bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Innovative Oil Spill Recovery Technology Developments
Authors: Johnson Gregory , Grayson Christopher , Stromlund Adam
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT (2017-404)

Long-term challenges for the oil spill response industry include spills occurring in the open ocean or ice-infested waters, as well as spills of heavy oil. Historically, only a small percentage of the oil from major spills is ever recovered. For example, during the Deepwater Horizon incident, skimming operations only accounted for approximately 3% of the spilled oil. This low number was due to the delayed response of assets as well as the use of inefficient skimming systems and methods. Both government and private organizations seek effective response solutions that are capable of rapid deployment to existing platforms and infrastructure.

Alion Science and Technology, under contract to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has developed two proof-of-concept technologies; both of which were successfully tested in 2016. Both of these research projects have been pushing the edge of the envelope for oil spill recovery operations with the use of existing technologies.

The first of these concepts is the “ICEHORSE”, an oil-in-ice skimmer designed to recover surface oil pooled in broken ice fields. The system is designed to submerge and transit below the ice field where it may then be surfaced in a pocket of oil to begin skimming. This allows for remote skimming operations while the boat remains in safer waters and gives the skimmer the ability to position itself in the thickest areas of oil. The initial proof-of-concept system has seen further development with the goal being a commercially available product.

The “Autonomous Oil Skimmer” is designed to be used with any vessel-based skimming system to improve the efficiency of recovery operations. Our proprietary control algorithm collects oil thickness data from a sensor and then directs and tracks the oil recovery operation autonomously. Collection data may be remotely accessed, allowing for centralized project oversight of multiple resources. Part of this effort included the evaluation of different oil sensors and the development of algorithms to incorporate the sensor data into the control system.

This paper discusses some of the design challenges of each system as well as the results of testing, and plans for further development.
The Next Generation of Planning for Offshore Oil Spill Response
Authors: Caplis John , Krieger Andrew
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT 2017-333:

In 2014, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) commissioned a study to inform an update of Oil Spill Response Plan (OSRP) regulations for offshore oil and gas facilities and pipelines at Title 30, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 254. The study, Oil Spill Response Equipment Capability Analysis, was conducted by a team led by Booz Allen Hamilton (Booz Allen), with support from RPS Group (formerly ASA Sciences), Environmental Research Consulting (ERC), and SEA Consulting. In close coordination with BSEE, the Booz Allen team reviewed eleven worst case discharge (WCD) scenarios in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, and Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Regions. The study, which involved literature reviews, oil spill modeling, and benchmarking against foreign and domestic regulatory regimes, concluded in February 2016, and highlighted many areas for improving the requirements for response capabilities in the OSRPs.

This paper focuses on the key spill modeling methodologies, observations, and results in the Oil Spill Response Equipment Capability Analysis study, and its use of a concept of operations (CONOPS) for the application of various oil spill countermeasures in response to a WCD. The modeling results provided both new insights and reaffirmed many principles that have long guided oil spill response operations. The CONOPS systematically rolls them up into an offshore-based construct for employing multiple countermeasures in ways that will most effectively reduce oil contact with the environment. This effort did not attempt to quantify environmental impacts or provide guidance on applying countermeasures based upon a net environmental benefits analysis (NEBA) or spill impact mitigation analysis (SIMA). Decision-making for implementing the CONOPS will still require an additional overlying comparative analysis that evaluates the environmental, cultural, social and economic tradeoffs in order to find the preferred balance of spill countermeasures for a given planning scenario or incident. Regardless, the use of the construct (or CONOPS) as outlined in the study offers sound improvements for response planning involving very large spills in the offshore environment.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRANS-BOUNDARY SPILL RESPONSE COOPERATION ACROSS WEST, CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AFRICA
Authors: Chazot Clément , Rhodes Anton
Published: December 2017

IOSC 2017 Abstract: 2017-269 Abstract

The picture today is one of intense oil and gas activity across West, Central and Southern Africa. This is illustrated by the significant increases in crude oil exports over the past fifteen years. This high level of activity has also coincided with, and contributed to, a large increase in the level of shipping in the region.

Such level of oil exploration, production, and transportation, means that there exists a threat of oil spills occurring. In response to this risk, the Global Initiative for West, Central, and Southern Africa (GI WACAF) was launched in 2006, with the objective of raising standards of oil spill preparedness and response capability across the region.

This paper will describe how the GI WACAF Project cooperates with local stakeholders in order to develop trans-boundary cooperation, and will detail what are the challenges lying ahead in order to make cross-border cooperation fully operational.

The analysis of the trans-boundary exercises organised under the umbrella of the GI WACAF Project between Cameroon and Nigeria (2015) on the one hand, and between Gabon and Congo (2015) on the other hand, emphasises the needs in terms of international cooperation, improved communications, integration of response capabilities at the national and regional levels, and the development of effective incident management structures.

