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OTC Paper Number 23800

Paper Title: The Oil and Gas Industrys Commitment to Responsible Arctic
Operations: An Innovative Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology - J oint Industry
Programme

Author(s)/Company
J oseph Mullin, J oseph Mullin Consulting, LLC


Copyright 2012, Offshore Technology Conference

This paper was prepared for presentation at the Arctic Technology Conference held in Houston, Texas, USA, 3-5December2012.

This paper was selected for presentation by an ATC programcommittee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not been
reviewed by the Offshore Technology Conference and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the Offshore Technology Conference, its
officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper without the written consent of the Offshore Technology Conference is prohibited. Permission to
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Abstract:
Substantive technological advances to detect, contain and cleanup spills in Arctic environments have been made
in the past decade. To build on existing research and improve the technologies and methodologies for Arctic spill
response, the oil and gas industry has established an Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology - J oint Industry
Programme (Arctic Oil Spill Response J IP). The goal is to further improve oil spill response technologies through
international research programmes aimed at enhancing industry knowledge and capabilities in the areas of Arctic
oil spill response. The programme will also increase the knowledge and understanding of potential impacts of oil
and associated response activities on the Arctic marine environment. The Arctic Oil Spill Response J IP will
conduct nine research projects over a four-year period in the areas of dispersant, environmental effects, trajectory
modelling, remote sensing, mechanical recovery, and in situ burning. In addition a robust information database
will be developed to support the use of Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA) for response decision-making
and environmental impact assessments related to Arctic spills. The J IP also intends to conduct several field
experiments to verify research results, contingent upon permitting approval from relevant authorities. Verification
of response technologies and techniques is essential for obtaining regulatory and stakeholder approval for
exploration and development activities.

Introduction:
Recent years have seen increasing interest in offshore oil exploration in the Arctic and other frontier regions.
While these activities may seem like new developments, Arctic offshore oil exploration, and in some cases
production, has occurred since the 1920s, with more than 500 wells drilled. Offshore petroleum exploration,
development and transport in the Arctic have expanded to include Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia, and the
United States. Prior to issuing permits for hydrocarbon exploration or development governmental regulatory
authorities of the Arctic coastal states require companies to demonstrate their ability to respond to an oil spill and
evaluate the potential environmental impacts of industrial activities.

Oil spill prevention remains priority for the oil and gas industry and the ability to prevent and respond to oil spills is
instrumental for achieving licence to operate. Oil spill response is a demanding task in any environment, but
responding to spills in Arctic regions presents different challenges. These include low temperatures prolonged
periods of daylight and darkness, environmental sensitivities, and the presence of seasonal and dynamic sea ice.
Global practice, years of preparation and lessons from research and from incidents are incorporated into present
oil spill prevention and response programmes. To develop this present capability, experts from industry,
government agencies, and academic and independent research organizations have carried out numerous
laboratory, tank tests, field experiments and scientific and analytical studies for more than 40 years, although this
sustained and frequently collaborative effort is not commonly known and recognized by those outside the field of
oil spill response. There have also been many large-scale tests conducted using remote sensing and various
response technologies with oil in ice in the autumn and winter months in the Arctic. Through this research and
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development the industry has developed the equipment to respond in arctic conditions. In 2009, the Norwegian
research institute SINTEF, together with international scientists, concluded the most comprehensive research oil-
in-ice J IP ever undertaken on oil spill preparedness and response for Arctic and ice-covered waters. To continue
to build on this body of knowledge and further advance arctic oil spill response capabilities the oil and gas industry
has formed the Arctic Oil Spill Response J IP.

The Arctic Oil Spill Response J IP is sponsored by nine oil companies (BP, Chevron, Conoco-Phillips, Eni,
ExxonMobil, North Caspian Operating Company, Shell, Statoil, and Total). The programme is managed by the
International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP) and coordinated by an Executive Steering Committee
comprised of representatives from the funding companies. Uniting efforts and knowledge in this four-year joint
industry programme increases opportunities to test equipment, conduct large scale field experiments, develop oil
spill response technologies and methodologies, and to raise awareness of existing industry oil spill response
capabilities in the arctic region.

