International Petroleum Industry Research Articles

THE IPIECA OIL SPILL WORKING GROUP 20:20 VISION REFLECTIONS AND PROJECTIONS ON OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY

ABSTRACT The International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA) Oil Spill Working Group (OSWG) is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Its mission has been, through education, training and awareness initiatives, to enhance the state of preparedness and response to marine oil spill incidents in priority coastal locations around the world. Its programme is carried out in close cooperation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and operates within the context of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC), 1990. The OSWG is made up of oil spill managers and specialists from IPIECA member companies and associations, supported by invited representatives from other organisations in the oil spill response community. It aims to ensure that the full range of industry interests is adequately reflected in its work programme. Coordination between these industry-based organisations and the IMO remains an essential ingredient in the success of the OSWG programme This paper reviews the main activities and achievements of the IPIECA OSWG over the last 20 years and attempt to illustrate and measure the impact of its work on global oil spill preparedness. We then hypothesize as to how the work of the IPIECA OSWG might develop over the next 20 years, which could serve as future strategic/planning guidance.

THE IMO/IPIECA GLOBAL INITIATIVE: OVERCOMING THE BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE PREPAREDNESS

ABSTRACT Formally launched in 1996, the Global Initiative (GI) is an umbrella programme under which International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA) are working together to encourage/facilitate the development and implementation of contingency plans and increase ratification of related international conventions. Other organizations also participate in and support the GI, including Governments, the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited, the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds, various regional bodies and local oil industry. IMO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, works closely with member State Governments and the international shipping regulatory community to improve the safety and security of international shipping and to protect the marine environment from shipping-related sources of pollution. GI has been active since 1996 and its achievements are encouraging; countries have made significant progress in both elaboration and further development of national response systems and strategies. GI also assists in efficiently targeting donor agency funds and in leveraging such funds. It is important to recognise that the GI is a long-term process.

HIV/AIDS disclosures by oil and gas companies

This paper is an empirical study of the extent of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Disclosures (HIV/AIDSD) by oil and gas companies of the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IAOGP) and the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA). The anti‐HIV/AIDS activities of 29 IAOGP/IPIECA companies as reported in their year‐ending 2005 annual reports are analysed using an HIV/AIDSD index that is adapted from an International Labour Organisation HIV/AIDS workplace protocol checklist for an oil and gas industry context. The descriptive statistics analysis reveals a very low level of overall HIV/AIDSD practices (12.6%) with the majority of the oil and gas companies making no HIV/AIDSD (17 out of 29 entities). This finding indicates that anti‐HIV/AIDSD are not regarded as a primary consideration in the information context of some of the prominent OGP/IPIECA companies’ annual reports, a piquant result given IAOGP/IPIECA's commitment to anti‐HIV/AIDS programs. Further analysis reveals that Care & Support is the most disclosed broad HIV/AIDSD category in the annual reports while Testing, arguably a crucially important issue, is the least disclosed. The simple regression model reveals that a company's breadth of location is a statistically significant predictor of HIV/AIDSD, an important finding for health bodies wishing to enjoin large companies in anti‐HIV/AIDS campaigns.

Guest Editorial: SPE Seeks Industry Comment on Updated Reserves Definitions

SPE has posted the proposed 2007 Petroleum Reserves and Resources Classification, Definitions, and Guidelines at www.spe.org/reserves for member and general industry comment. This update culminates 2 years of work by the SPE Oil and Gas Reserves Committee to establish internationally accepted guidelines. The draft document is sponsored jointly with the World Petroleum Council (WPC), American Assn. of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), and the Soc. of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers (SPEE). The sponsoring organizations are seeking broad international input from their membership by 1 February 2007 before presenting the definitions to their boards for final approval. Publication of the guidelines could occur as early as March 2007. While individual opinions are welcome, it is preferable if organizations would critically review the proposed system and then submit a consolidated opinion based on internal consensus. Please address your comments by e-mail to ogr@spe.org. A Necessary Update The proposed system would update and replace the current guidelines as contained in the 1997 SPE/WPC Petroleum Reserves Definitions and the 2000 SPE/WPC/AAPG Petroleum Resources Classification and Definitions. These guidelines are now in common use internationally within the petroleum industry and provide a measure of comparability and reduce the subjective nature of resources estimation. However, the technologies employed in petroleum exploration, development, production, and processing continue to evolve and improve. In addition, the growth of the international petroleum industry and the expanding contribution of unconventional hydrocarbons to the worldwide resource base necessitated a re-examination of the existing system. SPE works closely with other organizations to maintain the definitions, and it issues periodic revisions to keep current with evolving technologies and changing commercial opportunities. In updating the definitions, SPE's Oil and Gas Reserves Committee completed a comparison of classifications and definitions used in eight other systems worldwide to identify best practices (see box next page). The primary updates include:The system is project-based.The class is based on the project chance of commerciality.Categorization is based on quantities recovered by applying a defined project to a reservoir. The base case for assessing project economics uses evaluator's forecast of future conditions (including prices and costs, technology available, environmental standards, fiscal terms, and regulatory constraints).Guidelines are applicable to unconventional resources (including bitumen, oil shale, coalbed methane, and gas hydrates). These definitions and guidelines are designed to establish technically based reserves and resources evaluation standards for the international petroleum industry. While, ideally, future national reporting and regulatory disclosure agencies would reference these standards, the guidelines do not replace those currently required by these agencies. Significant Achievements Other significant achievements have been made this year in moving toward creating a common language for describing reserves and resources.