This paper will show that significant steps have been taken to develop National Oil Spill Contingency Plans across the GI WACAF region and that advances in this area have meant countries are now looking beyond their borders and seeking to integrate national contingency plans with their closest neighbours. Information will be presented concerning the 2015 exercises, the key lessons learned and potential developments of trans-boundary cooperation in the future.
Inland Geographic Response Plan (GRP) for Complex, Variable, Limited Access River Settings
Authors: McGowan Greg , Algots Michael , Gravenmier Josh
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT 2017-427

Geographic Response Plans (GRPs) are a key tool in response preparedness, but are limited in inland settings, especially in remote areas. Development of a GRP for 200 miles of the Feather River in California required consideration of highly variable seasonal flow conditions, extremely limited access, and numerous sensitive ecological and cultural resources. This setting required adjustments to the typical prioritization of GRP response strategies based on the sensitivity of potentially exposed resources at risk, and instead increased focus on access and infrastructure locations in relation to natural and man-made collection areas. With a highway on one side of the steep-walled canyon, and a state-designated “high-hazard area” for the railroad line on the other, the GRP also needed to consider a wide variety of potentially released material types and source points. The scoping and GRP development was led by a steering committee including the Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway, the U.S. EPA (Region 9), CA Department of Fish and Wildlife Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR), ARCADIS, and numerous regional and local organizations as well as response contractors. The resulting GRP is a pragmatic document that provides critical response information to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of the first 24 – 48 hours of incident response in this challenging environment. This paper discusses the challenges faced and the resultant strategic measures addressing limited access, fast-water booming, resource mapping, and other critical planning parameters to develop a pragmatic and effective GRP.
Inland Oiled Wildlife Response: It’s a Different Animal
Authors: Clumpner Curtis , Ziccardi Michael
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT 2017-311

The Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) was established in 1994 to address the need for timely, consistent, and professional science-based preparedness and response for wildlife at risk from oil spills occurring in the marine waters of California. Its mission focused on providing a high level of professional care based on the best available technology and science combined with the experience of many organizations that were pioneers in the field of wildlife rehabilitation. Since that time, the OWCN and its now more than 35 members have responded to over 100 spills while caring for more than 8,200 impacted animals. In 2014, in response to the increased risk due to changing sources and transport patterns in oil coming to refineries in California, the State legislature expanded the OWCN’s responsibility to include responding to oiled wildlife impacted during oil spills in all surface waters of California. Since then, the OWCN has worked to expand its plan and resources to ensure readiness to provide best achievable capture and care to a host of new species in the myriad of habitats and locations found in a large and ecologically diverse state. The biggest challenges to this expansion are the increased diversity of species and their habitats (California has 233 species and subspecies of reptiles and amphibians), and the increase in geographical scope. Working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (specifically the Office of Spill Prevention and Response, or OSPR), the OWCN staff have identified species at risk and response challenges unique to an inland environment and terrestrial species and the appropriate resources meet those challenges and fill current gaps. We have incorporated lessons learned by colleagues during wildlife responses to inland spills including CNR Lake Wabamun (2005), Enbridge Kalamazoo River (2010), Silvertip Pipeline Yellowstone River (2011), and CNRL Cold Lake (2013). We have repurposed and redesigned existing equipment as well as acquiring additional mobile equipment to increase capacity and decrease response time. We have identified and trained first responders over a wide geographical area focusing on regions with increased risk of incident and impacts while leveraging our current primary care facilities with field stabilization and wildlife transportation plans to achieve maximum flexibility and cost effectiveness. We detail both the process that was used to develop this expansion and the resulting additions to the wildlife plan aimed to provide best achievable care to all wildlife species impacted by an inland oil spill in California.
WHAT RECENT HHFT DERAILMENT FIRES TELL US
Authors: Narin van Court Wade A. , Hildebrand Michael S. , Noll Gregory G.
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT ID: 2017-145.

In July 2016, TRC Environmental Corporation (TRC) and Hildebrand and Noll Associates, Inc. (HNA) were requested to develop planning guidance on train derailments involving large volumes/high concentrations of denatured ethanol for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). As part of this project, as well as similar projects conducted by HNA for other clients, TRC and HNA assessed current firefighting strategies for the release of ethanol and/or crude oil from High Hazard Flammable Trains (HHFT) and developed the planning assumptions necessary to prepare for these types of incidents.

For these projects, studies and in-depth analyses of 27 HHFT derailments resulting in tank cars breaches that occurred in the United States and Canada involving denatured ethanol1 (ethanol) and/or crude oil2 from 2006 through 2015 were performed. The analyses were primarily based on the information from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and/or Transport Canada (TC) databases, with supplemental information from news reports in some cases. The objective of these analyses was to identify key planning assumptions that would be used in developing appropriate firefighting strategies by focusing on the number and types of cars derailed, approximate train speeds at the time of the derailment, number of cars breached, amount of product released, and whether or not the released product caught fire.

