This year’s industry host was Exxon Mobil in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Anchorage. The scenario was a gas condensate well blowout at the Point Thomson Unit West Pad. The well is located approximately 1,000 feet inland of the Beaufort Sea coast. The condensate release rate was 10,000 barrels per day, and the well was considered out of control.

An Incident Command Post was established in Anchorage and the Unified Command included the U.S. Coast Guard, State of Alaska, Exxon Mobil, and North Slope Borough. Over 200 personnel participated in the exercise from industry and state and federal entities. Exercise play included ignition of the well blowout, in-situ burning of oil on the water, and wildlife response to oiled seals.

NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration provided support with oil spill trajectory modeling, weather forecasts, resources at risk and sensitive areas information, facilitation of the Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation, Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Techniques (SCAT) planning, Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA®), in-situ burn planning, and data management planning.

For further information, contact Catherine.Berg@noaa.gov.

See related article in this issue: Planning for Trans-Boundary Spills in Alaska

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