At 10:00 Moscow time the Novorossiysk Sea Port Harbormaster gave a scenario where jet fire of petroleum vapor from gas venting mast of oil tanker’s tanks was taking place while the oil was being lifted to the tanker at the SPM. At the tanker captain’s request oil lifting was stopped due to an emergency. The tanker was unmoored from the SPM using a tanker escort tug with simultaneous fire protection support. The simulated fire of the petroleum vapor was eliminated by the tanker’s crew.
In accordance with the next scenario search and rescue efforts were organized in the sea port waters. Acting in a well-coordinated manner within the formation of vessels the crews of such vessels accomplished the task of visual searching people on the water. Anthropomorphic dummies were used during the above drill. While providing first aid on board the drill participants practiced interaction with the territorial Disaster Medicine Center specialists. ‘Victims’ were promptly transported to the CPC Marine Terminal Small Boat Shelter pier and handed over to ambulance crews.
The third scenario stipulated elimination of a fire on board a tanker at the single point mooring. According to the drill scenario the tanker captain reported to the MT dispatcher a fire and explosion, which caused destruction of the deck and the internal structures of the oil tanks. The tanker was tugged to a safe area with the crew conditionally evacuated from hazardous zone by the tanker's boats. Then specialized vessels extinguished the fire on board the tanker and the cooled tanker structures. Moreover, the skills of extinguishing burning oil on the water were practiced.
In addition the consequences of a simulated oil spill were eliminated during the drill both on the water and on shore. The drill ended at 14:00, Moscow time.
CPC conducts at least 10 large-scale oil spill response and fire extinguishing drills on an annual basis. Being a part of the Company’s industrial safety, labor and environmental protection policy, these activities are aimed at assuring the readiness of CPC and its ER Contractors’ resources and equipment for prompt emergency response and elimination of consequences thereof in the Regions crossed by the main pipeline.
For Reference:
CPC Pipeline System is one of the major investment projects in energy sector with participation of foreign capital in the CIS. The length of the Tengiz–Novorossiysk Pipeline is 1,511 km; it transports over two thirds of all Kazakhstan export crude, as well as crude from Russian oil fields, including the Caspian Region. CPC Marine Terminal is equipped with three Single Point Moorings (SPM) that allow to load tankers safely at a significant distance offshore, also amid poor weather conditions.
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% and Oryx Caspian Pipeline LLC – 1.75%.