Recent Projects

General Oil Spill Risk Analysis

Alaska/Arctic Oil Spill Risk Analysis (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration): 2012-2014: Analysis of future probabilities of spills and environmental and socioeconomic impacts associated with oil exploration, production, transportation, and storage activities in the Alaskan Arctic for the purpose of strategic planning for NOAA practitioners in spill response and damage assessment.
Cook Inlet Maritime Risk Assessment (Alaska Dept. Environmental Conservation/US Coast Guard): 2011-2012: Risk analysis for spills and vessel casualties from 330 GT+ marine vessels in Cook Inlet, Alaska. Leading workshop on environmental consequences of spills in Cook Inlet.
Oil Spill Risk Analysis for BOEMRE for Offshore Environmental Cost Model (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management): 2010: Provide probability distribution functions of spill volumes for offshore production activities and alternative tanker oil imports for use in modeling of spill impacts in OECM.
Oil Spill Risk Analysis for State Funding Mechanism (Washington Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee): 2008-2009: Analysis of oil spill risk (probability and consequences) from all sectors and geographic zones in Washington state waters based on current and future trends for both actual and projected worst-case discharge spillage.
Risk Analysis for Industry Regulated by Washington for Spill Prevention/Preparedness (Washington Dept. of Ecology): 2008-2009: Analysis of spill risk (probability/consequences) from industry sectors regulated by Washington Dept. of Ecology Spills Program for prevention and preparedness based on current and future worst-case discharge scenarios.
Arctic Spill Risk Assessment (ExxonMobil Upstream Research): 2009: Analysis of US and Canadian arctic spillage rates and spill risk studies for arctic spill risk assessment.
Oil Spill Risk Analysis Based on Oil Transport Mode (Pipeline & Hazardous Material Safety Administration): 2005-2006: Comparative risk analysis of oil spillage from pipelines, tank vessels, and tanker trucks for states of Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Risk Analysis: Offshore Exploration & Production

Chemical Products Inventory in the Gulf of Mexico Related to Offshore Activities (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management): 2016-2018: Analysis of risks from chemical products used in offshore oil and gas exploration and production activities.
Offshore Worst-Case Discharge Analysis: Oil Spill Response Capabilities (Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement): 2014-2016: Analysis of worst-case blowout scenarios for Gulf of Mexico, US Pacific, and US Arctic offshore exploration and production – probabilities, benchmarking, and spill response/mitigation (intervention) capabilities for development of response capability regulations for offshore industry.
Spill Risk Analysis for Environmental Impact Assessment of Offshore Canadian Wells (Statoil/ExxonMobil): 2016-2017: Analysis of spill risk (probability of blowouts and spills with volumes) as part of overall risk analysis for environmental impact assessment for offshore Newfoundland wells.
Analysis of Probabilities of Arctic Well Blowouts and Intervention Methods (Shell): 2014: Development of fault tree analysis to determine likelihood of exploratory well blowouts and durations based on various intervention methods.
Analysis of Potential Blowouts and Spills from Offshore Wells and Activities (Shell Canada): 2013-2014: Analysis of exploratory well blowouts and mobile offshore drilling unit spill scenarios with respect to relative probability of occurrence and probability distribution of spill volumes, flow rates, and duration for environmental assessment of proposed exploratory drilling project. Analysis of other oil inputs and natural seeps in relation to potential spillage from wells.
Analysis of Probability of Discharge Scenarios from Potentially Leaking Oil Well (US Coast Guard/Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement): 2013-2017: Analysis of potential discharge scenarios and probabilities of incidents from abandoned oil wells associated with platform toppled during Hurricane Ivan (2004).
Analysis of Spill Scenarios from Proposed Oil & Gas Development in the Canadian Beaufort Sea (World Wildlife Federation Canada): 2013: Analysis of spill scenarios and probabilities, including worst-case discharge well blowouts for proposed oil and gas development in the Canadian Beaufort Sea for incorporation into trajectory, fate, and effects modeling of hypothetical spill impacts.
Analysis of Spill Scenarios from Proposed Oil & Gas Development in Greenland/Arctic Canada (World Wildlife Federation Canada): 2015-2016: Analysis of spill scenarios and probabilities, including worst-case discharge well blowouts for proposed oil and gas development off western Greenland and in the Baffin Sea of Arctic Canada for incorporation into trajectory, fate, and effects modeling of hypothetical spill impacts.