Additionally, the studies included obtaining and reviewing information on the properties and characteristics of ethanol, crude oils, and other Class 3 flammable materials, as well as information for railroad tank cars. Insights and understandings gained from these studies were used to further develop the firefighting strategies for HHFT derailment fires.
Comparative study of mangrove recruitment in oil deforested areas in Guimaras, Philippines
Authors: Barnuevo Abner P. , Sadaba Resurreccion B.
Published: December 2017

The MT Solar I oil spill that released over 2 million liters of bunker C oil in Guimaras in August 2006 affected mangrove forest in varying degrees from acute damages, sublethal stresses and long term effects. Although the incident caused only <1 ha deforestation, large scale mangrove planting has been implemented as part of response initiatives without inference to scientific assessment of the natural recovery potential of the damaged habitat. The response and intervention in the aftermath of the oil spill primarily involved planting mangroves. This study assessed the mangrove recruitment and colonization in two deforested mangrove areas in Guimaras, Philippines and evaluated whether replanting was necessary as part of intervention. Results on reconstructed age extrapolated from the internodal index showed that recruitment started to take place one and two years after the spill in Site 1 (3.33% of tagged wildings) and Site 2 (11.67%) respectively. However, the wilding establishment in the former site was impaired in the succeeding years and maintained at very low numbers (0.07–0.15 m−2) whereas wilding establishment was high in Site 2 (2.19–3.31 per m−2). The difference between sites is statistically significant (P<0.0001). The marked difference between sites is attributed to the prevailing interventions and persistent disturbances. The extraction of dead trees and downed wood in Site 1 impaired the progress of recovery and was further compounded by persistent disturbances brought by the socioeconomic activities, whereas, non-intervention in Site 2 favored the progress of natural recovery. Eight years after the incident, the colonizers in Site 2 were already reproductively mature as some already developed flowers. This study highlighted the capacity of mangroves to recover from perturbations as long as the geomorphological features of the habitats are not altered. The large-scale mangrove planting implemented in the affected areas is deemed unnecessary given that one year after the incident recruitment started to progress. Thus, future oil spill responses and interventions should carefully assess the natural recovery processes of the impacted areas first, before proceeding to large scale mangrove planting programs. Otherwise, the good intentions of implementing faster recovery of mangroves and other impacted habitats may be considered a waste of public funds and a futile effort vis-à-vis practicality.
Creation of National Strike Force Center of Expertise: U. S. Coast Guard Deployable Specialized Forces “Stem-to-Stern” Review
Authors: Campagnini Kathryn , Gunter Tim
Published: December 2017

The United States Coast Guard conducted a review of the National Strike Force’s alignment with the Coast Guard organization following direction from Admiral Papp, Commandant of the Coast Guard, for a “Stem to Stern” review of all Deployable Specialized Forces. The Deployable Specialized Force program and its support structure has made significant progress building and sustaining a highly specialized community. Some of these successes include the Incident Management Assist Team. The full purpose and integration of all Deployable Specialized Force units has still not completely achieved full operational capability. One of the recommended courses of action for Coast Guard Deployable Specialized Forces is to maintain proficiency and provide value across the Coast Guard’s mission spectrum included: Establish Centers of Expertise for disaster/incident response with functionality to include standardization teams, external assessment, and Tactics, Techniques and Policy integration. The review concluded that a separate unit should be established to conduct third party assessment of the National Strike Forces’ three Strike Teams. As a result, the National Strike Force Center of Expertise was created under the oversight of the Coast Guard Force Readiness Command. This paper will review the reasons for creation of the National Strike Force Center of Expertise and why it was placed under the Coast Guard Force Readiness Command as a detachment of Training Center Yorktown. Several functional statements of the National Strike Force Center of Expertise will be presented regarding managing environmental response and equipment standardization among the Strike Teams and how the National Strike Force Center of Expertise concept of operations will support future progress for the NSF mission.
Development and implementation of a common strategy for operating companies and OSROs
Authors: Jørgensen Kåre-L.
Published: December 2017

In times where oil companies are looking for potentials for cutting their costs, oil spill response organizations become subject to budgets restrictions.

Norwegian Clean Seas Association For Operating Companies, NOFO, and her members, have developed and approved a common strategy for the next 5 years. The strategy implements the Good Practice Guidance (GPG) made by IOGP/IPIECA post Macondo JIP working groups.

The strategy was implemented through a process, breaking the main areas into action items, involving the entire NOFO OSRO into this work. By doing so, NOFO has succeeded in leading on in identifying activities, when to do what and the costs related to activities. As such, severe budget restraints have not been hitting the organization.

