Dispersant Use in Ice-Affected Waters: Regulatory Status and Opportunities to Advance Decision Making

Abstract

ABSTRACT There is increasing interest in, and evolving technological capability to, conduct offshore oil and gas exploration and production operations in sensitive arctic regions. This has focused attention on oil spill preparedness and response for waters which have an ice cover for some part of the year. Given the logistical challenges associated with transporting and deploying mechanical equipment in these remote, ice-prone areas, the application of dispersants below and on the water surface is being considered as one of the ways to mitigate the impact of accidental oil spills from offshore exploration, production and transportation operations. In 2013, the International Oil & Gas Producers (OGP) commissioned a study about using dispersants in ice-affected waters. Part of the study scope was a regulatory review concerning the dispersant use in twenty-one Northern Hemisphere nations having Arctic/ice-prone waters. An important issue for government policy and decision makers is considering where and when dispersant use might reduce the net economic and environmental damage from an oil spill. Industry is aware that their resources and knowledge can help inform nations as they examine dispersants as a response option. This paper presents an overview of the regulatory status regarding the use and/or limitations of dispersants in countries that have oil and gas exploration and production operations ice-affected waters; potential obstacles in decision making which may limit industry's ability to stand up the logistical infrastructure necessary to implement an effective dispersant operation; and potential strategies, e.g., industry technical support and stakeholder engagement, to address identified obstacles in countries with ice-affected waters.