Risk Analysis: Rail Oil Transport

Rail and Pipeline Spill Probability and Volume Analysis for Oil Spill Response for Inland Areas (ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company): 2016-2017: Analysis of crude-by-rail spill probability and volumes for planning for inland oil spill response operations.
Environmental Impact Statement: Shell Eastgate Crude-by-Rail Unloading Facility (Skagit County/Washington Dept. of Ecology): 2015-2016: Analysis of risk (probability and consequences) of crude-by-rail traffic through Skagit County to facility, including analysis of spill scenarios, geographic analysis of spill locations, and potential impacts of spills, fires, and explosions.
Risk Analysis of Crude Oil Rail Transport Related to Facility Environmental Impact Statement (Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council): 2014-2017: Analysis of risk for oil spillage and fire/explosion for Bakken and other crude oil transport by rail through Washington State to proposed facility in Columbia River.
Rail Oil Transport Risk (Washington Dept. of Ecology): 2014-2015: Analysis of risks of oil transport by rail in Washington inland areas for evaluation of state-wide policies and risk mitigation.

Risk Analysis: Pipelines

Rail and Pipeline Spill Probability and Volume Analysis for Oil Spill Response for Inland Areas (ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company): 2016-2017: Analysis of inland pipeline spill probability and volumes for planning for inland oil spill response operations.
Risk of Crude/Bitumen Pipeline Spills in the US: Analyses of Historical Data (American Petroleum Institute): 2013: Analysis of rates of crude (including diluted bitumen) pipeline spillage in the US from 1968 – 2012.
Canadian-US Pipeline Risk Analysis Project (Pipeline Research Council International): 2010-2011: Development of oil spill cost and impact model for use in risk analysis project for Canadian-US pipeline systems.
Salish Sea Workshop: Trans-Boundary Vessel Oil Spill Risk Assessment and Management (Washington Dept. of Ecology/Puget Sound Partnership): 2015: Development and facilitation of workshop of US and Canadian regulatory agencies, Coast Guards, First Nations, Tribal Nations, maritime industry, pilot associations, maritime exchanges, and environmental advocacy organizations to analyze risk of vessel-related oil spills and to develop risk reduction measures.
Risk Analysis of Crude Oil Vessel Transport Related to Facility Environmental Impact Statement (Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council): 2014-2017: Analysis of risk for oil spillage and accidents for Bakken and other crude oil transport by vessel through in Columbia River for proposed facility.
Quantitative Risk Assessment for Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project (Vancouver) (Port of Metro Vancouver): 2013-2014: Analysis of the probability and nature of vessel-related casualty and spill incidents for proposed container ship terminal expansion; analysis of oil and chemical impacts of spill scenarios.
Vessel Traffic and Risk Assessment Study for Environmental Impact of Refinery (US Army Corps of Engineers/Washington Dept. of Ecology): 2012-2014: Risk analysis of vessel accident probability statistics, characterization of likely casualties, and characterization of casualty consequences for existing BP Cherry Point refinery as part of environmental impact assessment of addition of second dock.
Gateway Pacific Terminal Vessel Traffic and Risk Assessment Study (Washington Dept. of Ecology): 2011-2014: Analysis of vessel accident probability statistics, characterization of likely casualties, and characterization of casualty consequences for proposed bulk carrier terminal with dry cargo commodities in Puget Sound.
Spill Analysis Cherry Point Refinery North Dock Environmental Impact Statement (US Army Corps of Engineers): 2006-2014: Environmental impact study of vessel traffic and potential oil spills related to BP Cherry Point Refinery in Washington.
Comparative Oil Spill Risk Assessment for Proposed Texas Offshore Port System (US Coast Guard): 2009: Analysis of oil spill risk and vessel collision/allision study for environmental impact assessment for proposed Texas Offshore Port System (including associated pipelines).
Study of Tug Escorts in Puget Sound (Washington Dept. of Ecology) 2004: Analysis of socioeconomic and environmental benefits of use of tug escorts for oil tankers in Puget Sound, as part of engineering study to evaluate application of tug escort rules to different oil tanker types.
Spill Risk Assessment/Response, Socioeconomic/Environmental Damage Analysis (US Army Corps of Engineers): 2001-2003: Oil spill/vessel accident risk analysis for the US ACE project of rock removal in San Francisco Bay. Teamed with RPS Applied Science Associates in estimating response and socioeconomic damage costs associated with hypothetical oil spill scenarios as modeled by RPS ASA’s SIMAP oil spill trajectory and natural resource damage modeling program.