The process and involvement of this OSRO does have many elements easily applicable to other OSROs.

This presentation will describe how the strategy was made, the process from overall goals to aims and objectives to implementation and follow-up by the companies and NOFO, whereby the GPG have been put into effect.

Promoting the common strategy, including the GPG from IOGP/IPIECA has proven a valuable part of the industry and OSRO outreach and communication.
Sustainable Spill Response
Authors: Richards Bruce
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT 332

The use and creation of new sustainable technologies in oil spill response: Analyses of a new sustainable spill response methodology and sustainable technologies’ ability to resolve spill containment failures and spill recovery ineffectiveness.
REALISTIC STABLE WATER-IN-OIL EMULSIONS AT OHMSETT
Authors: Stone Karen , Guarino Alan G.
Published: December 2017

The subject of this paper is the production of reproducible W/O emulsions at Ohmsett. It discusses the first two phases of a multiphase study to create predictable stable water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions at Ohmsett including a lab study and a large tank-scale study. The first stage of the study refined the process of creating, characterizing, and testing small batches of W/O emulsions under controlled and reproducible conditions in the laboratory to determine if the subject crude oil was capable of emulsifying. The second phase of the study capitalized on the unique capabilities of the testing facility to “grow” mass quantities of emulsions. Ohmsett provides a large wave tank under quasi-natural conditions with wave energy and exposure to the elements, especially UV energy from natural sunlight, that are similar to conditions that might be present during a real spill in the marine environment. The tank-scale study supported a parallel Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) program supporting the 2010 Deepwater Horizon “lessons learned” by proving control and validation of surface oiling characterization efforts pursued under the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Oil on Water (OoW) Workgroup. This study provided a “first cut” exercise in what is intended to be an ongoing and evolving effort at Ohmsett. The lessons learned, as well as suggestions for future provisions and studies will be discussed.
EXERCISE WESTWIND – A COLLABORATIVE OIL SPILL RESPONSE BY OIL & GAS OPERATORS AND AGENCIES.
Authors: Miller Jessica , Quinn Nick
Published: December 2017

On June 9th, 2015, ACME Oil Company’s rig suffered a dynamic positioned ‘run-off’. The mobile drilling unit lost its station above the wellhead and a loss of well control was experienced. “A massive environmental emergency unfolded…affecting pristine coastline and masses of wildlife”. Incident Management and Field Response Teams were activated in a multi-agency operation, bringing together 200 personnel from 16 oil and gas companies and 18 government agencies and third party providers. Source control, aerial, offshore, nearshore, shoreline and oiled wildlife response capabilities were deployed and national/international support was utilised.

Jointly managed by the Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre (AMOSC), the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), the Federal Department of Industry and Science, and the Western Australian Department of Transport -Exercise Westwind was a successful multi-faceted marine spill response, demonstrating Australia’s collective Industry/Government capacity to respond to a large, offshore loss of well control incident in a remote and isolated location.

ACME Oil Company was a fictitious company formed to enable the amalgamation of Australian petroleum companies to exercise industry arrangements under one ‘banner’ during the exercise period. ACME Oil Company had its own set of credentials, company website and Oil Pollution Emergency Plan. The company also held real time memberships with a number of service providers including AMOSC, Oil Spill Response Ltd, Trendsetter Engineering International, Oceaneering Australia and addenergy. Representing an innovative approach to spill response exercising, ACME Oil Company was a valuable and critical aspect to industry and governments participation under a non-attributable banner. Additionally, it enabled safe, widespread lessons to be observed, allowed for real-time testing of arrangements and provided a safe environment for regulators, stakeholder and industry interplay.

The exercise was an efficient and practical solution for Industry titleholders and their third party supporting organisations, to test shared response resources and to ensure Industry arrangements for responding to oil pollution are in accordance with the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2009.

This paper will discuss the development program behind the exercise and the experience of managing an exercise of this nature. It will highlight the successes including the creation and implementation of a fictitious company and the extensive collaboration between the industry and government personnel involved. It will also look forward – where are we 11-months later?

