Emergency Preparedness Efforts

THIS month, the Civil Defence Commission is set to roll out the latest step in Guyana’s emergency preparedness planning for its growing energy industry: the Voluntary Emergency Response Team (VERT) programme. This effort, in partnership with ExxonMobil Guyana, will train volunteers in a variety of emergency-response techniques, which would be helpful in affected communities and areas in the event of an accident.

This kind of preparation is especially important, as Guyana’s unprecedented series of oil and gas discoveries has continued with 11th and12th finds announced last week at the Haimara-1 and Tilapia-1 sites in the Turbot region of the Stabroek Block.

Exploration wells at both sites found significant recoverable reserves of oil and natural gas condensate that will likely add to the 5 billion barrels already discovered by the Exxon-led consortium, drilling more than 150 km off the coast.

While it should be noted that the likelihood of any serious accident with this kind of offshore drilling is exceptionally low, it is always best to have a plan in place. Fortunately, the recently completed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) emphasised that a spill or similar incident is “highly unlikely,” and all of the companies involved offshore have strong industry-safety records.

Offshore drilling is where the industry deploys some of its most advanced safety and monitoring systems. Floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels of the type that will be active in the Stabroek Block use some of the world’s most advanced fire- suppression measures and crew life support. They also rely on highly trained, shore-based response teams that can be deployed quickly if necessary.

Nevertheless, preparation is key, and efforts are well under way. According to public statements from Exxon executives, an Oil Spill Response Plan is already in place, which is standard procedure before drilling begins. This plan includes training coastal communities in clean-up techniques and response protocols, preparing for offshore medical evacuations, safeguarding against natural disasters and more.

The companies have also begun a number of well-publicised efforts to survey and study coastal ecosystems to ensure that the most vital areas are given highest priority in the event of an accident. These studies also provide scientists with a benchmark of how the ecosystem normally functions.

The newest initiative, the VERT programme, will be conducted over the next year and will train 30 volunteers in damage assessment and needs analysis; community-based disaster risk management; first aid emergency medical response; oil spill response; nd natural hazards and disaster risk management. Highly trained volunteers can help respond to events in their communities. There is also a huge benefit to training community members, as they will have the best sense of what the area needs in terms of prevention, mitigation, and recovery. According to reports, the VERT participants will also be able to respond to issues throughout the Caribbean as part of the Regional Disaster Risk Management System.

Guyana’s location is helpful with regard to emergency responsiveness, as it is close to substantial response and emergency capabilities in the Gulf of Mexico. A company the size of Exxon will have plans in place to rapidly deploy ships, personnel and some of the world’s best well- containment technology, even in the unlikely event of a well incident. For example, Exxon is one of the owners of the Marine Well Containment Company—a Gulf of Mexico-based non-profit entity that was established to create and deploy advanced well-containment technology in the event of an incident at a subsea well.

Emergency preparedness also provides an opportunity for local firms. GAICO Construction Inc recently signed a joint venture with the Corena Group, a Finnish oil-spill and emergency response specialist that operates across Latin America. GAICO CEO Komal Singh told news media that this was a historic opportunity for the company to build capacity and develop international standards for oil response in Guyana.

Emergency response techniques, such as offshore well capping, oil-spill response, and clean-up, involve highly specialised techniques in maritime and subsea engineering, chemical processes, ecosystem biology and more. Any company that is able to develop capabilities and expertise in these skills will have a valuable advantage to compete for business throughout the Region.

Although a major accident is unlikely, and Guyana’s reserves are sufficiently far off the coast that impacts onshore would likely be limited in any such event, it’s still a promising sign that preparations are in place. Further efforts on this front can only be a good thing for Guyana, its environment and its economy.