North Cuba Oil Exploration

North Cuba Oil North Cuba Oil ExplorationExploration

Impact to US Waters & Impact to US Waters & CoastlineCoastline

LT Shaun EdwardsLT Shaun Edwards

US Coast Guard District 7US Coast Guard District 7

28 OCT 201028 OCT 2010

TimelineTimeline

JAN-MAR 2011: Scarebeo 9 will be JAN-MAR 2011: Scarebeo 9 will be delivered to Cubadelivered to Cuba

MAR-JUN 2011: Rig preparation for MAR-JUN 2011: Rig preparation for drillingdrilling

JUN 2011: Exploration beginsJUN 2011: Exploration begins

Offshore Continental Shelf ActivityOffshore Continental Shelf Activity

Gulf Current Affecting FL StraitsGulf Current Affecting FL Straits

Trajectory AnalysisTrajectory Analysis- Given that the Cuban oil wells would be off coast of Havana - or the northwestern shore of Cuba - the gulf stream would dominate any spilled oil.

- It is expected that the trade winds, with the predominate easterly flow, would retard the oil's trajectory slightly but the strong gulf stream would force the product to the east and eventually north through the Straits of Florida.

- It is unlikely that any oil product from these Cuban wells would impact the Southern Florida shoreline or Florida Keys.

- It is possible, however, that a catastrophic release of oil from the north shore of Cuba could eventually impact the eastern coast of Florida from West Palm beach up to Cape Canaveral and farther north.

- There is a slight probability, given the high persistence of easterly winds, that oil could enter the Loop Current. If this were the case, within weeks, oil, in the form of weathered tarballs or patties, could impact the western shores of Florida from St. Petersburg to Cape Romano.

Summary of Threatened AreasSummary of Threatened Areas

Western FL: MinimalWestern FL: Minimal Keys: MinimalKeys: Minimal East coast of FL: ProbableEast coast of FL: Probable Further North (Cape Hatteras): Further North (Cape Hatteras):

MinimalMinimal Cuba: Probable on Eastern sideCuba: Probable on Eastern side Bahamas: PossibleBahamas: Possible Bermuda: PossibleBermuda: Possible

International PlansInternational Plans

MARPOL 73/78MARPOL 73/78 Cartagena Convention (1983)Cartagena Convention (1983) Caribbean Oil Pollution Preparedness, Caribbean Oil Pollution Preparedness,

Response & Cooperation 1990 Response & Cooperation 1990 (OPRC)(OPRC)

Oil Spill Response ChallengesOil Spill Response Challenges

US embargo on Cuba makes responding to an oil US embargo on Cuba makes responding to an oil spill in Cuban waters challenging- companies spill in Cuban waters challenging- companies must be licensed by US Treasury to send must be licensed by US Treasury to send equipment & people:equipment & people:• Titan SalvageTitan Salvage• Clean Caribbean & Americas (CCA)Clean Caribbean & Americas (CCA)• International Assc. Of Drilling ContractorsInternational Assc. Of Drilling Contractors

Environment:Environment:• Fast moving/high current Gulf StreamFast moving/high current Gulf Stream

Cuban response capabilitiesCuban response capabilities• Currently not capable to respond to a large oil spill- Currently not capable to respond to a large oil spill-

don’t have the equipment or trained personneldon’t have the equipment or trained personnel

Way Ahead ConsiderationsWay Ahead Considerations

Review/update current Regional Review/update current Regional Contingency PlanContingency Plan

Establish working group to create a Establish working group to create a section in the RCP to address spills section in the RCP to address spills crossing RRT and/or International crossing RRT and/or International boundries.boundries.

Conduct Joint ExercisesConduct Joint Exercises