Risk Analysis: Shipping

Environmental and Economic Benefits of Marine Transport of Hazardous Substances (US Coast Guard): 2010, 2016-2017: Analysis of frequency and volumes of spills of hazardous substances (chemicals) during marine transport and facility storage and transfer operations.
Marine Oil Transport Risk (Washington Dept. of Ecology): 2014-2015: Analysis of risks of oil transport in Washington marine and estuarine waters for evaluation of state-wide policies and risk mitigation.
Risk Modeling for Maritime Transportation of Petroleum and Chemicals (RAMMS) (BP Shipping, UK): 2007-2017: Development of a model for determining the risk of marine transportation of petroleum and chemicals based on databases of casualty incidents and modeling of oil and chemical spill costs.
Analysis of Washington Vessel Spillage/Casualty Rates Relative to Other States, US (Washington Dept. of Ecology): 2001: Analysis of oil spillage and vessel casualties in Washington compared to US as whole and three other key coastal states in to assess impact of state spill prevention regulations.
Environmental Impacts of Dry Cargo Discharges into the Great Lakes (US Coast Guard Strategic Planning and Analysis): 2001-2003: Analysis of environmental impacts of dry bulk cargo discharges from commercial cargo carriers in Great Lakes to identify and quantify impacts of cargo residue discharges into affected areas, assess current program’s effectiveness, and make recommendations for regulatory action.

Risk Analysis: Offshore Wind Farms

Environmental Sensitivity and Associated Risk with Offshore Floating Wind Technologies (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management): 2016-2017: Analysis of spill scenarios from potential offshore floating wind technologies on Pacific West Coast and Hawaii, including vessel collision/allision modeling, to update BOEM’s Relative Environmental Sensitivity Assessment (RESA) model.
Environmental Risks, Fate, and Effects of Chemicals Associated with Wind Turbines (Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement): 2012-2013: Analysis of the probabilities of leakages of chemicals and oils from wind turbines, impacts of spills, and likely spill scenarios.
Oil Spill Probability Analysis for the Cape Wind Energy Project in Nantucket Sound (Cape Wind Associates, Minerals Management Service): 2006: Probability analysis for oil spills associated with the presence of the offshore Cape Wind Energy Project with regard to earthquakes, vessel accidents, tsunamis, hurricanes, and storms, as requested by MMS.
Vessel Collision/Allision Analysis for the Cape Wind Energy Project in Nantucket Sound (Cape Wind Associates, Minerals Management Service): 2006-2018: Probability analysis for vessel collisions and allisions, and associated oil spills associated with the presence of the offshore Cape Wind Energy Project.