Can the history of exercising and/or response help us improve for the future-implementation of change and continued testing is critical in furthering our oil spill response capability and capacity.Exercise Westwind – Operational Phase TwoExercise Westwind – Operational Phase Two
Integrated Ocean Observing Systems as a source of scientific information for supporting oil spill response – From Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of Guinea
Authors: Anifowose Babatunde , Beegle-Krause CJ , Willis Zdenka , Quintrell Josie , Musa Idris
Published: December 2017

As of 2013, the Gulf of Guinea produces about 5.5 million barrels of oil per day – more than 60% of the total daily crude oil production in sub-Saharan Africa. Potential oil spills and their impact on the environment and the economy are of concern. As was seen in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, information from the United States Integrated Ocean Observing Systems (IOOS®) was key in the response. A robust IOOS-like system in the Gulf of Guinea could support oil spill response and enhance the existing Global Ocean Observing System for Africa (GOOS for Africa). There is great potential within the Gulf of Guinea for regional stakeholder resources to coordinate systematic metocean and coastal data, and share these data across the West, Central and Southern African countries. Through such coordinated efforts, the society benefits from the development of a “blue economy” and from improved disaster response more than from individual observations. Drawing from the examples in the Gulf of Mexico, the paper integrates the lessons from IOOS types of assets into useful response efforts for the Gulf of Guinea area. Responders, decision makers, scientists and the public all benefit from improved access to environmental information and forecasts. We include a “mock up” of how an IOOS asset would support scientific spill response in the Gulf of Guinea.
Development of API Selection and Training Guidelines for in situ Burning Personnel
Authors: O’Brien James Patrick , McCaffrey Patrick S.
Published: December 2017

Guidance for in situ burning of oil spills has been developed under the auspices of the Joint Industry Oil Spill Preparedness and Response (OSPR) Task Force (JITF) and the American Petroleum Institute (API), Oil Spill, Emergency Preparedness & Response Subcommittee (OSEPR). These groups convened to evaluate the procedures and lessons learned during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response. The initial focus was to identify potential opportunities for improvement to the oil spill response system. One of the categories addressed by the JITF and OSEPR was in situ burning of spilled oil. Within this category a number of projects were identified to be worked on by individual project teams. One of those projects was to develop selection and training guidance for oil spill responders to in situ burns. Consequently, a project team was formed of volunteers representing the oil and gas industry, federal and state government, subject matter experts, oil spill response organizations and manufacturers of relevant equipment.
THE GREAT PATAGONIAN OIL SPILL (METULA), 41 YEARS LATER
Authors: Gundlach Erich R.
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT: 2017-300

On 9 August 1974, the supertanker VLCC Metula spilled over 50,000 tons of Saudi Arabian crude oil and 2000 tons of bunker oil into the eastern portion of the Strait of Magellan in southern Chile. Oil spread over 200 km of glacially derived shorelines primarily composed of mixed sand and gravel to boulder-sized material. No cleanup was performed. Initial and follow-up investigators from Chile, U.S., U.K. and Canada reported on oiled shoreline conditions and spill persistence through 2005.

This report extends the analysis to February 2015 for the primary areas noted as having remaining oil, i.e. within Puerto Espora behind Espora spit and the sheltered East Espora Marsh. Both are located along the First Narrows on the Tierra del Fuego side of the Strait. Comparisons are made to previous site visits in 1975–76, 1981 and 1995.

Conditions at Puerto Espora historically showed a wide band of thick asphalted gravel pavement in a slow process of breakup. This area in 2015 has been further degraded by physical processes but mineralized asphalt remnants are still evident over a discontinuous length of 180 m (maximums: width = 8 m, thickness = 10 cm).

In East Espora Marsh, oil initially entered during a very high tide such that oil settled on to channel banks and upper areas dominated by salt-tolerant plants (Salicornia, Puccinellia and Sueda). In 2015, oil remains very much in evidence as weathered asphalt in thin deposits, as a high viscosity black oil with underlying brown mousse common in thicker (>4 cm) deposits, and as oil buried up to 10 cm below a layer of fine silt/clay. Vegetation has recovered to an estimated 75% in interior marsh areas and to ~35% in the outer marsh located at the entry to the marsh.

The Metula site remains of great scientific interest in terms of oil spill persistence in a cool dry environment that may be compared to other high latitude habitats such as found in the newly opening Arctic Ocean area.
Validating Marine Oil Spill Response Planning Assumptions and Execution with Analytics Model
Authors: Osen Holly , Casement Marcy , Sparks Fred
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT # 2017-209

Running a full-scale emergency response operation involves coordinated and interdependent workstreams that must be sufficiently resourced and supported to ensure that objectives are accomplished. Oil spill response planning provides the framework to rapidly scale up those operations and enable essential workstreams through pre-identified resources, facilities, logistics and capabilities. A systematic analysis of response plans can be used to validate an executable tier 1 response based on local capabilities, and provide a basis for planning the strategic cascading of additional resources for tier 2 and 3 responses with consideration for the limiting factors identified through analytics.

A proprietary analytics model was developed to examine and validate planning assumptions, resources and logistics against response requirements. The analysis includes a facilitated cross functional plan review using pre-defined response “workstreams” (e.g., shoreline protection and clean-up) broken down by tasks (e.g., SCAT or beach clean-up). For each task, the resources and logistics needed to accomplish the task are defined and evaluated to identify the limited or critical resources (e.g., supervisor qualifications, waste capacity, transportation, etc.). The resource requirements and constraining factors identified through the analysis are compared to the resourcing identified in existing plans and validated by business function representatives to highlight resource gaps and areas for planning and capability improvements.

