the sea and the use of underwater dispersants.