Oil Spill Ecological Impact Analysis

Oil Spill Consequence and Impact Risk Model Development (ExxonMobil Upstream Research): 2011-2013: Review of over 1,200 research studies and spill case with analysis of environmental and socioeconomic impacts of oil spills and development of a spill risk model.
Arctic Spill Damage Assessment Initiative (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Office of Restoration & Response): 2009: Review of studies and data on arctic spill risks for recommendations for damage assessment and restoration planning in Alaska and the Arctic.
Review of Studies on Interactions between Spilled Oil and Shorelines (Minerals Management Service): 2006-2007: Literature review of previous studies on oil-shoreline interactions and analysis of data on shoreline oil impact to develop algorithms for modeling of shoreline oiling.
Analysis of Methods to Determine and Classify Oil Persistence (US Environmental Protection Agency): 2003: Analysis of different methodologies for determining persistence in oil as applied by USCG, international authorities, non-US governments, and industry.

Oil Spill Cost Analysis

Estimation of Oil Spill Impacts and Costs from Potentially Leaking Oil Well (US Coast Guard Sector New Orleans): 2013-2017: Analysis of potential response costs and natural resource damages for worst-case discharge scenarios from plugged and abandoned oil wells associated with platform toppled during Hurricane Ivan (2004) for the purposes of providing an estimate of costs for development of a consent decree with responsible party.
Analysis of Potential Marine Oil Spill Costs for Enbridge Northern Gateway Project (Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines): 2010-2011: Determine potential costs associated with oil spills that might occur in marine waters as part of the operations associated with the operation of tankers.
Oil Spill Cost Analysis (American Petroleum Institute): 2010-2011: Review of case histories of oil spill costs, spill cost models, and the variety of costs that are incurred during and after oil spills (response, environmental damages, socioeconomic damages, fines and penalties) and the factors that influence those costs.
Review of BP Thunder Horse Platform Spill Scenario Analysis (BP Oil): 2009: Review of “Thunder Horse (HFW Ref: AREC/TDW/5691-249 to identify in the response cost estimations for hypothetical spills from the BP Thunder Horse platform any errors or points of uncertainty, the magnitude of uncertainties or errors, and methods to address these errors.
Cost Analysis for Vessel-Sourced Oil Spills (US Government Accountability Office): 2006-2007: Analysis of the costs of response and damages for vessel spills in the US to determine appropriateness of existing spill liability limits.
Development of Model to Estimate Costs and Damages from Oil Spills (US Environmental Protection Agency Oil Program): 2002-2007: Development of basic model (Basic Oil Spill Cost Estimation Model) to estimate costs (response, natural resource, socioeconomic) by oil type, spill volume, and location factors.
Oil Spill Response Cost Modeling for National Defense Reserve Fleet (US Maritime Administration): 2001-2002: Oil spill response cost modeling for hypothetical oil spill scenarios related to the dismantling of the National Defense Reserve Fleet in the James River, Virginia.
Response Cost Estimation Modeling for USCG Evaluation of Tanker Designs (National Academy of Sciences/Transportation/Marine Boards): 1999-2000: Development of methodology for US Coast Guard to estimate cost of mechanical recovery/shoreline cleanup for various oil spill scenarios; model used in evaluating cost consequences of spills of various sizes from alternative tanker designs.

