Case Study: CNOOC Collaboration
When organisations find themselves newly working together, collaboration is key to gain a deeper understanding of each business' operations and services, making the most out of the relationship and ensure value-add. A collaboration programme was put together for CNOOC, which included a 5-week personnel secondment, to help both organisations gain that deeper understanding of each other, highlight the benefits of OSRL membership and stress the importance of preparedness and response activities.
Oil Spill Response Limited and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Collaboration Program
CNOOC (China National Offshore Oil Corporation), is the third largest national oil company in China, after CNPC (parent of PetroChina) and China Petrochemical Corporation (parent of Sinopec). It is the largest producer of offshore crude oil and natural gas in China and one of the largest independent oil and gas exploration and production companies in the world. It mainly engages in exploration, development, production and sales of crude oil and natural gas but also has business covering middle and down stream for oil and gas, engineering and technology services, and even financial services, making it a comprehensive and integrated international energy corporation. CNOOC joined OSRL on 1st Jan 2015 as a Band 1 Participant Member after acquiring Nexen.
Background
In order to increase the understanding between OSRL and CNOOC, OSRL sent a technical personnel to CNOOC for a five-week secondment with the following objectives:
- Visit different CNOOC business units to gain a deeper understanding
- Conduct workshops on OSRL’s global response capability, (including general service and supplementary service packages of Global Dispersant Stockpile (GDS), Subsea Well Intervention Service (SWIS), United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS) and West and Central Africa (WACAF)), Service Level Agreement, mobilisation procedures, and knowledge on regulatory frameworks
- Discuss how OSRL will support CNOOC’s overseas operations with CNOOC International by using scenarios to clarify response steps at specific operational areas
- Discuss how OSRL will support CNOOC’s response within Chinese waters and possible obstacles
- Discuss CNOOC emergency management structure and reporting procedures
- Conduct workshops on technical subjects such as capability assessment, Incident Management Systems (IMS) and the Joint Industry Project (JIP)
- Discussions on CNOOC signatory authority list for OSRL mobilisation
The Solution
WEEK 1 - CNOOC Headquarters & CNOOC International Limited
Workshops on OSRL general service and supplementary services were conducted at the CNOOC headquarters and CNOOC International Limited respectively. There were also separated workshops conducted discussing how OSRL can act as a response body for CNOOC global assets including Congo, Uganda, Indonesia and Iraq with CNOOC International.
WEEKS 2 and 3 - COES Tanggu Base
COES (China Offshore Environmental Services Ltd.) is the largest Tier 2 oil spill response company in China. It is also a subsidiary of CNOOC under CNOOC Energy Technology & Services –Human Resources Co. They played a key role in the 2010 Dalian Xin Gang Spill and 2011 Penglai 19-3 Spill incident.
OSRL personnel had some key interactive sessions with COES, including meetings with the senior management, the COES operations team and technology team (T&C). OSRL services were introduced to COES and technical workshops were conducted with the operations and technology teams. OSRL personnel also met with COES’s key experts in oil spill response (Dr James Zhang Zhao Kang & Luo Yi Dong) and engaged in some technical discussions.
Both the COES managers and experts from COES indicated interest in working closely with OSRL in the future in terms of response and preparedness business within China.
WEEK 4 - CNOOC Shenzhen Branch
CNOOC Shenzhen Branch is in charge of CNOOC’s E&P operation in the Eastern part of South China Sea. OSRL services were introduced to mangers in the Shenzhen Branch through workshops. OSRL personnel observed the Shenzhen Branch oil spill response table-top exercise hosted by the Shenzhen Branch Vice President and provided some useful and valuable feedback. OSRL personnel also had a chance to visit CNOOC FPSO No.115 in the South China Sea.
WEEK 5 - Closeout at CNOOC Headquarters and COES
The closeout was carried out at CNOOC headquarters in Beijing and at the
COES main base in Tanggu (Tianjin). Both parties explored how OSRL can best respond to spills in China and discussed possible challenges that required further understanding. Both CNOOC and COES were pleased with the insights and knowledge gained as a result of OSRL’s secondment.
The Results
This secondment greatly increased the understanding between OSRL and CNOOC. It provided useful information on how OSRL can better provide service for both CNOOC’s China and International assets. Interactive follow-up activities were also carried out between OSRL and COES, relating to how response to spills in China can be conducted collaboratively.
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