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Just In...

Yet another asynchronous risk facing the Gulf Coast

Last month an unnamed oceanographic researcher submitted a report recognized risk management firm that appears to provide risk assessments for Lloyds of London on BP’s ventures.  The report published on July 3 2010, outlines the possibility of for tidal waves resulting from blowouts at deepwater drilling operation in the Gulf of Mexico.  Apparently there are methane deposits trapped in the limestone bedrock, that may release if fractured. The displacement from collapse may be great enough to trigger a tsunami.

  

Limestone is made from organic material, composed predominately of the carcasses of plankton and other sea life.  Therefore the odds of hitting a methane bubble are higher when exploring for Oil because oil hydrocarbons are also organic in origin.  The problem in the Gulf of Mexico, is that geologists believe there exists a monumental cavern in the bedrock that if penetrated would explode with astounding force, collapsing miles of seabed shelf. A force so large that would sink the rigs above it  put the shoreline at peril. perhaps the largest The risk assessment concludes that possibility of a tidal wave initiated from deepwater drilling in the Gulf is a classified as a “low probability, high impact threat”.   It’s also noteworthy to recognize the controversial report was released just after Mi2G received official royal recognition with the Queen's Award for Enterprise Innovation in digital risk its efforts, a the height of visibility to generate maximum impact with the publication. Details on the Mi2G report here: http://cdiver.net/news/gulf-oil-gusher-danger-of-tsunamis-from-methane/

 

Scientists also have been monitoring the abnormally high methane released with the Deepwater Horizon blowout. Its pressurized methane that exploded and tore apart the rig, and was the principal gas being released along with the oil leak. This methane release is s significant, it may be the single largest release in mans recorded history, further testing theories of global warming impact.  Fisherman and oceanographers are concerned that this methane will contribute to the expansion the already gigantic hypoxia dead zones that separately generated by man from plankton blooms resulting from agriculture nitrogen fertilizer run-off.  More on the threats plaguing the Gulf at http://gulf-defense.com

Oil Disaster Recovery & Preparedness

Consequence Management (CM) is employment of coordinated systems, method and policies to facilitate the efficient crisis response and deployment of emergency countermeasures to protect and contain the situation. In addition restoration services may be considered to reestablish essential government services and protect public health and safety. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the federal lead for consequence management, following the Federal Response Plan. The Environmental Protection Act's also provides CM support to FEMA in situations involving solid waste and emergency response, emergency and remedial response and chemical emergency preparedness and prevention office, air and radiation.

Consider the suggestions implemented in these plans when developing contamination consequence management planning documentation for
unintended Oil discharge and for oil containment in addition to specific site management recommendations and policies.

This is an example of a state Consequence Management Guide For Deliberately Caused Incidents Involving Chemical Agents which contains information regarding state, local, or private agency roles, responsibilities or interactions and is aligned with the with terminology of the new National Response Plan (NRP) and the National Incident Management system (NIMS). 

Chemical Exposure Consequence Management Plan Sample
http://www.ct.gov/demhs/lib/demhs/emergmgmt/planningguides/2009_conseq_mgmt_plan.pdf

Drinking Water Contamination Consequence Management Plan Sample
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/watersecurity/pubs/guide_interim_cmp_wsi.pdf

Off-Shore risks:

The Government Accounting Office (GAO) for the United States recently published an article because of heightened interest in developing exploiting fossil fuel into environmentally sensitive areas such with a focus on the impact of exploration in the North Aleutian Basin. The report estimated quantities of oil and gas and needed infrastructure and  identifies steps MMS (Now Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement or BOEMRE) is to take to meet federal requirements, identifies challenges BOEMRE faces in meeting these requirements in its Alaska OCS Region. 

Here is a synopsis of what the GAO Found, obtained from their website at http://www.gao.gov

   

Oil Spoils: Fatally Afflicted Fowl

 

People are not the only victims requiring assistance in Oil spills and environmental contamination events, wildlife of all forms are endangered. Birds are and sea mammals such as seals and whales are particularly vulnerable. This is because essential natural oils in their skin and feathers attract fossil fuel oils and other hydro-carbon contaminates and then break down the creatures natural barrier to the environment leaving it venerable to die from exposure.

Poisoning due to internal consumption by the creature priming or cleaning itself is another major threat to animals caused by oil contamination. These animals afflicted with substantial crude oil contact  on their skin will frequently require human direct human interaction in order to survive, and this presents a further risk of shock.