Spill Response Analysis

Analysis of Spill Response Decontamination Operations (ExxonMobil Upstream Research): 2017: Detailed analysis of oil removal and decontamination in the aftermath of spill response mechanical and manual containment and recovery operations to determine cost metrics for cost-benefit analysis.
Long-Term Shoreline Monitoring/Cleanup Program after Macondo MC252 Spill (Grand Isle, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana): 2012-2016: Analysis of shoreline and nearshore impacts from Macondo MC252 spill and advisory services for the development of a long-term monitoring and residual oil cleanup program for Grand Isle.
Development of Macondo MC252 Spill Long-Term Shoreline Monitoring Program (Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana): 2012-2016: Analysis of shoreline and nearshore impacts from Macondo MC252 spill and advisory services for the development of a long-term monitoring program for Plaquemines Parish.
Technical Support Macondo MC252 Spill: Impact Study/Protective Strategy (Mobile County Commission, Alabama): 2010: Provide technical support to the County Commission on issues related to spill response, protective strategies, environmental and socioeconomic impact analyses, modeling of spill responses.
Technical Support Macondo MC252 Spill: Protective Strategy/Response Evaluation (Louisiana Office Coastal Protection and Restoration): 2010: Provide technical support by evaluating spill response and protective measure proposals; modeling of protective booming strategies for sensitive marsh areas of Louisiana.
Hydrodynamics/Current Analysis: Washington Oil Transfer Regulation Effectiveness (Washington Dept. of Ecology): 2003-2006: Currents analysis in Puget Sound/Columbia River for pre-booming measures for oil transfers.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Shoreline Booming Options – Modeling Impacts and Costs (California Fish/Game, Oil Spill Prevention & Response): 2007-2009: Application of previously-developed models and data to evaluate quantitatively the benefits of various response strategies for representative spills and impacted resources in terms of impact reductions and cost implications.
Oil Spill Response Vessel Capabilities in State of Washington (Washington Dept. of Ecology): 2005: Analysis of impacts of oil spills in Washington waters to determine types of incidents for which vessel of opportunity skimming systems and other uses of vessels could augment spill response.
Laser Fluorosensor Heavy Oil Detection Cost-Benefit Analysis (US Coast Guard Research & Development Center): 2005-2006: Cost-benefit analysis laser fluorosensor technology for improving spill response; development of database of oil spills that may have provided opportunities for employing fluorosensor technology; modeling of environmental impacts and response costs for spills.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of USCG Oil Spill Research & Development Program (US Coast Guard Research & Development Center): 2002: Cost-benefit analysis of improvements in spill response technology to determine response, socioeconomic, and environmental cost reductions by alternative response technologies and improvements in mechanical recovery.

Oil Spill Response Modeling Tool Development

Development of Initial Oil Spill Response Tool for Emergency Responders, ADIOS3 (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration): 2011-2013: Develop algorithms for ADIOS3 (response tool to aid Incident Command in response decisions during drills or actual events) to incorporate socioeconomic and environmental impacts evaluation of resource risk in quasi-quantitative manner based on experience with past spills and state-of-the-art research on impacts of spilled oil and spill response measures, and response mitigation effectiveness.
Oil Spill Modeling Working Group Study – Modeling of Spill Response (UNH/NOAA Coastal Response Research Center): 2008-2011: Evaluation of state-of-the art in spill modeling with emphasis on spill response modeling for conceptual development of the next generation of oil spill models.
Development of Oil Spill Response Cost-Effectiveness Analytical Tool (NOAA/UNH Cooperative Inst. Coastal/Estuarine Environmental Tech.): 2002-2004: Two-year grant to develop decision-making tools for determining cost-effectiveness of various oil spill cleanup response options in order to better facilitate short- and long-term environmental recovery of oil-impacted areas.

Oil Spill Policy Analysis

Oil Spill Response, Socioeconomic, Environmental Cost-Benefit Analysis for Washington (Washington Dept. of Ecology): 2003-2006: Cost-benefit analysis of proposed spill response preparedness regulations, development of survey of response contractors and plan-holders to determine regulatory compliance cost; detailed modeling of response, socioeconomic, and environmental costs for comparison of response methods.
Washington State Oil Transfer Rule Benefit Analysis (Washington Dept. of Ecology): 2003-2006: Analysis of potential benefits of proposed oil transfer rule for spill prevention/mitigation.
Analysis of Discharge Scenarios for Washington Contingency Planning Standards (Washington Dept. of Ecology): 2001: Analysis of potential spills; development of oil spill scenario probability distribution functions to determine most likely/worst-case discharges for contingency planning.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of US EPA Oil Program (US Environmental Protection Agency): 2002-2007: Analysis of US EPA Oil Program benefits of spill prevention and increasing spill response effectiveness; examination of costs/benefits to society from oil spills/prevention regulations.
Regulatory Analyses for Economic and Environmental Impact (US Coast Guard Standards Evaluation and Analysis): 2005: Development of database of vessel-based hazardous materials spills and discharges and analyzing risks and impacts of these incidents as part of regulatory analysis.
Oil Spill Prevention, Preparedness, Response Program Broad Risk Assessment (US Coast Guard Office of Response): 2002: Risk analysis services and review of projects for the USCG Oil Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Program Broad Risk Assessment Project aimed at providing information for strategic planning for the next decade.