The emergency response planning analytics model was tested using existing oil spill response plans from two business units within the organization. A worst case scenario oil spill simulation was used as the basis for the plan analysis. The analysis produced findings indicating that existing plans were insufficient in specific areas and existing resources would be exhausted before cascaded resources could arrive to support a longer-term response to a major oil spill on water unless alternative resourcing plans were established. Specific gaps in planning, trained personnel, equipment, logistics and support facilities were identified along with recommendations for gap closure. Pilot testing of the analysis tools suggests that effective planning requires a detailed understanding of critical resources, limiting factors and workstream interdependencies so that that the strategies and tactics defined in planning (and those developed during an active response) optimize their use. Additionally, outputs from the model may be used as the basis for increasing local reserves of response equipment and supplies, developing regional mutual aid capabilities and establishing training and exercise objectives.
Preparedness Decision Making in Offshore Oil and Gas - How much is enough?
Authors: O’Brien Michael L , Jones Rhys , Moore David M.
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT 2017-125:

A key challenge in offshore oil spill contingency planning is determining how much preparedness is enough. In other words, planning what types and quantities of oil spill response equipment, resources, and expertise ought to be held in readiness and with what mobilisation and deployment times, just in case a major oil spill occurs. For the offshore oil and gas sector much of the information required to plan for a response to a major incident, such as the location of the spill source, oil type, potential release rate and volume, local climate and metocean conditions, and environmental sensitivities, is already known or can be predicted. In this paper a process for determining appropriate levels of preparedness for offshore oil spill risk is proposed and analysed outside the realm of specific national regulatory frameworks. It is suggested that the approach has validity across all jurisdictions and is consistent with the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC). The approach begins with detailed activity and location-specific oil spill risk assessment which produces information on response needs, which is subsequently used in strategic and tactical response planning processes to describe the necessary response equipment and resources. Once the response resource requirements are established, optimal preparedness arrangements can then be designed that are specific to the nature and scale of the risk and the availability/criticality of the required response resources.
THE INCOMING REGIONAL RESPONSE REGIME IN ASEAN
Authors: Guevarra Joselito
Published: December 2017

After more than 20 years of work, the Southeast Asian region is poised to finalize a landmark Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan (ROSCP), which will form a solid foundation for a new regional response regime. The development of a Regional Plan is a commitment made by the ten member states of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and is currently undergoing internal approval by the ASEAN Maritime Transport Working Group (MTWG) prior to implementation.

The ASEAN member states committed to supporting the Regional Plan when the Transport Ministers of each member country signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the ASEAN Cooperation Mechanism for Joint Oil Spill Preparedness and Response on November 28, 2014. This MoU is the renewed and revitalized ASEAN Oil Spill Response Action Plan (OSRAP) that was signed in 1994 but was never implemented. The MoU is based on the principles of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC 1990), specifically Articles 5, 6, 7 and 10.

The aim of this paper is to document the historical evolution of the Regional Plan, starting from the early days of ASEAN until 2015 where it was developed by the ten member states. More importantly, this paper will highlight the current status of oil spill preparedness and response regimes in the region and how these will likely integrate into the Regional Plan when it is finally adopted. This will offer a unique perspective on the dynamics of intergovernmental agreements and on the important role of the oil and gas industry in helping governments achieve their goals of preparedness and response through capacity building and other activities, including through the partnership between the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Global Oil and Gas Industry Association for Environmental and Social Issues (IPIECA) which manages the Global Initiative for Southeast Asia (GISEA) Programme.
A JOURNEY TO EFFECTIVE RESPONSE: EXPERIENCE FROM KAZAKHSTAN
Authors: AMANZHOLOVA Dinara , TAYLOR Peter M. , KULEKEYEV Zhaxybek , NURTAYEVA Gulnara , DOSPAYEVA Gulnara
Published: December 2017

The Republic of Kazakhstan has an oil production and transport industry of growing global importance; in 2015 crude oil production averaged 1.67 million bbl/day (74 million m3/year).

The growth of the oil industry and a changing risk profile has led to an evolution of oil spill preparedness. The national framework has been amended several times due to legislative and administrative changes. The latest National Oil Spill Contingency Plan was approved in 2012, providing impetus for further development through its implementation. This Plan’s policy embraces risk-based preparedness utilizing the full response toolkit.

