Completing a technical review of detailed onshore oil spill modelling to identify, assess and prioritise potential oil spill scenarios.
The Situation
The client required an oil spill contingency plan following a blow out test of a well in Egypt. Advisian was appointed to review the onshore spill modelling undertaken for the test well, and subsequently develop an oil spill contingency plan.
Approach
The appropriateness of the model packages, model input parameters and assumptions made in the modelling were all considered in the review. Particular attention was given to the model resolution, timestep and fluid parameters adopted. Areas where improvements could be made to the models were highlighted to increase the reliability of the results.
Revised modelling was considered to be acceptable and the results were used to inform the oil spill contingency plan development.
Potential oil spill scenarios from operations at the well site were identified, assessed and prioritised. An oil spill planning matrix was developed which detailed the varying modes of release (leak or catastrophic failure), release volumes and specific spill media. The fate and transport of spills were evaluated and failure frequencies derived to assess the tolerability of release and inform contingency planning.
Results
Advisian developed an oil spill contingency plan that defined equipment, resources and response times to meet the identified spill scenarios.