Oil Spill Trend Analysis

US Oil Spill Trend Analysis – Updated through 2012 (American Petroleum Institute): 2013-2014: Analysis of 45 years of oil spill data to determine relative trends in all sectors of oil industry (exploration and production, transport, storage, refining), and oil consumption sectors (manufacturing, consumers).
Analysis of US Oil Spill Rates (American Petroleum Institute): 2011: Update to previous statistical analyses on oil spill rates to include years through 2010.
US Oil Spill Trend Analysis (American Petroleum Institute): 2008-2009: Analysis of 40 years of oil spill data to determine relative trends in all sectors of oil industry (exploration and production, transport, storage, refining), and oil consumption sectors (manufacturing, consumers).
Development of Oil Spill Databases for US EPA Oil Program (US Environmental Protection Agency): 2002-2007: Development of comprehensive database of oil spill incidents from SPCC-regulated (Spills, Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures) facilities and other inland spill sources.
Development of International Tanker Oil Spill Database (Minerals Management Service): 2000-2002: Analysis of international data relevant to tanker oil spills for use of Minerals Management Service in their studies to compare oil transport spill rates.

Operational Spillage Analysis

Ports Best Practices for Lubricant Accidental /Operational Discharge Prevention (Castrol Marine Ltd.): 2009-2010

Survey and analysis of best practices for reducing, preventing, and mitigating lubricant oil spillage and operational leakage from vessels in worldwide ports.

Analysis of In-Port Accidental Vessel Lubricant Spillages/Operational Discharges (Castrol Marine Ltd.): 2008-2010

Estimate of lube oil spillage and operational leakage from vessels in 4,708 worldwide ports; analysis of potential environmental and cost benefits of use of biodegradable lubricants.

Environmental Salvage

Environmental and Response Assessment for Congo Salvage Project (Private Client): 2013: Analysis of potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts and response considerations for wreck oil removal and salvage operation for wreck (Tug Nana Tide) in coastal waters off Democratic Republic of Congo.
Environmental and Response Assessment for British Columbia Salvage Project (Private Client): 2013: Analysis of potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts and response considerations for wreck oil removal and salvage operation for wreck (USAT Brig. Gen. M.C. Zalinski) in British Columbia fjord.
Analysis of Costs and Impacts for Leaking Vessel Wreck (Fisheries and Oceans Canada): 2013: Evaluation of potential environmental and socioeconomic damages and response costs for spillage from wreck (USAT Brig. Gen. M.C. Zalinski) in British Columbia fjord.
Wreck Oil Removal Project: Risk Assessment/Prioritization of US Undersea Threats (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration): 2010-2013: Development of comprehensive environmental risk criteria to assess the large number of wrecks in US waters, application of the risk criteria to prioritize wrecks for oil removal operations, and work with the USCG to develop a protocol for developing work plans for removal operations.
Analysis of Oil Spill Risk from Potentially Polluting Shipwrecks (US Coast Guard, American Petroleum Institute): 2004-2005: Development of international database of potentially polluting shipwrecks and analyzed risks and impacts of oil spillage from these wrecks, as well as worked on team to evaluate costs and benefits of salvage.

