Sakhalin II
Oil Spill Response Preparedness for
Expansion to Phase 2 Operations
Lauren Glushik, OSR Team Supervisor
Sakhalin Energy Investment Company, Ltd (Sakhalin Energy)
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russian Federation
Introduction
Sakhalin Energy Investment Company, Ltd. (Sakhalin Energy), the operator of the
Sakhalin II project, began production at its Phase 1 asset known as the Molikpaq
platform in 1999. Since that time, the company has actively been developing its
Sakhalin Island oil and gas project for expansion to Phase 2 operations. The Phase
2 project includes the addition of two new offshore platforms, two onshore pipelines,
an onshore processing facility, plus an LNG plant and Oil Export Terminal.
An extensive work programme was initiated to support planning for oil spill response
preparedness. This presentation outlines that programme and also discusses someof the challenges that have been encountered in developing the contingency plans
and the additional measures that are being taken to meet the ongoing challenges.
Sakhalin Energy Oil Spill Response Work Programme
The objectives of the Sakhalin Energy OSR Work Programme are:•••To establish a world class OSR system that will provide the best possible
protection to the environment in the event of a spill.
To establish a scientifically based and practically focused work programmethat will sustain longer term development of OSR within Sakhalin Energy, on
Sakhalin and within the region.
To cooperate with municipal, Sakhalin Oblast and Russian Federal
authorities in developing wider OSR capabilities.

The initial OSR work programme addressed a number of identified issues including:
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Cultural considerations such as language barriers and differences between
RF and western regulatory requirements.
Environmental sensitivities and social issues.
Oil character and behaviour and the effects of climate on oil behaviour.
Oil spill response in ice conditions
Response logistics; i.e remoteness and available infrastructure.
Suitable equipment.
Trans-border response issues.

1Sakhalin Energy Response Preparedness
Sakhalin Energy has committed to developing OSR preparedness and response
capability in full compliance with Russian national and local regulations, shareholder
and industry standards and best international practice.
Emergency Response Organisation
The Emergency Response organisation within Sakhalin Energy consists of the•••

Crisis Management Team which handles high level crisis management andinteraction with the government and external agencies;
Emergency Coordination Team which deals with central coordination andmanagement of incidents; andSite Control Teams which manage the on-site response activities.

In large scale or complex responses, a Unified Command may be established under
the Unified State System for Prevention of and Response to Emergencies. The
Russian Federation Unified Command (RSChS) concept reflects internationallyrecognised best practice. It provides for the reciprocal integration of Sakhalin Energy
and governmental and independent ER/OSR personnel into teams and it isanticipated that Sakhalin Energy will fully participate in any Unified Command formedin response to a Sakhalin Energy Tier 2 or 3 spill incident.
Oil Spill Response Documentation
The Sakhalin Energy Oil Spill Response Plans are part of an OSR Management
System comprised of the following documents (Fig. 1):
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OSR Policies,
OSR Procedures,
Background Papers,
Corporate Oil Spill Response Plan (COSRP),
Facility Oil Spill Response Plans (OSRPs),
OSR Handbooks,
OSR GIS Database and Environmental Resource Maps, andTier 1 OSR Contracts
Higher tier contracts (OSRL, EARL,), andIndustry MOUs.

The Corporate Oil Spill Response Plan (COSRP) sets out the Sakhalin Energy
arrangements for OSR. It provides guidance on the location and function of all OSR
and ER related documents and stipulates responsibilities for their maintenance andimplementation. The COSRP does not require Russian Federation government
approval.
Facility OSRPs set out the OSR arrangements at each Sakhalin Energy facility.
They contain not only OSR operational information but risk assessments, planmaintenance, and general OSR system maintenance information. The structure andcontents of these Facility OSRPs are stipulated by Russian Federation (RF) decrees
and regulations, primarily RF Government Decrees 613 and 240 and Ministry of Civil
Defence, Emergencies and the Elimination of the Consequences of Natural Disasters(MChS) Order 621.

