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North Cuba Oil Exploration

North Cuba Oil Exploration. Impact to US Waters & Coastline LT Shaun Edwards US Coast Guard District 7 28 OCT 2010. Timeline. JAN-MAR 2011: Scarebeo 9 will be delivered to Cuba MAR-JUN 2011: Rig preparation for drilling JUN 2011: Exploration begins. Offshore Continental Shelf Activity.

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North Cuba Oil Exploration

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  1. North Cuba Oil Exploration Impact to US Waters & Coastline LT Shaun Edwards US Coast Guard District 7 28 OCT 2010

  2. Timeline JAN-MAR 2011: Scarebeo 9 will be delivered to Cuba MAR-JUN 2011: Rig preparation for drilling JUN 2011: Exploration begins

  3. Offshore Continental Shelf Activity

  4. Gulf Current Affecting FL Straits

  5. Trajectory 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.

  6. Summary of Threatened Areas • Western FL: Minimal • Keys: Minimal • East coast of FL: Probable • Further North (Cape Hatteras): Minimal • Cuba: Probable on Eastern side • Bahamas: Possible • Bermuda: Possible

  7. International Plans MARPOL 73/78 Cartagena Convention (1983) Caribbean Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response & Cooperation 1990 (OPRC)

  8. Oil Spill Response Challenges • US embargo on Cuba makes responding to an oil spill in Cuban waters challenging- companies must be licensed by US Treasury to send equipment & people: • Titan Salvage • Clean Caribbean & Americas (CCA) • International Assc. Of Drilling Contractors • Environment: • Fast moving/high current Gulf Stream • Cuban response capabilities • Currently not capable to respond to a large oil spill- don’t have the equipment or trained personnel

  9. Way Ahead Considerations Review/update current Regional Contingency Plan Establish working group to create a section in the RCP to address spills crossing RRT and/or International boundries. Conduct Joint Exercises

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