Marine Impacts of Shipping/Offshore Exploration & Production

Pollution in the Open Oceans: A Review of Assessments and Related Studies (UN IMO GESAMP): 2007-2008: Review of studies related to open ocean pollution and environmental impact, including all shipping, offshore oil exploration & production, shipwrecks, vessel noise issues.
Estimation of Oil Input into Marine Environment (UN IMO GESAMP): 1997-2006: Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Protection (GESAMP) analysis of historical oil spill data to estimate oil entering marine environment; development of extrapolation model to estimate smaller spill input; analysis of spillage rates in relation to transport/oil production; comparison of past decade to previous estimates; regional/international analysis to determine impacts of spill prevention conventions
Oil in the Sea III: Inputs, Fates, and Effects (National Research Council Ocean Studies Board): 1999-2001: Development and analysis of several databases of North American and international oil spills and analysis of spillage from all sectors geographically to develop estimate of spillage rates on regional basis.

Port State Control Analysis

Port State Control/ Vessel Security Target Matrix Effectiveness Evaluation Method (US Coast Guard Office of Compliance): 2003: Develop statistical methodology for USCG to determine effectiveness of Port State Control- and Port Vessel Security Target Matrix in profiling vessels that may be safety and/or security risks, and make recommendations on weighting of factors in Port State Control- and Port Vessel Security Target Matrices.

