TESTING UK RESPONSE TO DEEP WATER OIL INCIDENT
The UK will test its response to a deep water oil spill incident on 18th and 19th May 2011 by running Exercise Sula in Aberdeen and in Shetland.
Sula will simulate how the UK would react to a major oil spill incident offshore, with a focus on well control, at sea counter pollution measures and shoreline protection. The exercise will test subsea well control response capability, command and control functions, and the counter pollution response used to control an ongoing oil spill.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) are leading Exercise Sula. Also participating in the exercise are Chevron Upstream Europe, Oil Spill Response, Stena Offshore, Briggs Environmental, Braemar Howells, BP (Sullom Voe terminal), Shetland Islands Council, Marine Scotland, Hess, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Northern Constabulary, Scottish Natural Heritage, Foods Standards Agency, Scottish Fisheries Association, Oil & Gas UK and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Exercise Sula will test the co-ordination of all organisations involved.
Murray Milligan Exercise Director said:
The UKs offshore safety and environmental regulatory regime is one of the most robust in the world and the industrys record is strong. Nevertheless its right that we continue to test our response capability.
Exercise Sula will test the participants response to an unfolding scenario, involving the uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons into the sea from a deep water well operated by Chevron Upstream Europe at the Cambo Well Site, 86 miles West of Shetland.
This exercise will give the UK an opportunity to assess its response capability to a release from a wellhead 1,000 metres below the surface. Because the exercise scenario involves the weather and tides forcing the oil to land onshore well also have the opportunity to test a shoreline response in Shetland.
-Ends �
Notes to Editors
1. Media representatives are invited to:
� 18th May, Aberdeen: An introductory briefing about the exercise at 1.30pm MCA, Marine House, Blaikies Quay, Aberdeen, AB11 5PB followed by a site visit to the response rooms to be set up by MCA, DECC, Chevron and other participants at both Blaikies Quay and Chevron House, Hill of Rubislaw, Aberdeen, AB15 6XL before returning to Aberdeen city centre at around 3.30pm. For operational reasons the site visit will be brief and primarily for photographs and film footage.
� 19th May, Shetland: Opportunity to observe the practical oil spill response demonstration and talk to technical experts between 10.30am and 13.00. A technical briefing / press conference will be held at Brae Public Hall at 10.30am after which attendees will be transported to viewing areas to film/photograph aerial dispersants and shoreline booms being deployed.
2. To register for either or both, please contact Oil & Gas UK on 01224 577279 before 12 noon on Monday 16th May. Please note, anyone who has not registered in advance will not be granted access.
Sula will simulate how the UK would react to a major oil spill incident offshore, with a focus on well control, at sea counter pollution measures and shoreline protection. The exercise will test subsea well control response capability, command and control functions, and the counter pollution response used to control an ongoing oil spill.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) are leading Exercise Sula. Also participating in the exercise are Chevron Upstream Europe, Oil Spill Response, Stena Offshore, Briggs Environmental, Braemar Howells, BP (Sullom Voe terminal), Shetland Islands Council, Marine Scotland, Hess, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Northern Constabulary, Scottish Natural Heritage, Foods Standards Agency, Scottish Fisheries Association, Oil & Gas UK and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Exercise Sula will test the co-ordination of all organisations involved.
Murray Milligan Exercise Director said:
The UKs offshore safety and environmental regulatory regime is one of the most robust in the world and the industrys record is strong. Nevertheless its right that we continue to test our response capability.
Exercise Sula will test the participants response to an unfolding scenario, involving the uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons into the sea from a deep water well operated by Chevron Upstream Europe at the Cambo Well Site, 86 miles West of Shetland.
This exercise will give the UK an opportunity to assess its response capability to a release from a wellhead 1,000 metres below the surface. Because the exercise scenario involves the weather and tides forcing the oil to land onshore well also have the opportunity to test a shoreline response in Shetland.
-Ends �
Notes to Editors
1. Media representatives are invited to:
� 18th May, Aberdeen: An introductory briefing about the exercise at 1.30pm MCA, Marine House, Blaikies Quay, Aberdeen, AB11 5PB followed by a site visit to the response rooms to be set up by MCA, DECC, Chevron and other participants at both Blaikies Quay and Chevron House, Hill of Rubislaw, Aberdeen, AB15 6XL before returning to Aberdeen city centre at around 3.30pm. For operational reasons the site visit will be brief and primarily for photographs and film footage.
� 19th May, Shetland: Opportunity to observe the practical oil spill response demonstration and talk to technical experts between 10.30am and 13.00. A technical briefing / press conference will be held at Brae Public Hall at 10.30am after which attendees will be transported to viewing areas to film/photograph aerial dispersants and shoreline booms being deployed.
2. To register for either or both, please contact Oil & Gas UK on 01224 577279 before 12 noon on Monday 16th May. Please note, anyone who has not registered in advance will not be granted access.