The International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association social responsibility working group and human rights

This chapter describes how the oil and gas industry is responding to one specific challenge to sustainable development – the promotion of human rights. The human rights activities and practices of the industry fall into three categories: direct responsibility, shared responsibility and indirect influence. Specific responses to human rights issues are illustrated through case studies from some of the member companies of the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association. The chapter demonstrates that the oil and gas industry has achieved substantial progress in establishing and implementing human rights policies and practices. However, the debate between industry, representatives of civil society and governments over the roles, responsibilities and accountability for human rights of transnational corporations in general, and of the oil and gas industry in particular, continues. While under international law the responsibility to protect human rights rests primarily with governments, companies and others, including non‐governmental organisations and multilateral organisations, can support human rights. The industry recognises the need to develop measures to help address human rights challenges and that this effort will require co‐operation and shared responsibility among all relevant actors.

RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCE – THE BLACK SEA AND CASPIAN SEA ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION CENTER ( HTTP://PIMS.ED.ORNL.GOV)

ABSTRACT Prevention of oil spills and effective action in the case of a spill are crucial to protecting and maintaining the environment. Up-to-date, reliable, and easily accessible research and information are extremely important and help to ensure a united front of preparation and to facilitate remedial action should a spill occur. The better the information available, the better the chance for prevention and, in the event of a spill, efficient and effective cleanup. The Interspill 2004 conference in Trondheim, Norway, hosted a U.S.-Russian Workshop on Oil Spill Prevention and Response. The workshop, which focused on dispersants, was the culmination of agreements signed by U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and Russian Minister of Energy Igor Yusufov to discuss energy issues of interest to both countries and to implement the oil spill prevention and response agreement developed between the United States and Russia. To assist the participants and in concert with the workshop, the Black Sea and Caspian Sea Environmental Information Center (http://pims.ed.ornl.gov) posted relevant material from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Coast Guard. Although this web site offers information on region- and country-specific initiatives, its usefulness is far-reaching—the Center's information on oil spill prevention and response, research and development, and communications and related technologies have worldwide applications. Indeed, more than a hundred organizations from all over the world have registered, and interested organizations are encouraged to do the same to promote their technologies, services, or research activities. The site is being accessed at roughly 1,000 hits per day from 115 countries all over world. During July 2004, there were more than 40,000 hits on the web site. The oil industry strongly supports the information center and has representatives participate in all of its workshops. The Center is intended to be used as a tool to provide a comprehensive source of information:It publishes results and lists participants of several workshops.It hosts online “real-time” meetings that allow participants to plan structured meetings at an optimal time across different time zones.It provides information on oil spill prevention, cleanup, monitoring, and related commercial technologies and offers on-line discussions of these issues.It provides information about the laws, regulations, and standards of various countries relating to the environmental condition of the sea.It posts relevant published scientific papers.It publishes lists of participants working on Black Sea and Caspian Sea environmental issues.It is home to a growing database of historical pollution-testing data from research institutes in the region.

MANAGING HELICOPTER RISK

Annually, a million hours are flown by helicopters for the international petroleum industry. About 90% of this flying is offshore, and involves around 10 million passengers. Each year some 25–35 accidents are recorded, an average of 22 passengers and crew lose their lives, and a higher number are injured. Some 45% of these accidents stem from technical causes, a similar number are pilot related, and the remainder are linked to other causes. Helicopter accident rates are 10 times higher than those of airline travel.Strategies to tackle both technical failures and pilot related accidents have emerged, although application of these strategies around the world is inconsistent.One way in which helicopter technical issues have been addressed is by the introduction of Health and Usage Monitoring (HUMS) equipment. To tackle the pilot related accidents, lessons have been drawn from the airline industry’s use of Flight Data Management (FDM) programs, which allow pilots to learn from deviations from pre-defined normal parameters during routine flying. The helicopter version of FDM is the Helicopter Operations Monitoring Program (HOMP). Another important training tool is flight simulator training to allow simulated emergencies to be flown and practiced.Petroleum companies have the opportunity through their own aviation policy and standards to stipulate flight crew experience and training, the technical specifications for their contracted helicopters and the application of advanced safety programs, such as HUMS, and HOMP. Compliance and continuous improvement in line with these standards can be verified and facilitated through operational and technical audit. Only with such active involvement can helicopter risk be managed downwards.

