Oil spill exercise in Azerbaijan

BP's oil spill contractor organizes shoreline deployment

BP is the operator for the development of significant oil and gas reserves in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea, including the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field. BP has stated goals in relation to safety and the environment - no accidents, no harm to people and no damage to the environment. The drive to achieve these goals is through robust safety and environmental management systems focused on prevention. However if an emergency does occur BP recognizes the need to be prepared for a quick and effective response.

Against this background The Oil Spill Training Company was asked to help develop and run a 'tier 2' oil spill exercise. Peter Taylor was Exercise Controller for the drill, which involved BP's Site Response Team, Incident Management Team and Business Support Team. The exercise incorporated actual deployment of pollution response capability, both offshore and on the shoreline.

The Incident Management Team considers the issues

ACG Operations had recently reviewed their oil spill response plans and the exercise provided an excellent opportunity to verify these plans and their integration with the overall incident management system.

The Wildlife Response Plan recently produced for BP Azerbaijan by The Oil Spill Training Company drill was also tested. The teams performed well and the event proved a very useful learning experience for all participants.