Arctic Oi l Spil l Response JIP:
Response options in the Arctic vary depending on the time of year and the amount of ice which presents both
advantages and challenges for effective spill response. The selection of one or more strategies to deal with a spill
in an Arctic environment will depend upon a variety of factors, including the size and type of spill, local weather
and sea conditions, and the presence, concentration and characteristics of ice. Companies can respond rapidly
and effectively using a Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA) to deploy the most effective strategies to
minimize the impact of a spill for any given scenario. The SINTEF test results demonstrated that ice can aid oil
spill response by slowing oil weathering, dampening waves, preventing oil from spreading over large areas, and
allowing more time to respond. Decisions on response options depend on the spill conditions at the time and the
relative risks to response personnel and the environment. The flexibility to use a broad range of response
options, as conditions change, is essential to mounting the most effective response possible. Over the course of
four years, this Arctic Oil Spill Response J IP research programme will focus on expanding industry knowledge of,
and capabilities in, Arctic oil spill response in seven key areas: dispersants; environmental effects; trajectory
modelling; remote sensing; mechanical recovery; in-situ burning; and field research. In total, nine research
projects will be funded together with field experiments (contingent upon regulatory approval) to test technologies.

Project 1 - Fate of Dispersed Oil Under Ice

The objective of this project is to develop a numerical model capable of predicting the fate of a dispersed oil
plume that develops under ice, particularly the resurfacing potential for various scenarios (ice concentration,
release type, environmental conditions, oil type, level of turbulence, etc.). Over the past several years, industry
successfully demonstrated that dispersants are effective when applied in a field of broken ice using natural
turbulence, or, if necessary, water-jet or vessel-generated turbulence. These positive results demonstrate that
dispersants will work in very cold waters.

One of the requirements for efficient dispersion is adequate mixing in the water column allowing for a cloud of
dispersed oil to rapidly dilute to very low concentration. Thus, a key parameter for stable dispersion is the level of
turbulence needed to keep dispersed oil entrained in the water column. In the Arctic, ice cover dampens energy
input from the wind into the ocean. This dampening may cause turbulence under the ice to be lower compared to
an open ocean environment. Existing numerical models can determine how quickly dispersed oil plumes will rise
on the basis of information on ambient turbulence conditions, dispersed oil droplet size distributions, and
dispersed oil densities. For these models to predict dispersed oil behaviour under ice, improved understanding of
the natural turbulence under a range of ice roughness conditions is required. The aim is to provide additional
evidence to support dispersant use and decision making in ice-covered waters and to determine optimal
operational dispersion criteria through the development of a numerical model, capable of predicting the fate of a
dispersed oil plume that develops under ice. This project will start in 3Q/2012 with first deliverables expected in
4Q/2012.

Project 2 - Dispersant Testing under Realistic Conditions

This project has three objectives:
1. Conduct large or meso-scale basin tests on the efficacy and operational limits for chemical dispersant and
mineral fines in Arctic marine waters;
2. Understand the operational needs for dispersant and/or mineral fines application via vessels, aircraft,
helicopters, and subsea injection in Arctic environments;
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3. Describe and define the regulatory requirements and permitting process for dispersant and mineral fines
use for each Arctic nation/region.

Researchers have examined dispersant effectiveness in cold waters with sea ice at both laboratory scale and
wave basin tests using a variety of oils. It has been demonstrated that dispersants, can generally be greater than
80 percent effective in near-freezing waters. Research has also demonstrated that inorganic mineral fines in
turbid coastal waters function naturally to form oil mineral aggregates (OMAs) that can remove oil from
contaminated shorelines. In 2010, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard
demonstrated through field research that streams of mineral fines slurry combined with mixing energy from vessel
prop wash promoted rapid OMA formation and dispersion of oil slicks in ice. Use of chemical dispersants and/or
mineral fines should provide a response option with high encounter rates, high effectiveness, lower manpower
requirements, and greater responder safety than mechanical response. Further, mineral fine treatment may be
suitable for use on spills in freshwater. The objective of this project is to provide a solid technical foundation to
refine further research that will generate data and information supportive of dispersant and mineral fine use in
Arctic coastal and offshore regions.

