Oil Spills and Pollution: Prevention, Response & Recovery

This course discusses the complex nature of petroleum hydrocarbon exploration and production and, the unintended environmental impact consequences of pollution when oil spills occur from refineries, offshore platforms and road and marine transport tankers. Featuring global case studies and best practices, this course provides delegates with an understanding of how oil spills occur and discusses the most effective preventative, response and recovery methods to assess and control these potential environmental impact incidents.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, the delegates will be able to:

• Identify the various types of oil spills and their environmental effects
• Learn about relevant environmental treatment options for dealing with pollution
• Learn to prioritize potential oil spills in establishing preventative control measures
• Show relationship between health, wildlife and environment affected by oil pollution
• Discuss current methods for clean-up and recovery from oil spills and pollution
• Establish effective emergency response plans for oil spills

Organizational Impact:

• Organization will benefit from knowledge of preventing and limiting damage of oil spills by addressing real and potential pollution problems, the organization will reduce its exposure to compensation from oil pollution
• Reduce healthcare costs by improved oil spills and oil pollution management strategies
• Clean-up costs reduced due to effective oil pollution treatment recovery procedures
• Enhanced reputation in community due to effective management of oil spills
• Improved organizational image with regulatory authorities

Personal Impact:

• Satisfaction from being provided with information and risk controls for preventing oil spills
• Risk reduction knowledge of pollution incident occurrence and risk assessment methodology
• Safer working environment
• Personal pride as an employee of organization committed to preventing and managing oil spills and subsequent oil pollution for protecting people and the environment

Course Outline

Day 1

Overview of Oil Spills and Pollution

• Overview of global oil spill incidents
• Types of oil and their different properties
• Historical concerns over oil pollution
• Sources and patterns of oil spills
• Spillage from exploration and production facilities

Day 2

Environmental Effects of Oil Pollution

• Effects of oil pollution on the environment
• Oil seepage Vs Oil Spills
• Routes of oil pollution exposure
• Oil pollution effect differences in freshwater and saltwater
• Ecological effects of oil spills and pollution

Day 3

Oil Spill and Pollution Prevention

• Risk identification and analysis of potential oil spill and pollution scenarios
• Establishing effective oil spill and pollution preventative risk controls
• Hazards of Oil transportation – road and sea
• Refinery and Offshore platform oil spills and their impacts
• Modern tanker design (single and double hulls)
• Case Study – Part 3: Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Day 4

Oil Spill & Pollution Response and Recovery

• Overview of oil spill response options
• Establishing and activating oil spill contingency plans
• Emergency and medical response procedures during oil spills
• Oil spill pollution treatment options for containment and dispersion
• Conducting oil spill and pollution response emergency exercises and drills

Day 5

Management and Prevention Review

• Oil Spill & Pollution workshop
• Review of oil case studies and their cause of oil spill incidents
• Review of conducting an oil spill and pollution risk assessment
• Discussion of preventative, response and recovery of oil spill incidents
• Review of developing emergency procedures for oil spills and pollution incidents
• Review of oil spill and pollution recovery treatment options

Course Review: Key points summary of course topics

Course Methodology

A variety of methodologies will be used during the course that includes:

• (30%) Based on Case Studies
• (30%) Techniques
• (30%) Role Play
• (10%) Concepts
• Pre-test and Post-test
• Variety of Learning Methods
• Lectures
• Case Studies and Self Questionaires
• Group Work
• Discussion
• Presentation