We participate in SONS drills to maintain oil spill response readiness.
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ConocoPhillips has an integrated global emergency response
process, which includes response capabilities and crisis
management plans at the corporate, regional and local levels.
All plans incorporate regular training, equipment maintenance
and review of procedures. We also are members of oil spill
response organizations that cover the regions of the world in
which we operate.
Membership in these cooperatives extends our access to
resources – both equipment and trained personnel – that can
provide immediate emergency assistance. We periodically participate
in and help to coordinate Spill of National Significance
(SONS) drills that are mandated by the Oil Pollution Act of
1990 and which are conducted every three years under the
direction of the U.S. Coast Guard. SONS drills are designed to
foster significant improvements in the oil spill preparedness,
prevention and response efforts of the U.S. government and the
petroleum industry. The drills, funded jointly by government
and industry, typically involve a year of planning by the major
public and private sector participants. We participated in the
2007 SONS drill, involving a major earthquake scenario.
Our crisis management and emergency response planning
extends to the community. We invite local people, representing
the community and regulatory agencies, to observe and
participate in training events involving oil spill recovery, fire
fighting and first-aid drills.
Emergency Response in Action
In December 2005, a major explosion and fire occurred at the
Buncefield oil distribution terminal in the United Kingdom,
which supplies oil products to consumers in Southeast England
and aviation fuel to Heathrow Airport. Although we do not own
or operate from the terminal, we assisted with the response effort
and worked to help alleviate the resulting supply disruption. Our
Humber refinery provided fire-fighting supplies and assistance,
while our marketing operations group helped to relieve the
aviation fuel shortfall with deliveries from our own terminals.
In July 2006, two severe thunderstorms struck our Wood River
refinery in Illinois. Their high winds cut electrical power to the
refinery and caused widespread damage in the area, leaving
more than a million people without electricity. Refinery access
was hampered by fallen trees and power lines, and major
repairs to cooling towers and electrical systems were needed.
Despite the damage, the first process units were restarted
within only a week, and within only two weeks, all units
resumed operations or were being restarted. During this effort,
141,000 hours were worked safely with no recordable injuries.
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