Oil spill contingency planning and operations in cold climates and remote areas are in general more complex and demanding, particularly in ice-infested waters. Key issues for effective oil spill response operations are the environmental conditions.
A statistical response gap model has been developed and investigates when, where and how oil spill response operations encounter limitations or ineffectiveness when meeting rough weather, sea and ice conditions. This paper describes a framework for developing "response gap maps" and presents the results for the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea. In total six icemetocean variables have been considered, as well as wind chill and superstructure icing. The model records how often environmental factors exceed the operational limits for mechanical recovery, dispersant application and in-situ burning using high resolution historical data at a very large spatial and temporal scale. The results are graphically depicted in "response gap maps" and incorporated in a tailor made web-based GIS (Geographic Information System) application named PREGA (Platform for Response Gap Analysis). In addition, other statistical variables are calculated such as key limiting factors and mean duration time a response technique can be deployed.
By incorporating the results in the PREGA tool, different response strategies, seasonal variations and response conditions can easily been assessed. Area wide comparisons may then be made.
The proposed framework may assist responders to analyse the feasibility of response strategies and equipment for a specific area or for larger regions, improve seasonal and geographical contingency planning and assess alternative response techniques.
