OFFSHORE RISK MANAGEMENT
monitoring, they often believe, incorrectly, that satellites imagery is primarily used only after an incident has already occurred. It is therefore important to explain the preventative and ongoing opportunities they present. Optical satellites can provide datasets to assist in the emergency assessment of an incident or, contribute to regular environmental monitoring. To support this offer Airbus has recently launched a new tool, One Tasking, which allows customers to easily task satellites online or by calling its customer support team in line with their specific requirements.
One Tasking gives oil and gas operators access to a number of different, highly flexible tasking options. OneSeries enables acquisitions to be scheduled in accordance with project and decision points, at any required frequency. Alternatively, if images are simply required within a specified timeframe, then OnePlan is likely to be the most appropriate and cost-effective solution. In the event of an emergency, OneNow offers the highest levels of availability and priority tasking, with images acquired as soon as a satellite is passing over the area of interest. The unique feature of these One Tasking products is that Airbus commits to charging for and providing only the most useful results, with minimised cloud coverage, which further decreases the risk for organisations when relying on satellite- based acquisition tools.
Radar – detecting leaks
Radar sensors are unaffected by lighting conditions or cloud cover, using radio waves instead of an optical camera sensor. The ability to penetrate clouds makes radar sensors highly valued in areas where weather conditions would make optical data acquisition challenging. Highly sensitive radar sensors, such as TerraSAR-X, have the capability to acquire images which are then analysed by experts in order to detect oil slicks where sea states are suitable by identifying the dampening effect oil has on sea surface wave. The provided images coupled with associated image analysis offer vital information to first identify the presence of oil on the sea surface and then plan and implement offshore clean-up operations if required. Before offshore exploration and production starts, oil seep databases, such as Global Seeps, provide a comprehensive record of natural or manmade slicks offshore. This is a valuable tool to identify
background pollution levels and naturally occurring slicks before production or an emergency situation arises.
Complementary insight As well as providing unique capabilities, optical and radar sensors can be operated together to deliver complementary information to support a number of application areas. Therefore, satellite image providers offering constellations of both optical and radar sensors, and expertise of oil and gas related solutions, offer the required capability and flexibility, particularly relevant when urgent and timely images of an area of interest are required.
24/7 emergency response Fires and explosions on-site, blowouts or loss of well control, failure of the rig structure or damage due to severe weather conditions are all real threats to personnel safety and the safeguarding of the environment. Satellite technology can support businesses to plan a timely emergency response, giving headquarters an oversight of the situation on the ground and regular updates, delivered in near real-time. This intelligence then informs teams on-site during a 1st level emergency, where staff has the tools to solve the issue autonomously on- site. However, during more severe, 2nd or 3rd level emergencies, where further involvement by the company or governments is required, satellite imagery helps decision-makers to plan and dispatch equipment and inform temporary emergency teams, as well as staff on the site about the emergency strategy. Some satellite providers provide 24/7 emergency response hotlines to effectively support oil and gas organisations in selecting the most appropriate satellite product for the emergency faced.
Emergency response communication The final piece of the jigsaw in the event of an emergency incident is reliable, timely communication. Products like SAFEcommand from Airbus can help oil and gas organisations to improve their operational efficiency, providing features such as real-time location intelligence for staff and vessels, integrated operations planning and response, as well as full mobile data and satellite communications. This allows corporates to inform rig and project managers on-site about potential concerns and strategies derived from the analysed satellite images. The information could then be disseminated on-site, to inform the tool pusher or temporary rig emergency response teams and also fed back to control rooms.
For more information, please visit:
airbusds-ogm.com
July 2017 |
www.sosmagazine.biz | p7
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