Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Practices at Small Petroleum Facilities

摘要

A study was conducted of small petroleum production and petroleum products distribution facilities (stripper wells and bulk plants) to determine ability to comply with the oil pollution regulation (40 CFR Part 112). Four regions of the United States were covered: Texas/Oklahoma, Louisiana, Penn-Grade (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, New York), and New England. Field surveys were conducted at 125 individual facilities: 55 production facilities and 18 bulk plants in the Penn-Grade region, and 17 bulk plants in New England. The facilities themselves were categorized into generic types, both within regions and across-the-board. Numerous technical problems were identified involving the ability of these facilities to comply with the regulation and the techniques selected by the owners and operators to achieve compliance. Existing spill prevention, control and countermeasure (SPCC) plans (required by the regulation) for the facilities visited were reviewed and assessed for adequacy if the owners/operators made them available.