Remote Sensing in Oil Spill Handling in Offshore North West Java

Abstract

During the blowout event, it is critical to track the oil spill to minimize environmental damage and optimize restoration cost. In this paper, we deliver our success story in handling oil spill from recent experiences. We utilize remote sensing technologies to establish our analysis and plan the remediation strategies. We also comprehensively discuss the techniques to analyze big data from the satellites, to utilize the downloaded data for forecasting, and to align the satellite information with restoration strategies. PHE relies on its principle to maintain minimum damage and ensures safety by dividing the steps into several aspects of monitoring, response (offshore and onshore), shoreline management and waste management. PHE utilizes latest development in survey by using satellite imaging, survey boat, chopper and UAV drone. Spill containment is done using several layers of oil boom to recover oil spill, complemented with skimmers and storage tanks. PHE encourages shoreline remediation using nets and manual recovery for capturing oil sludge. Using this combination of technologies, PHE is able to model and anticipate oil spill movement from the source up until the farthest shoreline. This enables real time monitoring and handling, therefore minimum environmental damage is ensured. PHE also employs prudent engineering design based on real time field condition in order to ensure the equipment are highly suited for the condition, as well as ensuring good supply chain of the material availability. This publication addresses the first offshore blowout mitigation and handling in Indonesia that uses novel technologies such as static oil boom, satellite imaging and integrated effort in handling shoreline damage. It is hoped that the experience can be replicated for other offshore operating contractors in Indonesia in designing blowout remediation.