Approval and use of chemical oil dispersants in the Caspian Sea environment

Project description

Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC) was expecting to start bringing oil ashore by pipeline from its offshore platform during 1997 and would expect to use dispersants as part of their oil spill response strategy. Approval for the use of these dispersants had first to be obtained from the Azerbaijan authorities. The project involved a visit to Azerbaijan authorities with the purpose of explaining the UK oil dispersant approval and use system in order to reassure the authorities of the safety in use of UK-approved dispersants in the Caspian Sea environment.

Services provided by Cefas

Cefas scientists held a series of briefing meetings and seminars with a number of Azerbaijan authorities to explain:

• the UK's rationale for dispersant testing and use
• the UK's toxicity testing protocols for dispersants
• the UK's procedures for authorisation and use of dispersants during oil spill incidents

These were all placed in the context of the situation in Azerbaijan, and recommendations were made with regard to potential conflicts which might arise during dispersant use, and the advisability of undertaking toxicity tests of candidate dispersants using Caspian Sea species.