2Figure 1. Sakhalin Energy OSR Documentation
Facility OSRPs must be approved by government agencies and as part of theapprovals process, each plan is submitted to a State Expertise organisation for areview of the plan for technical adequacy and for compliance with the RussianFederation regulations. A positive Expertise conclusion must be in place to obtaingovernment agencies approvals.
In addition to the rigorous Russian Federation regulatory approvals process, theOSRPs are also reviewed by independent experts contracted by a third party
contractor of the potential Phase 2 Lenders.
Implementation of the OSR Work Programme
The content of the OSR documentation stems from the results of several years of
research and planning. In order that the best information and technologies wereavailable for planners, a comprehensive work programme was put in place (Fig. 2).
This programme is outlined in three phases.
Phase 1: Review of OSR Status in Sakhalin Energy.
This phase involved a thorough review of all available oil spill-related information heldby Sakhalin Energy. This included the Emergency Response Plans, Oil Spill
Response Plans, environmental survey data and resource maps, risk assessments,
OSR equipment and response Contractors, RF regulations and international bestpractice.
Phase 2: Development of the Sakhalin Energy OSR System.
Based on the findings of the Phase 1 reviews, a number of Projects were initiated.
These were primarily focussed at providing information needed to develop the
Facility Oil Spill Response Plans, but were also intended to ensure the adoption ofbest practice and best available technology.
A number or projects were also focussed on improving cooperation with Government
agencies and other companies in the development of OSR resources for Sakhalin.

3Phase 3 Ongoing Studies.
These longer-term projects are designed to ensure that new technology is identified
and, where appropriate, adopted by Sakhalin Energy. They will ensure that Sakhalin
Energy OSR capabilities are steadily maintained and improved over time. The
Phase 3 Study programme is outlined in both Corporate OSRP and Facility OSRPs.

Figure 2. Sakhalin Energy OSR Work Programme
Current Status
Sakhalin Energy is now entering the third phase of the programme. The Facility OSRplans are in the final stages of approval and implementation, OSR equipment has
been purchased and is in most cases already on site at its respective Emergency
Response Depot. Personnel are either trained or are being trained.
The remaining text will outline how various aspects of the work programme haveassisted in overcoming planning challenges.
Outline of the OSR Work Programme
Oil Character and Behaviour
The behaviour of oil at sea, in rivers and streams and in ice conditions is an
important consideration in designing oil spill response methods. A comprehensive
programme of studies designed to build understanding of the crude oil character andbehaviour under a variety of conditions has been undertaken to build on previous
work.

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A number of physical and chemical characteristics of fresh Vityaz crude have been
determined to establish the character of the fresh oil and its weathering behaviour.
The parameters include:
Specific gravity.
Viscosity (at various temperatures).
Pour point.
Wax content.
Asphaltene content.
Emulsification potential and water miscibility (at various mixing energies andtemperatures).
• Evaporation rates under various conditions.
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These characteristics are also being determined for oil weathered for various times.
In situ burning is a valuable response option in ice conditions but must be considered
carefully from an environmental point of view. Sakhalin Energy crudes andcondensates will burn, even after weathering at sea, but laboratory studies havebeen undertaken to better determine the efficiency of burning, ignition temperaturesand characteristics of any residues that may be left after combustion is complete.
The efficiency of dispersants has also been assessed, on both fresh and weathered
crudes at a range of temperatures and mixing energies.
The potential for oil biodegradation has also been assessed.
Oil Behaviour and Oil Spill Response in Ice
The presence of ice does present challenges for OSR. High ice cover inhibits accessby response vessels and also limits the range of recovery devices that can be
deployed. However, high ice cover also inhibits the spread of oil and slows trajectory.
Sakhalin Energy has reviewed, and is continuing to review the available equipment
for oil recovery in ice conditions. These are being assessed against the conditions
that exist offshore and onshore Sakhalin Island.
Ongoing development is carried out through continuing Oil in Ice studies andparticipation in industry R & D programmes.
Environmental and Social Sensitivities
Sakhalin Island is an area rich in biological resources. It is an important stopover
point for migratory birds and an equally important habitat for resident species. There
are numerous rare and endangered species that can be found in the Sakhalin area.
Industries based on natural resources are of primary commercial importance to
Sakhalin residents and the livelihood of many locals depends on these. In addition,
there are indigenous and local communities located near project areas, which need
to be considered.