In terms of realizing national policy, important amendments to the Environmental Code in 2016 addressed the following:– Exemption from emission control regulation; legitimate consequences of the response toolkit (such as adding dispersant and a smoke plume resulting from controlled burning) will not be considered as emissions.– Requirement for specific regulation of oil spill methods i.e. dispersant product approval and use authorization and in-situ burning procedures.

Industry worked with the authorities to address and develop effective regulation based on international good practices as promoted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and international oil industry associations. The national association Kazenergy provided a vehicle for aligned support across the local industry.

Kazakhstan is a member of the regional agreement to protect the Caspian marine environment. Cooperation in case of major oil pollution is being developed, through the implementation of the Aktau Protocol, which entered into force in July 2016. Kazakhstan is also in the process of ratifying the IMO Conventions relating to oil spill preparedness and response.

This paper describes the challenging journey to develop an effective response framework, highlighting that the process:– requires champions within authorities to promote legislative amendments;– benefits from alignment of industry through associations as an efficient means to provide support;– is inevitably slowed by governmental re-organization and it is challenging to achieve consensus across different Ministries and departments;– is enhanced where targeted local oil spill research provides credibility and validation of international inputs.

Significant commitment is needed to achieve legislative change but the prize it worth it. The result is a robust framework that mandates effective response using the best options to minimize environmental impacts and promote recovery in case of potential oil pollution.
Developing a better Common Operating Picture (COP) using open source data in a web map solution.
Authors: Fiksdal Gry Eide
Published: December 2017

How can the responders of an oil spill operation make sure that the Common Operating Picture (COP) gives the situational awareness that is needed? How can the response personnel avoid producing and consuming so much data that the COP gets overloaded with information? How can the users differentiate the “need to have” from the “nice to have” data? And what type of information do response personnel need offshore, and is that same information relevant for the Incident Command Post?

These are some of the questions that NOFO has discussed with the Norwegian Coastal Administration, our partner in the project “Web based map solution”. The project has so far developed a shoreline response tool, consisting of a web map solution and a mobile application (App). With the “Shoreline App” you can collect data in the field, take pictures and video, view oil contamination, and quickly communicate this to the web map-solution. This new technology enables the response organisation to document and act faster, more efficient with increased accuracy. The shoreline clean-up module includes SCAT, work assignments and daily reports from the field, as well as statistics and analysing tools.

Inspired by IOGP-IPIECA (2015), NOFO have started to improve the NOFO COP OSR (oil spill response) to cover offshore, nearshore and shoreline operations. The scope for this work is to create a seamless integration of the different data that we receive, especially the surveillance sensor data such as aerial overflights, satellite images, images from ships and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). All the data registered in the system are given a predefined timeframe in which they will automatically be deactivated from the COP. This aids us in managing the data flow, presenting the latest information available, and avoid taking action based on outdated information. A timeline gives either predictions, real time information or historical data, and enables the user to “play off” the incident from Day 1 until the end, or even for a specific period.

The Adaptive interface, which is the platform the NOFO COP OSR uses, features the possibility to build different COP viewpoints for different levels in the response organisation.

The NOFO COP OSR may also be used for communication externally during and after clean-up efforts. The public and press can get limited insight through role-based access.

Based on the collected data, statistics and graphs are easily generated for use in the preparation of reports and presentations.
Determination of Fenpyroximate from Four Types of Honey by Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Kim Jin Mun , Myung Seung‐Woon
Published: December 2017

Fenpyroximate is an acaricide used to control phytophagous mites in beekeeping farms, and is used to regulate residual amounts in honey in European Union countries. An effective and accurate sample preparation method was established for a liquid chromatograph‐mass spectrometer/mass spectrometer (LC–MS/MS) analysis of four types of honey (acacia honey, wild honey, manuka, and chestnut honey). Experiments were carried out to determine the optimal values of parameters such as sample pH, type of solid‐phase cartridge, type and volume of extraction solvent, loading sample volume, type and volume of eluent for effective sample extraction, purification, and concentration. Chromatographic separation was performed using a C18 (3.0 mm i.d. × 50 mm length, 2.7 μm particle size) column under isocratic conditions of water and acetonitrile (30:70). The optimized parameters for the extraction of fenpyroximate are as follows: sample pH, 7; type of sorbent solid phase, aminopropyl; volume of extraction solvent, 20 mL; volume of loading sample, 2 mL; eluent, dichloromethane/n‐hexane (65/35%, v/v); eluent volume, 6 mL. The limits of detection and quantitation for spiked honey samples were 1.56 and 5.00 μg/kg, respectively. Linear correlation coefficient (r) obtained from a concentration range 5.00–50.0 μg/kg was 0.9914–0.9977, while the accuracy and precision were 87.99–119.06% and 0.68–14.71% (RSD), respectively. Residue monitoring of fenpyroximate was also performed on 30 commercially available honeys using established methods.
How DBT‐A in residential treatment facilities may help to overcome caregiver burden
Authors: Gallone Janine , Kim Kerri L. , Pelletier Amanda
Published: December 2017

