In the Field
Spill drills improve real responses

Alyeska Pipeline Service Company conducts more than 80 oil spill drills and exercises every year to test equipment and techniques, train responders and ensure rapid and effective responses if they are needed.

These exercises simulate a wide variety of incident scenarios and range from simple readiness checks that have officials call responders to confirm that they would be available if an incident occurred, to field exercises that include everything but spilled oil.

On March 2 - 4 Alyeska’s Ship Escort Response Vessel System and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation conducted an extensive tabletop exercise at the Valdez Civic Center. It simulated an 809,000 bbl open-water spill in Prince William Sound. Wooden props were built to simulate individual tugs, barges, workboats, fishing vessels and tankers, and data cards represented people. Real-life weather conditions and human resources were factored into the exercise.

Officials moved props around on the Civic Center floor to track equipment and personnel status during the initial 72 hours of response. They kept the simulation as detailed and realistic as possible to better prepare for actual incidents.

More than 400 props representing responders and equipment were used in the simulation. It demonstrated excellent teamwork between industry members, regulators and citizens groups and illuminated response weaknesses that are already being improved.

Participants were pleased with the drill so the format and props will be used again.