Regulatory approval will be needed for use of these products in Arctic / ice prone regions. Therefore, it is
necessary to first develop a detailed understanding of the regulatory approval process for each regulatory regime
that has the potential for oil spills in ice. This process will include the approval to list / use spill treating agents in
the regions of interest and the gaining of approval to use either dispersants or OMAs after a spill has occurred.
Target nations include Canada, Finland, Greenland and Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Kazakhstan, Russia,
Sweden, and the United States. This project will start in 3Q/2012 with first deliverables expected in 4Q/2012.

Project 3 Environmental Impacts from Arctic Oil Spills and Their Response

The aim of this project is to conduct a review on environmental impacts from arctic oil spills and from the
technologies used to respond to such spills. The primary objective is to identify the research necessary to
improve the knowledge base that supports NEBA and decision making and, ultimately, gain stakeholder
acceptance of the role of environmental impact assessment in oil spill response plans and operations. Because of
the fundamental role of comparing the effectiveness and impacts of different response options in NEBA, the
information base needs to address both the acute and long-term effects of spilled oil as well as the impacts of
various response options (e.g., natural attenuation, surface-applied dispersants, in-situ burning, etc.) on Arctic
ecosystems. Review and tabulation of published measured effects (e.g., toxicity thresholds and recovery times)
is anticipated to be an important part of this work. However, there will need to be additional effort aimed at
bridging the gap between measurements of toxicity and ecosystem-level or population level effects. The
information base will be built initially through a combined process of review of the literature, ongoing research and
monitoring programmes, as well as reports by key Arctic stakeholders. It will be essential to take into account the
findings of current research related to oil spill response in Arctic and cold-water regions to avoid duplication and to
gain maximum benefit from the results of recent efforts. Based on the findings from this review phase, targeted
environmental studies may be commissioned. Finally, the information base resulting from this review and
potential new studies will be used in NEBA workshops to be held with key stakeholders in 2 Arctic countries. This
project is currently in progress and an initial meeting was conducted in August 2012. First deliverables are
expected in 4Q/2012.

Project 4: Trajectory Modelling in Ice

The overall objective of this project is to advance and expand the oil and gas industrys oil spill modelling
capability within the Arctic. Specifically, the project will create or adapt an existing numerical model that is capable
of modelling the trajectory of spilled oil in various ice concentrations. The aim is to conduct research
investigations in ice modelling and integrate the results into established industry oil spill trajectory models. The
use of high-resolution ice modelling and remote sensing will be used to improve the definition of ice properties
and their use within ice models. It may be beneficial to enhance existing trajectory models using updated
weathering and spreading information, computational algorithms, and real-time ice monitoring capabilities. The
model may also be applicable beyond the Arctic, for example in non-Arctic but ice-prone areas (e.g., Baltic and
Caspian Seas). Requests for proposals were announced in 3Q/2012 with project initiation expected in 4Q/2012.

Project 5 - Oil Spill Detection and Mapping in Low Visibility and Ice

Remote sensing is an important element for an effective response to marine oil spills. Timely response requires
rapid and sustained reconnaissance of the spill site to determine the exact location and extent of oil (particularly
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the thickest portion of the slick) and to update projections of an oil slicks movement and fate at sea. Remote
detection and mapping are essential to effectively direct spill countermeasures such as mechanical containment
and recovery, dispersant application, in situ burning, and for the preparation of resources required for shoreline
clean-up. Previous industry supported research and development has yielded technologies such as ice-
strengthened beacons designed to track the location of oil, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to detect oil in and
under ice, laser fluorosensors, enhanced marine air-borne radar, and operationally useful satellite imagery
products. In addition, autonomous vehicles (UAVs) can aid in locating and tracking oil under ice.

