bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MANAGING MULTIPLE OIL SPILLS FROM A NATURAL DISASTER: THE KATRINA OIL SPILL RESPONSES
Authors: Cantin Ronald , Laferriere Roger , Hewett Larry , Henry Charlie 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
Every nation faces the possibility of a major natural disaster and few plans are in place to deal with the massive consequences that follow. When Hurricane Katrina reached landfall, the human toll and extent of damage made it the worst natural disaster in American history. The news headlines were filled with the images of desperation and the efforts of the thousands of heroes across the spectrum of government who worked tirelessly to help the citizens of the Gulf Coast of the United States recover. Less visible to the American public was the vast environmental impact caused by millions of gallons of oil released by hundreds of individual oil spills. The total oil volume lost to the environment is estimated at over 8.2 million gallons, making it the second largest oil spill in United States history. Moreover, this spill was the first major environmental disaster managed under the newly published National Response Plan, a plan developed following the tragic events of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This paper will describe how response managers overcame the incredible challenges of managing multiple oil spills in an enormous area devoid of the support infrastructure, human resources and the logistics network normally present in major spills within the United States. The authors will offer a first hand account of the strategies employed by the response management system assembled to combat the spills. They will describe key lessons learned in overcoming competition for critical resources; the importance of combining scientific, legal and other support in determining response options such as burning and debris removal; and the methodology employed in creating a Unified Area Command that included multiple responsible parties. Finally, this paper will provide insights to processes within the Joint Field Office, an element of the National Response Plan, and how well it performed in supporting response efforts.
USE OF VERTICAL DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY AT THE BAYOU PEROT, LA SPILL FOR OIL MAPPING AND VOLUME ESTIMATION
Authors: Locke Chris , White Mark , Michel Jacqueline , Henry Charlie , Sellars Jon D. , Aslaksen Micheal L. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
The January 2007 release of over 8,000 barrels of a condensate crude oil from a damaged well in Bayou Perot, Louisiana resulted in intermittent oiling of remote mud flats and salt marshes over a 30 square mile area. NOAA'S National Geodetic Survey collected aerial vertical digital photography 17 days after the spill to assist in locating and quantifying areas of oiling. The effective pixel size was 34 centimeters, however, the data were processed to 40 centimeter resolution. Useful products were posted to the web within two days after acquisition. Standard supervised and unsupervised image processing techniques were used in conjunction with oblique photography and field knowledge to define the oiling signatures. Time constraints required that the classification be conducted on mosaiced, non-color balanced images (ideally each image would be classified independently to account for differences in illumination and/or processing). However, the strong visible signature of the oiled areas and ground-truth data from field surveys resulted in high confidence levels for several oil types which in turn were used to enhance the identification of the remaining classes. Five oil types were identified: Black (218,000 ft2), Red (81,000 ft2), Orange (154,000 ft2), Yellow (38,000 ft2), and Light Yellow (349,000 ft2) corresponding to the color and attributes of the oil. The total conservative estimate of oiled area was 840,000 ft2 or nearly 20 acres. Based on estimated thicknesses of the different oils, the total volume of oil present at the time of imagery acquisition was 3,330 barrels. This value was close to the actual amount of oil recovered over the time period between the date of imagery acquisition and the end of cleanup.
CASE STUDY - OIL SPILL IN THE NIGERIAN DELTA REGION
Authors: Smith Matt 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
On 17th March 2006 an Improvised Explosive Device damaged a manifold on a pipeline, resulting in a release of Brass River crude into the Brass River itself. As soon as the spill was noticed the pipeline was shut down and the resultant release was contained by a series of booms, although an undefined amount escaped into the river.
Over flights revealed a large volume of black oil from a position north of the manifold down to the mouth of the river. This was located to the eastern shoreline, with a sheen extending though out the river and extending approximately 6 kilometres offshore. It was estimated that a volume of 8000 to 9000 barrels of oil could have spilt into the river.
The objectives for the personnel attending were to;Determine the fate of the oilDetermine the environmental impacts of the oil on the topography of the areaDetermine near shore and shoreline impacted areasGive technical advice to optimise time and resources for maximum oil recovery
The area around the Brass River is mainly mangrove swamps and tree forests with several local communities situated adjacent to areas of sandy beach. The paper discusses the review and choice of appropriate spill management strategies; namely: mechanical recoveries, monitor & evaluate, contain & collect. It will also look in to the initial estimation and quantification of the spill as well as tracking the recorded volumes of oil throughout the duration of the spill. It concludes that the use of booms to contain the oil and then use a recovery device to recover the oil was the correct course of action to take with any black oil that escaped requiring manual clean-up either in the river or on the beach areas.
