Question:
What is the oil industry doing to protect the environment from oil spills and other hazards? Answer:
America's oil and natural gas industry is committed to meeting the nation's energy needs using safe and environmentally sound operations. New technologies are continually being developed in an effort to conserve valuable energy resources and protect our nation's environment through spill prevention.
Pipelines, exploration and production facilities, marine vessels, and storage tanks use advanced technologies and designs with multiple back-up safety systems. Special materials are used that withstand corrosion, and facilities throughout the industry adhere to rigorous maintenance standards to ensure safe, reliable operation.
Safety and environmental features include:
- Pipelines: Pipelines employ computers, electromagnetic instruments, and ultrasonic devices to detect weak spots so they can be repaired before a leak develops. Environmental impact is minimized by carefully selecting routes for the more than 95,000 miles of pipelines throughout the country, and the landscape is restored over the completed pipe.
- Offshore and Onshore Wells: Most wellheads are equipped with two types of blowout preventers and additional shut-off valves. All safety devices are linked to a master switch that can shut down the entire system in the event of severe weather or other potentially hazardous circumstances.
- Marine Terminals and Vessels: Specially designed storage facility equipment and a variety of sophisticated sensors help to prevent or, in the event of an accidental release, contain spills. By 2015, all tankers operating in U.S. waters will be double-hulled vessels. In the unlikely event of a collision or grounding, the outer hull will bear the brunt of the impact while the interior hull keeps the cargo secure and prevents oil from entering the marine environment.
In the event of a spill or other incident, the industry relies on internationally recognized models for emergency planning and response—the National Response System and the National Contingency Plan. These plans clearly define responsibilities when responding to spill situations, yet allow sufficient flexibility to tailor spill response to the special circumstances of any given incident.
Prevention and preparedness are key priorities as America’s oil and natural gas industry works to meet our country’s energy needs while maintaining high environmental standards. You can learn more about its sophisticated system of spill prevention, response, and restoration capabilities by visiting www.oilspillinfo.org.
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