American Petroleum Institude's Work on Oil Spill Prevention, Containment and Cleanup

Abstract

ABSTRACT Since 1968, API has supported an extensive research program directed toward improving the industry's capability of'preventing- oil spills and improving response and capability of oilspill cleanup should a spill occur. These efforts have ranged from studies that determined industry's current oil-spill response capability to new equipment demonstrations and basic research on fate and effect of spilled oil Emphasis has also been placed upon the generation of harbor cooperatives to provide firstline defense capability and implementation of studies and organization of insurance plans to provide coverage for the expensive costs involved in an oil-spill disaster. More recently, API's efforts have concentrated on improvement of oil-spill recovery in high sea conditions. Full-scale sea trials have been conducted on several systems, concentrating most heavily on "new concept" methods for oil-spill recovery under these adverse conditions. 'The paper provides a report of the mostrecent trials of this type of equipment and includes our Ocean Design and Engineering, BF Corp., and Reynolds projects. In addition, the status of some of our fate and effect work, such as that being conducted by Texas A&M U., U. of California, and Battelle Memorial Institute's Pacific Northwest Laboratory, is detailed. TEXT Since 1966, the major environmental effort at API has been directed by the Committee on Environmental Affairs (CEA). At present, CEA consists of representatives from some 25 API member companies - men chosen for their experience not only in environmental research, but also in medicine, refining, marketing, transportation, production and public affairs CEA formulates basic industry policy on conservation matters and sponsors a broad program of environmental research. The current annual budget for CEA research is approximately $3 million. One of the major subcommittees within CEA is the subcommittee on Oil Spills Prevention and Cleanup. The Institute has been concerned with the problem of oil spills for many years. But it is fair to say that the need to develop the capability to deal with a massive oil spill, such as the Torrey Canyon spill, or with a well blowout as unusual as the one in Santa Barbara Channel, was not widely recognized until these two unprecedented incidents occurred. Since then (in response to other incidents, increased public attention, and new legal requirements) our capability has improved markedly. API did recognize that there was a hazard of smaller oil spills in harbors and along waterways where the petroleum industry and others operate terminals. In addition to encouraging each company to have equipment and materials available to cope with small spills at their own facilities, API has (since 1967) urged its member companies to work together to form local cooperatives to contain and clean up oil spills whenever they occur. Like volunteer fire departments, these groups purchase and pool equipment and resources, establish a system of communications, and adopt emergency plans.