Oil politics: a modern history of petroleum

The environmental, the economic - and indeed the political - impact of the catastrophic 2010 blowout of BP's well in the Gulf of Mexico has highlighted the central part played by oil in the modern world. The fate of millions now depends on the ever-shifting value of petroleum and on the fortunes of the corporations that deliver it. The story of oil - how it came to play such a dominant role in the world economy, who controls its extraction, pricing and supply - is essential to an understanding of contemporary world politics. In this acclaimed book, Francisco Parra draws on his long experience in the oil world, including as the Secretary General of OPEC, to tell it. Oil Politics surveys the tumultuous history of the international petroleum industry, from its extraordinary growth between 1950 and 1979, presided over by the seven major oil companies, to the price revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, to the re-emergence of Russia as an important but uncertain supplier. Parra charts the changing power dynamics amongst the major oil suppliers and examines their relationships with the major oil importing countries, and how these concerns have impacted on foreign policy. Oil politics in the twenty-first century remain fraught with tensions, and this book offers a uniquely accessible guide to understanding this complex but vitally important subject.

Mergers in the International Petroleum Industry: Legal Aspects on the Operations of Petroleum Development Companies in Nigeria

Mergers in the International Petroleum Industry: Legal Aspects on the Operations of Petroleum Development Companies in Nigeria

IMO-INDUSTRY GLOBAL INITIATIVE: AN UPDATE

ABSTRACT The Global Initiative (GI) is a joint program between the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the oil industry, represented by the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA). The program's primary purpose is to initiate and catalyze national governments to ratify the relevant international Conventions relating to oil pollution and work together with local oil industry in their oil spill contingency planning efforts. The GI has been formally running since 1996. So far, the achievements are encouraging; countries that had not conceived national plans or developed a national response system and strategy have made significant progress. GI also assists the efficient targeting of donor agency funds and can help leverage such funds. The experience gained and results attained are good examples that can be replicated elsewhere at both the national and regional levels. However, it is important to recognize that the GI is a long-term process and that one should not concentrate on its short-term achievements.

PETROLEUM RESERVES: NEW DEFINITIONS BY THE SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS AND THE WORLD PETROLEUM CONGRESS

The search for a simple, universal classification of petroleum reserves has become a sort of mythical quest whose importance grew while the international petroleum industry developed. Reserves have always been a fundamental element of the industry, and the need for a uniform set of definitions has been a continuum not only for the operators but also for all the public and private organizations which work in related areas.The definitions recently adopted by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the World Petroleum Congresses represent a step forward in this essential issue. This paper summarises the current definitions, and introduces two significant changes: the use of probabilistic methods in reserves assessment; and the provision of an “averaging” period in the determination of applicable economic conditions. The latter seems particularly appropriate for a year such as 1998, considering the recent fall in oil prices.

Global Initiative

ABSTRACT The Global Initiative (GI) is defined as an umbrella for various mechanisms by which the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and industry, through the International Petroleum Industry Environment Conservation Association (IPIECA), co-operate to support national and regional implementation of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response, and Co-operation 1990 (OPRC Convention) and to enhance oil spill preparedness and response capacity through the mobilisation of external assistance and industry support at the national level. The overall aim of GI is to improve and sustain the capability of developing countries to protect their marine and coastal resources at risk from an oil spill incident from any sources, through the implementation of the OPRC Convention. A key feature of the project is the emphasis on promoting industry/government co-operation through the mobilisation of existing and planned industry marine environmental protection expertise and resources. As initially envisaged the project has a global orientation: it directly encourages the ratification of the OPRC Convention and the relevant international liability and compensation conventions and promotes their effective implementation; project activities are undertaken at nationall regional levels to ensure that the weaknesses and gaps peculiar to a certain region are taken care of by moulding the package of training and resource building to address national and regional needs.