The paper discusses the effectiveness of the interface with the local Tier 2 contractor, the client and the local authorities and also reviews the security measures that were in place for expatriate personnel, especially when outside guarded facilities.
BUILDING PREPAREDNESS IN ASIA: A PARTNERSHIP APPROACH
Authors: Peng Daniel Chan Kok 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
The International Maritime Organization'S (IMO) “International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation, 1990” (OPRC 90) has been in force for more than 12 years now. IMO has been instrumental in setting up and providing both technical support and funding for various regional arrangements that provide the platform to achieve the objectives laid out by the Convention, both at the regional and national level. These efforts were sometimes carried out through the IMO/International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA) Global Initiative (GI) Programme with strong support from national government and industry.
Generally across Asia, national governments have to take preparedness to the provincial government level where the operational issues and challenges lie, often beyond the remit of existing technical support and funding from external organisations. The task of developing an integrated preparedness and response solution often involves inter-agency cooperation both at the national and local government level that may have competing priorities that outstrips available resources.
A possible solution to this is through “Partnerships” among stakeholders, as the new paradigm that seeks to involve relevant stakeholders at the local provincial level where most of the practical challenges are. In East Asia Seas region, PEMSEA NETWORK OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR SUSTAINABLE COASTAL DEVELOPMENT (PNLG) formed on 13 December 2006 recognises that oil spill preparedness and response is an integral part of the sustainable coastal development. This provides a platform for such “Partnerships” that integrate the different elements of preparedness between local government and industry at the provincial level.
Oil Spill Response and East Asia Response Ltd (OSRL/EARL) is a ‘not for profit’ Tier 3 response organisation with a regional base in Singapore for the Asia Pacific Region. Recognising the importance and issues surrounding oil spill preparedness and response we had been proactively involved in the region for the past six years through our advocacy activities that seek to address these challenges with the support of the oil industry. OSRL/EARL on 16 December 2006 joined the East Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council as a member to provide the technical support and operational expertise to enhance oil spill preparedness in high risk areas in the region.
PREPARING FOR FIRST OIL
Authors: Miles Chris 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
In this paper the author draws from experience gained at the new ENL (ExxonNefigas) Export Terminal at DeKastri in the Russian Federation.
The Terminal received first oil in late September 2006, to export through 5 new build tankers loading at the new Single Point Mooring facility. The oil is produced to the east of Sakhalin, and is pumped via the Chaivo Terminal across Sakhalin Island and the Tartar Straights to mainland Russia. Once ashore the pipe route turns south to DeKastri, a total run of approximately 230 kilometres.
The main task set was to prepare for and conduct a Tier 1 Drill for Offshore and Shoreline Response, so as to demonstrate to the Russian Authorities the ENL capability and level of readiness. There was a large amount of equipment to be commissioned, stored in a dedicated Oil Spill Response (OSR) warehouse within the terminal. Equipment is also located on 2 dedicated vessels used for mooring and icebreaking duties.
The response team to be trained were all Russian Nationals, many of whom had already attended nationally accredited courses but lacked practical experience. For this reason the priority for training was to assess the most likely scenarios along pipelines, the terminal and the SPM, and to conduct a series of exercises building up to weekly Drills that encompassed all aspects of a real mobilisation. The acting team lead had to supervise briefings, select appropriate equipment, and identify logistics and safety and welfare arrangements. At the operational location the seasonal variation of the weather is a huge factor, so it was vital to run exercises to cover all eventualities both onshore and offshore.
As well as the preparation of the team and equipment response procedures had to be examined and modified, introducing a system to ensure complete readiness of all the factors that contribute to an effective Tier 1 response.
The paper will explore the process of preparing for first and identify issues faced along the way.
