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Our Arctic Neighbors: Tanker collision tests Russian readiness Government, oil company happy with results of rescue, cleanup exercises at newly opened Varandey terminal in Barents Sea Sarah Hurst For Petroleum News
The Varandey oil export terminal in the Barents Sea, which began working in June, hosted international training exercises for tanker and oil spill management Oct. 1, according to operator Lukoil. The exercises were aimed at improving interaction between Russian government agencies and relevant Lukoil services, and assessing the qualifications of personnel and the efficiency and technical capabilities of available equipment.
A shuttle tanker with a deadweight of 70,000 tons loaded with crude oil was involved in a mock collision with a supply vessel in the vicinity of Varandey’s fixed offshore ice-resistant offloading terminal. A fire broke out on board the oil tanker, several people were injured and three crew members were found overboard. The first tank was also depressurized, which resulted in an oil spill of about 800 tons (5,864 barrels).
To extinguish the fire, an icebreaker and a harbor tug were sent to the damaged vessel. An Mi-8 helicopter rescued the crew members from the water, deplaned the rescuers on board the oil tanker and evacuated the injured. Airplane investigation and computer modeling results suggested that oil booms should be deployed to contain and eliminate the oil spill. Two boats for the oil boom assembly, four oil-spill boats, one tug boat and five skimmers participated in the operation.
Exercise successful “As a result of prompt measures, the oil spill in the vicinity of the offshore oil offloading terminal was liquidated,” Lukoil said in a release. “Five hundred and fifty tons of oil-contaminated water was collected into special containers. However, part of the oil spill reached the shore due to unfavorable weather conditions. Therefore, extra forces and resources were deployed to protect and decontaminate the coast.” Within a five-day period 3,000 tons of oily soil was collected and transported to a landfill, the company added.
“In spite of the fact that the Varandey terminal as a whole, and its offshore section, in particular, are perfect facilities, including from the point of view of environmental protection, Lukoil regards support of its environment-oriented infrastructure as a top priority,” said Lukoil Vice President Anatoly Barkov. “These training exercises were clear evidence that the company has acquired sufficient experience and capabilities to safely operate the terminal in Arctic conditions.”
Observers from the United States, Norway, Sweden, Canada and Denmark were present at the exercises, according to Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations. “All the tasks that were set were completed,” said the deputy head of the ministry, Alexander Chupriyan, who led the exercises.
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