5During the planning phase of the Sakhalin project, a tremendous amount of data wascollected with respect to environmental and social information. A considerable
portion of this data was linked to the immediate project footprint or in near proximity
to it. In planning oil spill response within the potential zones of impact, it was foundthat the project archives did not always contain sufficient information or cover theentire potential response area. Even where the information did exist, it was notalways in a format readily available to oil spill responders.
To overcome this, several studies were initiated with local contractors to do archive
research of existing material for the areas in question and to conduct field surveys tofill data gaps.
All of the data was compiled in the Sakhalin Energy GIS and contributed to thecompilation of two OSR Resource Map Atlases: one for the shoreline and one forareas relating to the onshore pipeline facilities.
Aerial and Ground Surveys: Logistics and Infrastructure
Sakhalin Island is a frontier land with many untouched areas. The remoteness andlack of infrastructure can be a challenge for oil spill response and detailed maps were
not always available to properly assess the existing situation.
To have a clear indication of available access routes and their conditions, Sakhalin
Energy initiated extensive field investigations throughout the island. The field teamspent two years investigating roads and tracks to the shoreline and areas
downstream of the pipeline. They logged information on road condition and bridge
infrastructure, taking note of what types of vehicles would be capable of passing theencountered terrain. All of this information was geo-referenced and is included in the
OSR resource map database.
The field team also escorted hydrology and geomorphology specialists, who
conducted investigations of the river and shoreline access points. These specialists
recorded physical characteristics and biological descriptions of the sites. The
resulting data in the form of written data forms, site sketches, ground-truth pictures,
and aerial video were compiled in a geo-referenced database for the Sakhalin
Energy GIS system.
OSR GIS System
As a result of combining this work with the historical data, the OSR database for GIS
contains extensive information for responders to utilise in the event of a spill. Not
only is the information available for immediate use during incidents, but it was also avaluable tool for planners who were able to produce site-specific response strategies
for key sites and to evaluate the best equipment for the given conditions.
The challenges of access, seasonality and extreme weather conditions were taken
into account when the equipment stock and its method of deployment were chosen.
Not only did the response kit itself need to be suited to the Sakhalin environment, but
the mode of transport to get it to site also required some thought.
Russians have a great deal of experience in winter climates and situations wheredifficult access is at task. As a result, a range of suitable vehicles are available in the
country for handling such terrain.

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Establishment of Emergency Response Depots
To be capable to respond within the response time schedule stipulated by RussianFederation regulations, OSR equipment is to be staged at locations throughout the
project area.
Onshore equipment is held at the emergency response depots located at the LNG
Plant/Oil Export Terminal at Prigorodnoye and the Pipeline Maintenance Depots
located at Nogliki in the far north of the island, the OPF site, the village of Yasnoye,
the Booster Station site at Gastello, and the village of Sovetskoye.
Offshore equipment consists of stock held at the LNG Plant/Oil Export Terminal at
Prigorodnoye, Kholmsk shorebase, and Nogliki as well as on the offshore facility
standby vessels. The vessels on standby during winter will be ice-breakers fully
equipped with OSR equipment and trained crews.
Training and Exercises
Exercises are already conducted regularly to test the efficacy of response methods
and to ensure responders are drilled. In 2007, training exercises were held during
different seasons at various locations including the OPF site, Prigorodnoye (bothonshore and offshore), and in the northeast (onshore and offshore).
Trans-Boundary Response
During the early stages of the OSR work programme, spill modelling was done forAniva Bay, La Perouse (Soya) Strait as well as northeast Sakhalin.
Spills from Prigorodnoye offshore facilities and associated shipping may, in somecircumstances, enter Japanese territorial seas and even impact the shorelines ofJapan (Hokkaido).
In order to respond to these scenarios, Sakhalin Energy has entered into a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Japanese Marine Disaster Prevention
Centre (MDPC) to ensure that Japanese authorities are informed and that a
response is mounted within Japan. The objectives of the MoU are to:• Facilitate cooperation between MDPC and Sakhalin Energy in the event of anoil spill.
• Promote regional cooperation in OSR preparedness: planning, training andexercises.
• Encourage the flow of information between Sakhalin Energy and theJapanese oil spill response agencies.
One of the recent achievements of this relationship is the completion of the Hokkaido
Regional Oil Spill Response Plan. Several OSR experts from Japan contributed tothe compilation of this Sakhalin Energy-funded project. The document provides
detailed contingency planning for the northern Hokkaido coastal areas.
In addition to the reporting arrangements provided under the MDPC MoU, Sakhalin
Energy will also report spills with potential to enter Japanese waters to the Japanese
Consulate in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Under the possible Phase 2 loan agreement,
Senior Lenders would also be included in the reporting procedure.

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Conclusion
The Sakhalin onshore and offshore environment presents a number of challenges foroil spill response. To address these challenges, Sakhalin Energy has developed arobust OSR capability with contingency planning and resources that are suited for the
specific conditions encountered in the Sakhalin region. Strategies and methods are
based on existing and proven techniques and represent world’s best practice andbest available technology. Sakhalin Energy OSR continues to assess newtechnology with a view to acquiring this and incorporating it into OSRPs. This is an
ongoing process and an ongoing commitment.

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