TRENDS IN PIPELINE LEAK DETECTION SYSTEMS USING SONIC TECHNOLOGY
Authors: Prezzi Jairo A. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
Acoustic sensing is a relatively well known method for detecting leaks, particularly in transport pipelines. This methodology is based on the rarefaction phenomenon which occurs around the leak spot as a result of a sudden rupture of the pipe wall. The physical forces involved in the phenomenon generate a pressure disturbance that propagates through the fluid, upstream and downstream the pipe. The key feature behind acoustic technology, when applied to LDS, is the systems capability to monitor pressure disturbances and accurately recognize and pinpoint characteristic “leak waveforms” superimposed on the background noise. This is usually achieved by a combination of mechanical, hardware and software filtering techniques. Although real applications have demonstrated the effectiveness of acoustic technology over a quite broad range of scenarios, it has experienced few innovations along the past years. The relative technological stagnation and the experience achieved in several LDS installations in Brazil, encouraged Aselco, a Brazilian company focused on LDS applications, to invest in developing new strategies around the classical acoustic concept. The R&D project started in early 2006 jointly with NETeF, Thermal and Fluids Engineering Centre, at University of São Paulo at São Carlos. A 1. 2Km pipeline was built at NETeF'S lab in order to simulate leaks under mono or multiphase flow conditions. Among the project goals was the development of a new generation of systems dedicated to leak detection encompassing more elaborated algorithms to identify leak acoustic signatures. The core R&D is still centered on the acoustic concept, but under a different approach such as DSP-Digital Signal Processing, pattern recognition through neural network analysis. Another line of development is toward multivariate systems, which bring together both acoustic and hydraulic modeling algorithms running on the same platform. The experimental data obtained, proposed system architecture and characteristics are hereby discussed. Also, the prospective aspects and application of the new technology are objects of analysis.
INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM TRAINING AND EXERCISES: DEVELOPING THE TEAM
Authors: Hall Christopher J. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
Developing and training an Incident Management Team (IMT) is a critical requirement for companies involved in oil exploration, production, and transportation. Companies beginning operations in new areas face high expectations from the local regulatory community and may find it challenging to meet these goals. Training programs for IMT personnel that consist of reviewing regulations, forms, and position descriptions fall far short of preparing the IMT to effectively manage an incident. A more useful approach to IMT training begins in the classroom and quickly migrates to tabletop and “walk-through” training workshops. Walk-through training captures the pace of a drill without the participants feeling any pass / fail pressure. Designing courses in this format requires careful planning and preparation. Instructor staffing must be sufficient to monitor events and ensure training objectives are being met.
Involving the regulatory agencies in training builds familiarization and enhances a coordinated response team. Company team members will find the regulatory community eager to participate in walk-through training. This team-building pays big dividends during exercises and actual events. Coordinating IMT training with Spill Response Team (SRT) training promotes communication and strengthens the overall understanding of operational limitations. Using the IMT for non-spill events, such as earthquake or mass casualty incidents, further broadens their understanding of other applications of the Incident Command System (ICS). Members gain an opportunity to fill different roles in their response organization and learn more about the team'S capabilities.
This paper highlights the concepts of scenario-based Incident Management Team training and provides examples and suggestions for course material, length, and frequency. Examples involving non-spill incidents are also presented.
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME OFFICE OF SPILL PREVENTION AND RESPONSE CONVERGENT VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
Authors: Murphy Cynthia K. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
The California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) have the authority to use Convergent Volunteers during a spill event to assist with rehabilitating oiled wildlife. The Convergent Volunteer Program was created to allow concerned citizens to help save wildlife injured by oil spill events in our state. Volunteers’ interests, talents, and skills are matched with wildlife needs and work opportunities at the primary care facility responding to the spill. Previous experience with wildlife, while helpful, is not required to volunteer. Volunteers in the OSPR program are people from all walks of life, who want to be good stewards of California and our wildlife. Our volunteers are individuals who come forward to help assist with rehabbing oiled wildlife after learning of an oil spill from the media or other sources. They are average citizens willing to share their wealth of knowledge and learn how to rehabilitate wildlife that have been injured by spilled oil. Some volunteers work full time, some a few hours a week or month, or during a particular season or spill event. Volunteers perform a wide variety of tasks, such as; animal intake, animal food preparation, animal stabilization, animal washing, volunteer operations center, construction or electrical work (building pens, etc.) clerical and administrative tasks, and laundry. At the OSPR, we strive to ensure that all wildlife exposed to petroleum products in the environment receive the best achievable treatment available. Ultimately, we succeed because of the vigorous efforts of our dedicated oil spill volunteers.
CONTRACTOR SAFETY IN SPILL RESPONSE1
Authors: Qiuhui Quek , Toh Zerlina 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
Oil spills are fortunately not a daily event. However, when they do occur, many people are emotionally stirred into wanting to contribute to the clean up. These volunteers (e.g. Nakohdka, Erika, Prestige spills) and contractors come from a myriad of backgrounds and skills. They want to be assigned meaningful roles so they can feel ‘useful’. The additional risks imposed on the overall management of the spill response must be carefully assessed and managed. All responders will inevitably be exposed to health and safety issues in the response.
It is important to advocate health and safety during peace time to eliminate the exposure of the responders and contractors to potential hazards during an actual response. The challenge is to identify appropriate training standards that will ensure the competence of contractors’ knowledge and awareness of safety protocols during a response. Properly trained contractors are an invaluable asset during a spill response where they are effectively integrated into the overall response structure.