The overall objective of this project is to advance and expand oil spill remote sensing and mapping capabilities
and technologies in darkness and low visibility, in broken ice, under ice, and for detecting and tracking subsea
plumes that will develop if dispersants are used to control continuous subsea releases. The goal of this project is
to identify the most promising technologies (surface and subsea) to be used for remote sensing of oil in low
visibility and under various ice scenarios. This project will be performed in a phased approach. First, a technology
assessment and evaluation of existing and emerging technologies will be performed, including an evaluation of
further research and development needs, logistical support requirements, and operational considerations such as
testing opportunities. Based on this assessment, a recommended test programme will be proposed, identifying
and qualifying the most promising sensors and platforms capable of detecting the presence of oil and mapping its
location and extent. Two projects- surface remote sensing (satellite-borne, airborne, shipborne, and on-ice) and
subsea remote sensing (Mobile-ROV or AUV based, and Fixed) - were initiated in 3Q/2012 with initial deliverables
expected in 4Q/2012.

Project 6: Mechanical Recovery in Ice Infested Waters

The rapid containment and recovery of oil at or near the source is provided by on-site spill response vessels.
Mechanical skimmers can be used to remove oil from the water surface and transfer it to a storage vessel.
Skimmers work most efficiently on thick oil layers, and floating barriers, including oil booms, and are used to
collect and contain spilled oil into a thicker layer. In the Arctic offshore, ice itself could act as a boom where the oil
is contained in thicker layers between ice floes. A variety of skimmer designs have been optimized for Arctic sea
conditions and several have been proven to work well. In most countries, mechanical recovery of oil is the first
and preferred response. Mechanical recovery in broken ice is limited by the ability of the skimmer to encounter
and remove spilled oil and to function effectively under extremely low temperatures.

The objective of this project is to evaluate the feasibility of mechanical recovery as a viable response technique
for minor spills in ice infested waters and identify new approaches to facilitate the development of new or
improved mechanical response equipment, techniques, and strategies. An internal workshop was conducted to
evaluate the results obtained from previous research projects and thoroughly examine selected response
scenarios to identify promising tactics or equipment designs that can improve recovery of oil between and
underneath ice. The deliverable was a set of novel ideas and innovative concepts for mechanical recovery of oil in
ice with recommendations to take to the proof of concept stage. Requests for proposals for four feasibility
studies were issued in 3Q/2012; with project initiation expected in 4Q/2012 and deliverables expected in 1Q/2013.

Project 7 In Situ Burning State of Knowledge

Oil on water or between ice floes can be disposed of quickly, efficiently and safely by controlled burning. This
technique works most efficiently on thick oil layers, so the oil is contained by fire-resistant booms or ice. Through
burning, on average, about 80-95% of oil volume is eliminated as gas, 1-15% as soot and 1-10% remains as a
residue. Controlled burning has been proven to work in the Arctic.

The overall objective of this project is to prepare educational materials to raise the awareness of industry,
regulators and external stakeholders of the significant body of knowledge that currently exists on all aspects of in
situ burning (ISB). The materials are also intended to inform specialists and stakeholders interested in
operational, environmental and technological details of the ISB response technique. One report will provide a
detailed state of knowledge that summarizes the role, function, benefits and limitations of ISB as a response
option in the Arctic offshore environment and is intended to cover all planning, and operational aspects of ISB,
including the potential impacts on human health and the environment. A second report will be a summary of
relevant scientific studies and experiments as well as previous research efforts on the use of ISB in Arctic
environments both offshore and onshore, highlighting key findings and conclusions. A second phase of this
project will identify and summarize the regulatory requirements to obtain approval for use of ISB in Arctic nations
and develop an education and outreach plan. This project was initiated in 3Q/2012 with first deliverables expected
in 4Q/2012.
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Project 8 - Aerial Ignition Systems for In-Situ Burning

The vast majority of experience with ISB is with terrestrial spills, which can be ignited by hand using simple tools
(e.g., flares, drip torches, or breakable bottles of gelled gasoline). In situ burning was used with great success
offshore during the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. An estimated 11,000,000 gallons of oil was safely ignited and
burned during the response. Spills to smaller water bodies, which are easy to reach, can be similarly ignited. An
alternative is needed to ignite spilled oil in areas with difficult / restricted access. For the Arctic region such areas
include drift and pack sea ice and open waters. Flares and gelled gasoline can be thrown by hand or mechanically
from an aerial platform at low altitudes or from a nearby vessel. Safety concerns could often constrain these
options. A torch can be suspended beneath a helicopter (under-slung Helitorches) for more precise targeting, but
there are associated aviation safety concerns and greater training needed for this option. Helitorches have often
been used for ignition on land. While this technique may work well especially for the difficult-to-access spills in
broken ice, helicopters have limited distance range and use for the ignition of oil spills 150 miles offshore may be
problematic. Alternatively, fixed-wing aircraft have much greater range however; they do not have accurate
targeting capability at their operational speeds and, consequently, are not currently considered for ISB.

