SPE Member
Abstract This paper describes what constitute an Effective Communications System for a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan. It discusses the system available in Nigeria tor the oil exploration and producing companies, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the only oil spill response cooperative, the Clean Nigeria Associates (CNA). The Emergency Communications System which the companies had in place for some time, but is no longer functioning because of bureacreatic problems, is mentioned. The paper also problems, is mentioned. The paper also mentioned the need to integrate the various separate systems already in use to provide effective communication for proper oil spill response. It recognises the need for support from the Ministry of Communications and the two government agencies, NITEL and NET which provide telephone services in Nigeria. A provide telephone services in Nigeria. A proposed Effective Communications System for proposed Effective Communications System for Nigeria is described.
Introduction Nigeria is a major oil producing country located in West Africa. It occupies an area of about 361,000sq. miles (924,000 sq km), and its' population is estimated at over 110 million people. Oil production, which started in 1958, increased to about 2.3 million barrels of oil per day in 1974.
Average crude oil production was 1.8 million Barrels per day in 1990.
Oil exploration and production have principally been performed in the central and principally been performed in the central and eastern coastal regions of the country, and the adjacent offshore regions (Figure 1). Some exploratory activities are now going on in part of the northern region. The oil producing areas are mainly riverine areas with producing areas are mainly riverine areas with mangrove forests, mud flats, swamps, marshes and numerous nearby villages. Production facilities which include flow stations, treatment plant-s, tank farms and flares are linked by interconnecting pipelines (Figure 2). The need for equipment and materials to respond to oil spillage that could occur from the activities of the oil companies in Nigeria was realised in late 1970s, and by 1980/1981 each oil operating company had its own stockpile of oil spill control equipment and materials to respond to spills from its facilities. In 1981 the companies also realised that an oil spill control cooperative was needed to respond to major spills and complement the existing oil spill response capability in the country. Hence the formation of Clean Nigeria Associates (CNA) which currently has its oil spill control equipment and materials stockpiled at strategic locations in Warri, Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Calabar, which are close to the major oil facilities (Figure 2).
An effective communications system is essential to immediate response and proper management of resources utilised in combating oil spills. In Nigeria where public telecommunications are not well developed, each oil operating company has built up its communications system to handle its own routine operations and emergencies that could arise.
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