The Arctic has caught the imagination of North American television audiences through three shows on the Discovery Channel; "Ice Road Truckers" , "Ice Road Pilots" and "License to Drill". These shows document the hardships of working in the frozen tundra of the Canadian Arctic.
|
|
Two CSRO member companies, Riverspill Response and Priddis Environmental, have become intimate with these hardships through working for the Mackenzie Delta Spill Response Corporation (MDSRC) and others. MDSRC is owned by six major oil and gas companies exploring in the Arctic and focuses on preparation for hydrocarbon spills to an Arctic on-shore and river delta environment. MDSRC owns and maintains a cache of spill response equipment located in Inuvik, Northwest Territories.
|
|
Each year, MDSRC sponsors two training courses and field response exercises; one a winter exercise (ice) and the other a summer exercise (open water). Both events consist of a classroom training session and an outdoor response to a simulated spill event. Students use techniques learned in class and deploy the appropriate MDSRC spill response equipment. Winter exercises have been held in weather with temperatures down to -57 C. Safety is #1 at all exercises and responses.
|
The last winter exercise simulated an ice road spill of hydrocarbons and an injured worker. The injured worker was medi-vac from the scene (Thanks to a donation of air time by Canadian Helicopters). Minus the casualty and an attendant, the remaining students continued to operate both a command centre and the field cleanup activities.
Riverspill Response and Priddis act together to provide students with relevant techniques
|
|
that are tried and tested in extremely cold climates and equipment that is functional and well maintained.
More information can be obtained on these exercises at http://deltaspillresponse.ca/index.html
|
|
|
