Caspian Pipeline Consortium together with the EMERCOM Head Office for the Republic of Kalmykia conducted a joint oil spill response/fire-fighting drill in Chernozemelsky district on July 3 with the objective to test the readiness of CPC and EMERCOM ER units for responding to emergencies at CPC sites.
According to the drill scenario, there was a fire outbreak in the 4,800m3 tank at Komsomolsk PS caused by electrostatic discharge. The simulated fire was extinguished successfully with stationary PS fire-fighting units and with the help of an EMERCOM fire team that promptly arrived on site.
Immediately upon the “fire” suppression another emergency happened: illegal excavation at KP756 not far from Komsomolsk PS ruptured the pipeline with consequent oil release. Simulated emergency response included the containment of oil spill, construction of barriers, installation of containers for oil collection, fire-fighting simulation as well as restoration of pipeline integrity and environmental activities. Local residents - volunteers were mobilized for cleanup of contaminated soil.
The simulated emergency response was provided by CPC and Kalmykia EMERCOM ER units in collaboration with the Center for Emergency Response, Rescue and Environmental Operations, regional resources of the Russian Unified OSR System and Kalmykia environmental authorities; 136 people and 47 vehicles participated in this drill.
Annually, CPC conducts at least 10 large-scale oil spill and fire response drills. Being a part of the Company HSE policy, they are intended to ensure readiness of the CPC and its contractors ER resources for emergency response in the areas crossed by the trunk oil pipeline and to reduce, as much as possible, impact of the Consortium activities upon the ecosystem.
CPC pipeline system is one of the largest investment projects in the energy industry with participation of foreign capital on the CIS territory. The length of the pipeline connecting the oil fields in Western Kazakhstan with the Marine Terminal near Novorossiysk is 1,511 km. CPC Marine Terminal is equipped with single point moorings which allow for safe tanker lifting at a considerable distance from the shore, also when the weather conditions are unfavorable.
CPC Shareholders: Russian Federation (represented by Transneft – 24% and CPC Company – 7 %) – 31%; Republic of Kazakhstan (represented by KazMunayGaz – 19% and Kazakhstan Pipeline Ventures LLC – 1.75%) – 20.75%; Chevron Caspian Pipeline Consortium Company - 15%, LUKARCO B.V. – 12.5%, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company – 7.5%, Rosneft-Shell Caspian Ventures Limited – 7.5%, BG Overseas Holding Limited - 2%, Eni International N.A. N.V. - 2% и Oryx Caspian Pipeline LLC – 1.75%.