State of Alaska sets risk assessment meeting

Petroleum News

A regional stakeholder meeting for the Alaska Risk Assessment of Oil and Gas Infrastructure project is scheduled Oct. 15 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Commons at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

The meeting will include an overview of the project and be focused on informal stakeholder input to the project team representatives.

The project is a one-time comprehensive engineering-oriented assessment of the status of existing infrastructure, systems, components of — and hazards to — Alaska’s oil and gas infrastructure. It will identify and rank risks based on consequences to safety, the environment and production reliability.

The risk assessment includes facilities and systems associated with production, storage and transportation of crude oil and natural gas within Alaska. North Slope and Cook Inlet oil field infrastructure, the trans-Alaska oil pipeline and facilities and the Valdez Marine Terminal are included; the risk assessment does not include marine transportation.

The risk assessment will determine the baseline condition of Alaska’s oil and gas production, storage and transportation. It will evaluate the reliability, environmental and safety risks associated with continued operation for another generation.

The risk profile to be developed for existing infrastructure will help state and industry officials effectively manage risks and ensure safe and reliable operations.

In addition to the Anchorage meeting, regional meetings are scheduled for Valdez on Oct. 16 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) at the Valdez Civic and Convention Center; and in Barrow on Oct. 22 at the North Slope Borough Assembly Chambers (5-7 p.m.).

The Petroleum Systems Integrity Office in the Alaska Department of Natural Resources was created by administrative order in April 2007 and tasked with leading and coordinating interagency efforts to evaluate oil and gas facilities and practices. The Department of Environmental Conservation is conducting the risk assessment as part of the broader interagency effort coordinated by PSIO.

DEC contracted with Emerald Consulting Group LLC and its subcontractor ABS Consulting Inc. in June 2008 to conduct the risk assessment.

Design of the risk assessment began in July and will continue through July 2009; performing the risk assessment is scheduled through January 2010; the final report is due in May 2010.

Detailed information is available online at: www.dec.state.ak.us/SPAR/ipp/ara/index.htm.