Experience     International Work

Counterspil has worked extensively in North America, Central and South America, Asia, Europe, and Africa.

 

Brazil

 A workshop was held on behalf of ARPEL in Sao Sebastiao in April 1996 on response to a major offshore oil spill. Classroom sessions were followed by demonstrations of response equipment on land and then a full-scale on-water exercise of oil containment and removal operations.

Chad

 A contingency plan was prepared in March 1999 with Polaris Applied Sciences, Inc. for a major pipeline company in Chad/Cameroon. Countermeasures were investigated for river, offshore and land operations.

Chile

 In June 1997, an ARPEL workshop was conducted on spill response to accidental releases from tankers.  Response was simulated in on-water operations following classroom instruction.

China

 CRI has trained Chinese nationals in all facets of spill response in Canada and in Qingdao, Zhuhai, and Yantai 1997 to 2000.  An emergency response plan was developed for the Port of Qingdao as part of a CIDA contract to Sandwell.  An oil/chemical spill workshop was conducted in Hong Kong in February 2001.

Colombia

 Petroleum facilities were reviewed in September 1997 and response capabilities assessed for spills at terminals at the Cartegena refinery and Covenas terminal, and for spills from pipelines.  Sensitivity mapping and contingency planning strategies were also examined.

Costa Rica

 Costa Rica was the site of the first ARPEL workshop on contingency planning held in San Jose in March 1993. CRI returned in October 1993 to review the El Alto terminal facilities and participate in a very realistic training exercise. CRI also played a major role in an ARPEL workshop on risk assessment and trajectory modelling conducted in San Jose in November 1997.

Ecuador

 CRI personnel have worked on spill response projects in Ecuador since 1982. The first year involved the development of equipment recommendations for coastal drilling operations in the Gulf of Guayaquil. An ARPEL workshop was organized and held in March 1998 in Quito on dispersants, in-situ burning, and incineration.

Egypt

 In 1988, Counterspil Research Inc. personnel travelled to Egypt to train Egyptian National Petroleum Authority personnel in the use of a computer-based spill mapping system.

Indonesia

 CRI personnel developed a contingency plan for accidental releases from an oil production field in Sumatra after travelling there in 1984 to assess personnel requirements, equipment capabilities/needs and possible environmental impacts.

Jamaica

 CRI worked in Jamaica in 1993 and 1997. The first trip involved the review of facilities, contingency planning needs, and organizational structures. The second trip in March 1997 was for an ARPEL-sponsored workshop on management strategies for oil spills in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Kazakhstan

 In 1996, spill response options were reviewed for oil-in-ice for exploration drilling in the North Caspian Sea. A comprehensive report was submitted to Shell Kazakhstan detailing ice conditions, spill fate, mechanical measures, in situ burning, spill detection and tracking, storage and disposal, and logistics.

Malaysia

 In 1989, Counterspil personnel travelled to Kuala Lumpur to train Ministry of Environment personnel in the use of a computer-based modelling system.

Mexico

 CRI has participated in ARPEL planning meetings in Mexico and the review of onshore and offshore petroleum facilities there since 1995. Contingency planning and response equipment recommendations as well as assistance on sensitivity mapping were provided to Pemex based on a trip in May 1996 to Mexico City and the assessment of production fields near Ciudad del Carmen.

Norway

 SINTEF’s research facilities in Trondheim, Norway was the base for the MORICE (Mechanical Oil Recovery in Ice-infested Waters) program conducted with CRI participation 1995 to 2001. CRI has also worked on a Skimmer Certification Program with Det Norske Veritas (DNV) of Oslo, 1999 to 2002.

Paraguay

 In 1998, CRI travelled in June and October to Asuncion to inspect a petroleum facility on the Paraguay River, interview personnel, and recommend contingency planning and spill response strategies.  Detailed risk assessment and training were also conducted.

Peru

 CRI worked for ARPEL in Peru in May and October1993 developing contingency plans and selecting equipment.  In August 1996, CRI planned and participated in a workshop on sensitivity mapping held in Lima and returned in 2002 to instruct a course to the Ministry of Energy and Mines on Contingency Planning Guidelines developed by Counterspil and Wotherspoon Environmental.

Russia

 CRI and Ed Owens of Polaris Applied Sciences held a workshop on spill response in ice. The training program involved compilation of a field guide featuring strategies for dealing with spills on water, in ice, and on shorelines.

Spain

 CRI personnel responded to the oil spill from the Urquiola tanker in 1976. Oiled areas were overflown, slick concentrations noted, and oil removed using rope mop skimmers.

Suriname

 In 1993, Staatsoli facilities were comprehensively assessed and recommendations made on contingency planning and equipment requirements at the state oil company’s production field and planned refinery.

Taiwan

A spill response seminar was conducted in Kaohsiung at the National Sun Yat-Sen University.  Meetings were also held with Port Authorities in Kaohsiung and in Taipei as well with the Chinese Petroleum Corp. and Environmental Protection Administration to discuss joint work.

Thailand

 In July 1995, CRI organized and conducted a contingency planning and spill response workshop for Thailand’s Pollution Control Department.

Trinidad and Tobago

 Two ARPEL workshops have been held (September 1995 and 1998) at the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery covering contingency planning, shoreline cleanup and regional integration. Shoreline and coastal exercises were conducted at the 1995 workshop involving the deployment of vessels, aircraft, skimmers, booms, and other response equipment.

Uruguay

 Trips were made to Uruguay in May 1993 and June 1996 to assist in the development of contingency plans for the refinery and oil terminals in Monte Video and Punta del Este. Response equipment needs were evaluated on these and separate occasions. Work continued there in 1998 training ANCAP personnel in trajectory modelling, with additional instruction provided to Uruguayans in Canada in the same year.