Co-Operative Planning Approach: A South-West Atlantic Frontier Exploration Area

ABSTRACT Oil industry alliances bring benefits in various fields, including emergency planning. The benefits will include consistency in oil spill response plans and procedures, plus potential cost savings. Government, organisations and groups involved will appreciate a single and comprehensive consultative process. Time and money will be saved, plan formats will be consistent and there will be less scope for confusion. Partnership building will be stronger and more effective. This paper will use a case study of cooperative oil spill contingency planning in the south-west Atlantic to illustrate these points. The Falkland Islands archipelago lies in the south-west Atlantic, approximately 400 km east of the tip of the South American mainland. In 1996 the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) undertook its first round of oil exploration licensing and awarded acreage. Four of the successful operating companies formed the Falklands Operators Sharing Agreement (FOSA). This co-operation extended to a number of areas, including a joint approach to oil spill contingency planning. Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) worked with FOSA to produce a generic oil spill contingency plan, to function for all the companies and differ only in its emergency contact section. The contingency planning process closely followed the guidelines promulgated by the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA, 1991) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO, 1995). A key factor was liaison with groups on the Islands and interfacing with the new Falkland Islands national oil spill contingency plan, which this paper will introduce.

International Oil Industry Approach To Response Planning: The Mediterranean Oil Industry Group

ABSTRACT Environmental issues have long been recognised as international problems that do not respect borders and cannot be handled at a country level without impacting on other nations and territories. The environmental issue of preventing and responding to oil spill incidents crosses international boundaries and affects all countries. Even countries that produce or consume minimal amounts of petroleum products may be at risk due to the transportation of large quantities of oil from producing countries to the consuming countries. The international oil industry, through the programme of the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association's (IPIECA) is engaged in an effort aimed at enhancing the state of preparedness and response to marine oil spill incidents in coastal locations around the world. The international oil industry approach to response planning is based on the international conventions related to oil spill response and compensation, the Tiered Response concept and the importance of partnerships with all parties. This paper summarises the international oil industry approach to contingency planning, which has been developed by IPIECA over the past 10 years, with a special focus on activities carried out in the Mediterranean region.

Utilization of magnetic flux leakage inspection pigs for hardspot detection and repair : Papenfuss, S. International Petroleum Industry Inspection Technology 11, Houston Texas (United States), 25–27 Jun. 1991. pp. 14–21. ASNT (1991)

Utilization of magnetic flux leakage inspection pigs for hardspot detection and repair : Papenfuss, S. International Petroleum Industry Inspection Technology 11, Houston Texas (United States), 25–27 Jun. 1991. pp. 14–21. ASNT (1991)

Government mandated periodic hydrostatic testing : Lael, T.M. International Petroleum Industry Inspection Technology II, Houston, Texas (United States), 25–27 Jun. 1991. pp. 27–31. ASNT (1991)

Government mandated periodic hydrostatic testing : Lael, T.M. International Petroleum Industry Inspection Technology II, Houston, Texas (United States), 25–27 Jun. 1991. pp. 27–31. ASNT (1991)

Automating thickness data management : Plumlee, C.; Reynaud, D.; Lemle, L. International Petroleum Industry Inspection Technology II, Houston Texas (United States), 25–27 Jun. 1991. pp. 62–66. ASNT (1991)

Automating thickness data management : Plumlee, C.; Reynaud, D.; Lemle, L. International Petroleum Industry Inspection Technology II, Houston Texas (United States), 25–27 Jun. 1991. pp. 62–66. ASNT (1991)

Pipeline integrity evaluation by pigging and testing : Lewis, R. International Petroleum Industry Inspection Technology II, Houston Texas (United States), 25–27 Jun. 1991. pp. 22–26. ASNT (1991)

Pipeline integrity evaluation by pigging and testing : Lewis, R. International Petroleum Industry Inspection Technology II, Houston Texas (United States), 25–27 Jun. 1991. pp. 22–26. ASNT (1991)

Electromagnetic inspection: wall loss and flaw locations in oil country tubular goods : Wade Edens, C. International Petroleum Industry Inspection Technology 11, Houston Texas (United States), 25–27 Jun. 1991. pp. 105–109. ASNT (1991)

Electromagnetic inspection: wall loss and flaw locations in oil country tubular goods : Wade Edens, C. International Petroleum Industry Inspection Technology 11, Houston Texas (United States), 25–27 Jun. 1991. pp. 105–109. ASNT (1991)

NDT requirements of API 1104 : Culbertson, D.L. International Petroleum Industry Inspection Technology II, Houston Texas (United States), 25–27 Jun. 1991. pp. 120–123. ASNT (1991)

NDT requirements of API 1104 : Culbertson, D.L. International Petroleum Industry Inspection Technology II, Houston Texas (United States), 25–27 Jun. 1991. pp. 120–123. ASNT (1991)