Transneft Far East held an emergency response drill (ERD) in Amur region, at the Eastern Siberia – Pacific Ocean (ESPO) oil trunk pipeline underwater crossing (OTPUWC) across the Gashchenka river.
Under the drill scenario, an underwater oil pipeline damage resulted in a leakage and an oil release onto the surface. The ERD was aimed at the simulated spill containment and elimination.
Employees from production facilities of Belogorsk Regional Oil Pipeline Directorate (RPD) practiced teamwork between the units in charge of the oil pipeline safe operation, and the quick response skills in case of emergency.
After the dispatcher received an emergency alarm, a patrol group promptly moved out to the potential accident site and discovered the “oil release.” Emergency response teams from oil pump stations (PS) No. 24 and 27 and Belogorsk central maintenance division arrived at the simulated emergency spot. Booms were deployed on the water surface. The work of installing temporary oil storage tanks for the “oil” collected from the water surface by oil skimmers was arranged on the shore.
The entire volume of oil simulators released onto the water surface near the OTPUWC was detained in the first line of the second boundary for conventional spill containment, noted Evgeny Prokopyev, Deputy Head of PS No. 24.
The drill participants were given 7.5 hours to pass all the phases. The actions required during the drill were completed within the prescribed time. A group of observers that included members of the RPD management emphasised the high-level alignment of actions.
Such drills enable to check the efficiency of oil containment devices applied, and the skills of the staff to promptly detect leakage points, prevent the aggravation during accidents, and eliminate their consequences, noted Anton Shenderov, Chief Engineer of Belogorsk RPD. Besides, he stressed, emergency drills enable to confirm that the divisions and units have all the proper functioning equipment, devices, and tools they need to contain an emergency oil spill in the water surface.
The emergency response drill brought together 52 persons, engaged 23 vehicles, including 3 watercraft.