Trained contractors in Singapore have been tested in real time exercises and were incorporated successfully in actual spill responses. During spill response, contractors have safely participated in the response and clean-up activities. It has been demonstrated that contractors who have undergone training have a higher level of safety awareness as compared to those that have not undergone training.
This paper will discuss generally our training for contractors during peace time and specifically the health and safety modules, personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, safe handling of oil spill equipment / chemical dispersants and expectations of an individual in a spill. The paper will also briefly discuss the assignment of ‘volunteers’ during a spill response on how their skills can be best deployed and utilized with keeping health and safety risks as low as possible.
QUANTIFYING PERCENT COVER OF SUBMERGED OIL USING UNDERWATER VIDEO IMAGERY
Authors: Pfeifer Chris , Brzozowski Erik , Markarian Ralph , Redman Ramsey 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
On November 11, 2005, the double-hulled tank barge (TIB) DBL 152 struck the submerged remains of a drilling platform that collapsed during Hurricane Rita in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. The allision and eventual capsize of the barge caused the release of approximately 1.9 million gallons of low-API gravity slurry oil, which sank to the seafloor. Throughout the response, information on the concentration of submerged oil (volume per unit area) was sought to prioritize cleanup of multiple sunken oil patches. Numerous methods were employed to detect and assess submerged oil including, among others, divers to measure oil thickness and chain-weighted sorbent drags to delineate patch size. However, none of the techniques used were able to quantify the percent cover of oil, which emerged as a critical parameter for estimating oil concentrations.
This paper presents the methodology for quantifying percent cover of submerged oil used during the long-term monitoring phase of this incident. Orthographic (downward-looking) images of the seafloor were obtained using an underwater drop camera. Full-motion video was digitally recorded using a laptop computer and video capture hardware. Imagery was georeferenced by overlaying GPS coordinates onto the streaming video using a video annotator. Still images were extracted from the video using frame-grabbing software during post-processing. Percent cover of oil was then manually determined for each image using two different methods: ocular estimation and point counts. Seafloor imagery was acquired at discrete sample points along drift transects, and when visibility allowed, continuously between sample points.
Percent cover data obtained using these techniques, combined with oil thickness measurements and patch size information obtained using other methods, was used to estimate the volume of oil present within a discrete patch of submerged oil discovered in September 2006. Successful application of this technique demonstrated its viability as a cost-effective means of obtaining quantitative information about percent cover of submerged oil. Moreover, this relatively low-tech system was comprised primarily of off-the-shelf components that can be readily sourced, assembled and mobilized to a submerged oil spill response area.
EXPLORING A METHODOLOGY TO ASSESS COUNTRIES' PREPAREDNESS PRACTICES - OUTCOMES FROM A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE EUROPEAN AND NORTH AMERICAN APPROACHES
Authors: Veiga Marlene Calderón 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACT
Background: Little research has been conducted with the aim to identify and compare countries’ best practices to fund preparedness and assess their ability to respond effectively to catastrophic spills. The authors believe that important lessons can be learned from this analysis.
Aims: To undertake a comparison of the North American and European approaches to deal with oil spills for building a methodology which identifies best practices and assesses their level of preparedness.
Methods’. Examination through case study analysis of contingency plans, legislation and past response to selected spills in countries with two different financing approaches: (a) the government-potential polluter approach and (b) government-only approach. The soft system methodology and capability maturity model are applied to ranking countries’ practices into levels of performance.
Results: A general methodology which identifies three parameters to assess preparedness systems:Oil pollution legislation,Contingency planning practices, andResponse performance in past selected spills
Each parameter establishes a set of best practices (indicators) which can be used to analyse and evaluate the countries’ systems in a qualitative manner.
Limitations: Ranking of countries is not presented here. This should be undertaken in consultation with responders in order to reduce the authors’ subjectivity. Nonetheless, certain conclusions regarding preparedness systems in Europe may be drawn based upon the authors’ examination of the above parameters.
Practical implications: The methodology provides a quick overview of the elements of preparedness which require more attention or where further steps should be taken to improve them. It backs current efforts for a wide harmonization of standards in oil pollution response.
Conclusions: The development of best practices is better achieved in countries which are implementing: (i) risk based legislation and (ii) policies promoting the participation of the oil and shipping industries, either by means of expertise assistance and/or providing sustainable means of financing preparedness measures.
Key words: “assessing preparedness,” “oil spills,” “maritime policy,” “contingency planning,” “potential polluter pays”.