The objective of this project is to develop improved ignition systems to facilitate the use of in situ burning in
offshore Arctic environments, including ice-infested waters when the presence of sea ice restricts use of vessels
as a platform for this response option. To accomplish this effort we will involve both internal and external
company aviation experts in the evaluation of ignition options by enlisting recommendations for improved ignition
systems, and subsequent development, testing and certification of an improved aerial ignition system to facilitate
the use of ISB in offshore Arctic environments, including ice-infested waters. This project will be initiated in 2013.

Project 9 - Chemical Herders and In-Situ Burning

Chemical herders can provide an additional tool to support oil spill response in ice and open water. Herding
agents can be useful in thickening oil in the 30-70 percent ice concentration range so that in situ burning can be
effective. The use of chemical herders to thicken on-water slicks among drift ice for subsequent burning has been
studied for a number of years. Two field experiments using chemical herders, conducted during the SINTEF Oil
in Ice J IP, were effective with greater than 90 percent removal efficiencies observed. Chemical herders have
been listed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - National Contingency Plan product schedule in the
past.

The objectives of this research project are to prove the feasibility of using chemical herders to allow in situ burning
in open water and among broken ice, to validate that herders remain effective during an in situ burn, and to
develop an application system to allow herders to be sprayed from either boats or aircraft in very cold
environmental conditions. This project will be initiated in 4Q/2012 with initial deliverables expected in 1Q/2013.

Project 10 - Field Research Experiments Testing Different Technologies

A major obstacle faced by research and development programmes has been the lack of opportunity to conduct oil
spill response experiments in representative field conditions. Such tests are necessary to verify the technologies
and methodologies that have been developed. Results from previous research show achievements in technology
are most often gained through field tests with controlled oil releases at sea, as demonstrated in the SINTEF J IP.
Verification of response technologies, techniques, and methodologies is essential for obtaining regulatory and
stakeholder approval for exploration and development activities. The Arctic Oil Spill Response J IP will work to
obtain permissions and regulatory approvals from relevant authorities to conduct a series of intentional and
carefully managed oil releases for research purposes in different geographic regions to verify research results.

The Field Research Technical Work Group (TWG) acts as a key service provider within the overall Arctic Oil Spill
Response J IP. The primary objectives of this technical working group are to create opportunities to test selected
technologies such as dispersants, remote sensing, mechanical recovery, and ISB, and to conduct related
research (for example, environmental effects) in a field setting. The TWG will work to obtain approvals in one or
more jurisdictions to conduct a series of field releases. Conducting field experiments and practical field exercises,
with an actual oil release, will allow industry to demonstrate to regulators and stakeholders the viability and
effectiveness of oil spill response technologies in the Arctic. This effort should help to provide a wider acceptance
of response techniques for use in the Arctic; in particular, use of dispersants and ISB are expected to show
greater efficiencies under such challenging conditions. The TWG is currently assessing the most promising
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regions to focus future efforts. Currently, Canada, Greenland, Kazakhstan, Norway, and Russia are under
consideration.

Conclusion:
While prevention of oil spills remains a top priority for the oil and gas industry this programme demonstrates a
broad, industry commitment to responsible Arctic exploration and development by creating international research
projects to further knowledge and capabilities in the area of Arctic oil spill response. The oil and gas industry
recognizes the benefits from ongoing need for continuous improvement and is committed to improve the
technologies and methodologies for Arctic oil spill response. This J IP will be developing and enhancing
technologies to minimize a spills impact on the environment to improve the ability to respond to oil spills in the
unlikely event they occur. Uniting efforts and sharing knowledge from this four-year joint industry programme
increases our potential success and raises awareness of existing oil spill response capabilities in the Arctic.

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