With our service region being home to a number of oil & gas operators, it is FMAC’s responsibility to ensure public protection should an oil & gas incident occur. These incidents can damage the environment and endanger both workers in the area and the neighbouring communities.
While we hope that no incidents or emergencies will occur, the organization has established mutual aid understandings in preparation for such an event.
Types of Oil & Gas Emergencies
There are six major categories that constitute an oil & gas emergency:
Fires
Due to the flammable properties of oil & gas, potential damage to an area can increase significantly if exposed to an open flame. Fire in the area can be caused by natural events or a possible manmade incident. Reducing any sparks or potential ignition sources is incredibly important.
Spills or Leaks
A spill or a leak can occur on land or in water, endangering public health by contaminating drinking water, devastating natural resources, and releasing harmful vapours. Spills may take weeks, months, or even years to clean up, with significant costs economically and ecologically.
Collisions with Wellheads or Pipelines
The potential damage caused by a collision can lead to other emergency categories, such as a spill, leak, or fire.
Injuries or Fatalities
Everyone’s safety is of utmost importance. An injury or fatality can be an indicator of another active oil & gas emergency, such as a leak, or a sign of a larger issue where increased safety measures must be taken for involved workers and neighbouring communities.
Gas Release or Blowout
A blowout or release is a sudden change in pressure that can result in equipment damages, with equipment parts shooting off, heavy cables snapping, and destabilizing an oil derrick. Bystanders may sustain injuries, including blunt force trauma, lacerations and amputations, and other concussive injuries. Blowouts also create the potential for a fire or explosion due to the release of flammable hydrocarbons into the air. This release may also include toxic gasses such as methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide.
Vandalism
Vandalism to a worksite may result in possible damage that increases the chance of another emergency category occurring, such as a leak or fire.
Signs of an Oil & Gas Emergency
While there are tell-tale signs of a fire, collision, or vandalism to an oil site, it can be harder to know the
signs of an oil release or spill. Thankfully, we have multiple senses that help us with this.
You might see
- A pool of black liquid
- An oily sheen on a water surface
- Dead, dying or discoloured vegetation in an otherwise green area
- Dirt appearing to be blown into the air
- A misty cloud or a white vapour stream over the pipeline
- Unexpected frost or ice on the ground
- Discoloured snow
You might hear
- An unusual hissing or blowing noise
- An unusual roaring noise
- An unexpected explosive noise
You might smell
- A petroleum or hydrocarbon smell described as oil-like, asphalt-like, gasoline-like, natural gas-like, or chemical-like
- Rotten eggs