Findings from the National Mental Health Services Survey indicate that 311,000 adolescents ages 12 to 17 received mental health services through a residential treatment facility (RTF) last year (Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, 2017). While the structure and approach vary across sites, RTFs are generally out‐of‐home programs designed to focus on behavior management for serious mental illness by using multidisciplinary teams and milieu settings. Adolescents entering residential services often present with multiple diagnoses and high‐risk behaviors that challenge their abilities to navigate relationships, school, and everyday life. Studies on youth in RTFs have found rates upward of 90% of family histories characterized by significant trauma and abuse (Briggs et al., 2012). Placement is typically preceded by violence, law enforcement and/or agency involvement, and a number of failed interventions that are insufficient for such complex cases. Not surprisingly, such problematic behaviors and complicated treatment histories can lead to caregiver burnout, which in turn may interfere with treatment progress. The impact of residential placement on families is often overlooked, even though their adjustment is arguably as essential as the adolescent's. Increasing caregiver involvement and support may lead to a more positive long‐term prognosis for the teen. Thus, a closer look at their personal experiences while teens are placed outside of the home may help us to overcome barriers to providing more effective treatments.
Choosing Wisely: 5 medical tests that should not be done without careful consideration
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: December 2017

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says parents need to think very carefully before testing their children for early puberty, short height, and other endocrine‐related concerns. These tests — some actually medical procedures — may be unnecessary, especially if the child is otherwise healthy.
The PRKD1 E710D hotspot mutation is highly specific in separating polymorphous adenocarcinoma of the palate from adenoid cystic carcinoma and pleomorphic adenoma on FNA
Authors: Andreasen Simon , Melchior Linea Cecilie , Kiss Katalin , Bishop Justin Avery , Høgdall Estrid , Grauslund Morten , Wessel Irene , Homøe Preben , Agander Tina Klitmøller
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND

Polymorphous adenocarcinoma (PAC) of the palatal minor salivary glands, previously known as polymorphous low‐grade adenocarcinoma, is the second most common intraoral malignant salivary gland carcinoma after adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and carries an excellent prognosis. Unfortunately, PAC demonstrates cytological overlap with 2 other salivary gland tumors frequently encountered in the same location, namely ACC and pleomorphic adenoma (PA). Recently, the protein kinase D1 (PRKD1) hotspot mutation E710D was demonstrated to be specific for PAC and to be present in the majority of cases. The objective of the current study was to investigate the value of PRKD1 hotspot sequencing in identifying PAC in paired fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) and surgical specimens from cases of PAC, ACC, and PA.

METHODS

Paired May‐Grunwald‐Giemsa‐stained FNA and corresponding surgical specimens were collected from 18 PAC cases, 25 ACC cases, and 21 PA cases. Both sets of specimens were subjected to dideoxynucleotide sequencing of PRKD1 exon 15, including the PRKD1 E710D hotspot.

RESULTS

Of the PAC cases, approximately 50% demonstrated identical PRKD1 E710D hotspot mutations on the FNA specimen and corresponding surgical specimen. Two ACC specimens had point mutations within the sequenced region in the FNA specimen as well as the surgical specimen, but none were located in the hotspot region. None of the PA cases demonstrated PRKD1 mutations. The specificity of the PRKD1 hotspot mutation for identifying PAC among ACC and PA cases was 100% whereas the sensitivity was 50%.

CONCLUSIONS

The PRKD1 E710D hotspot mutation is highly specific for identifying PAC on FNA among cases of ACC and PA, whereas the sensitivity is only modest. Alternative PRKD1 mutations exclude PAC, and are more suggestive of ACC. Cancer Cytopathol 2018;126:275‐81. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Neurologic examination and instrument‐based measurements in the evaluation of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow
Authors: Omejec Gregor , Podnar Simon
Published: December 2017

Introduction: The aim of the study was to compare the utility of instrument‐based assessment of peripheral nerve function with the neurologic examination in ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). Methods: We prospectively recruited consecutive patients with suspected UNE, performed a neurologic examination, and performed instrument‐based measurements (muscle cross‐sectional area by ultrasonography, muscle strength by dynamometry, and sensation using monofilaments). Results: We found good correlations between clinical estimates and corresponding instrument‐based measurements, with similar ability to diagnose UNE and predict UNE pathophysiology. Discussion: Although instrument‐based methods provide quantitative evaluation of peripheral nerve function, we did not find them to be more sensitive or specific in the diagnosis of UNE than the standard neurologic examination. Likewise, instrument‐based methods were not better able to differentiate between groups of UNE patients with different pathophysiologies. Muscle Nerve 57: 951–957, 2018