Expert Witness/Litigation Support

Analysis of Spill Response Costs for Inland Pipeline Spill, Kalamazoo, Michigan (Reed Smith LLP/Enbridge Pipeline): 2016-2017: Dr. Etkin analyzed response operation costs for inland oil pipeline spill to assess the appropriateness and reasonableness of costs and response actions relative to specific circumstances of the spill.
Analysis of Spill Response Costs for Inland Pipeline Spill, Salt Lake City, Utah (Holland & Hart LLP/Chevron Pipe Line): 2016-2017: Dr. Etkin analyzed response operation costs for inland oil pipeline spill to assess the appropriateness and reasonableness of costs and response actions relative to specific circumstances of the spill.
Reasonableness of Spill Response Costs for Minor Vessel Spill, California (McKasson & Klein LLP): 2015-2017: Dr. Etkin analyzed response operation costs for a minor vessel spill to assess the appropriateness and reasonableness of costs and response actions relative to specific circumstances of the spill.
Analysis of Probability of Well Releases and Potential Costs and Damages (Taylor Energy and associated counsel): 2013-2017: Dr. Etkin analyzed the likelihood of various hypothetical well release and blowout scenarios and evaluated the potential environmental impacts, natural resource damages, and cleanup costs to assist with a settlement case.
Oil Spills from Non-Tank Vessels: Threats, Risks, and Vulnerabilities (US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard): 2007: Dr. Etkin testified as an expert witness on oil spill issues at the request of Senator Daniel K. Inouye (Chairman of the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard).
Analysis of Fines and Penalties for Spill from Oil Terminal (Womble Carlyle Sandridge and Rice, LLC): 2008-2009: Dr. Etkin prepared expert witness testimony for Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland: State of Maryland Dept of Environment vs. Center Point Terminal Baltimore, LLC, and Petroleum Fuel & Terminal Company, a case involving the reasonableness of fines and penalties assessed against an oil facility owner and operator.
Analysis of Spill Response Costs and Relative Financial Responsibility (Coats, Rose,Yale, Ryman & Lee, PC, Houston, Texas): 2007: Dr. Etkin testified as an expert witness for 127th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas: Venice Energy Services Company, LLC and Targa Midstream Services Ltd Partnership vs. Hilcorp Energy Co. and Hilcorp Energy I, LP; Case No. 2007-02086 on strategic post-mortem analysis on oil spill response and cost impacts to determine reasonableness of costs and relative percent financial responsibility between two facility owners in spillage during Hurricane Katrina.
Analysis of Magnitude and Legitimacy of Spill Response Costs for Pipeline Spill, Chalk Point, Maryland (Patton Boggs LLP, Washington, DC): 2001-2005: Dr. Etkin provided expert testimony on behalf of Support Terminal (ST) Services, Inc., for US District Court for the District of Maryland Southern Division: Potomac Electric Power Co. v. Support Terminal Services, Inc.; Case No. PJM-02-4076 in a dispute over the magnitude and legitimacy of oil spill cleanup response costs for a 138,600-gallon pipeline spill at Chalk Point, Maryland (Patuxent River). The case included modeling of actual and hypothetical spill response costs given different responses that should have been taken in the aftermath of the spill. In addition, she analyzed actual costs for legitimacy with regard to their inclusion under the category of “cleanup response.”
Tanker Spill Analysis (Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, Houston, Texas): 2001: Dr. Etkin was deposed as an expert witness for United States District Court for the District Of Alaska: SeaRiver Maritime Financial Holdings, Inc., et al. (Plaintiffs) v. Rodney Slater, et al. (Defendants); Case No. A97-0060-CV (HRH)by the attorneys for the plaintiffs (SeaRiver Maritime Financial Holdings, Inc., SeaRiver Maritime Inc., and SeaRiver International, Inc.) regarding tanker oil spills.
Analysis of Pipeline Spills and Spill Rates (Fred Misko, Jr., Esq., Dallas, Texas): 2001: Dr. Etkin provided expert testimony and consulting services to the attorneys for the plaintiffs in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Lufkin Division: P.D. Hamilton (Plaintiffs) v. Koch Industries, et al. (Defendants); Civil Action No. 901CV132 (366498.1 1761)regarding oil pipeline spills and spill rates.
Pipeline Spill Benchmark Analysis (Beck, Redden & Secrest, LLP, Houston, Texas): 1999: Dr. Etkin was deposed as an expert witness for United States District Court for the Southern District Of Texas, Houston Division: United States of America, et al. (Plaintiffs) v. Koch Industries, Inc., et al. (Defendants); Civil Action No. H-95-1118by the attorneys for the defendants (Koch Industries, Inc., Koch Oil Company, Koch Pipeline Company, L.P., Koch Gathering Systems, Inc., Koch Refining Company, L.P., Koch Service, Inc., Koch Materials Company, Chase Pipe Line Company, Bow Pipe Line Company, Citronelle Pipeline Co., their affiliated assigns, and their affiliated successors) regarding oil pipeline spills and spill rates.
Analysis of Oil and Hazardous Material Inputs during 1991 Gulf War (Government of Kuwait): 2002-2003: Dr. Etkin provided expert testimony on behalf of the claimant, the government of Kuwait, regarding analysis of oil inputs and damage to Kuwaiti waters and coastal zones from the oil spillage into the Arabian Gulf as part of United Nations Compensation Commission of UN Security Council: Section E Resolution 687 and Resolution S/22559 Compensation and Claims as Result of Iraq’s Unlawful Occupation and Invasion of Kuwait.
Analysis of Oil and Hazardous Material Inputs during 1991 Gulf War (Government of Saudi Arabia): 2002: Dr. Etkin provided expert testimony of the claimant, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, regarding analysis of oil inputs and damage to Saudi Arabian waters and coastal zones from the oil spillage into the Arabian Gulf as part of United Nations Compensation Commission of UN Security Council: Section E Resolution 687 and Resolution S/22559 Compensation and Claims as Result of Iraq’s Unlawful Occupation and Invasion of Kuwait.
Analysis of Offshore Exploratory Oil and Gas Well Spillage Rates (Angerer & Angerer, LLC, Tallahassee, Florida): 1997: Dr. Etkin provided expert testimony regarding rates of spillage from oil wells.and testified in court for Coastal Petroleum Company v. State Dept. of Environmental Protection, Case No. 98-1998 (First District Court of Appeal). Drilling Permit Litigation in a case regarding a drilling permit for an offshore exploratory oil and gas well in Florida state waters.