Project Title: Poole Harbour
Products/Services: Absorbent oil booms and oil absorbent pom poms
Project Undertaken: March 2023
Industry Sector: Onshore Oil Field
What was the problem?
At the end of March 2023, around 200 barrels of reservoir fluid escaped from a pipeline at an onshore oil field and processing facility located next to Poole Harbour, Dorset. The reservoir fluid comprised of 85% water and 15% oil.
The largest natural harbour in Europe, 5,000 acres of Poole Harbour are designated as an area of special scientific interest (SSSI), and its saltmarshes and mudflats are home to seabirds including spoonbills, avocets and black-tailed godwits.
The Poole Harbour Company reported approximately 30 “slightly oiled” birds but, fortunately, no birds appeared to have been seriously harmed.
When the spill occurred, the company operating the oil field immediately put its oil spill plan into action. The pipeline was shut down and booms were deployed to contain the spill and mitigate the spread.
Oil spill response teams were mobilised.
Once the spill was contained, the response teams used pumps to suck up the pollutant and transfer it to nearby tanks.
How was the Darcy Group involved?
Darcy maintain stock of essential oil spill absorbents and equipment across the country at spill responder hubs for just this type of emergency, as well as large backup stocks at our manufacturing facility in Birkenhead. High volumes of spill response products such as Cushions, Booms, Pads, Rolls, Sweeps and a range of equipment including containment booms, skimmers and Mobile Oil water separators are available from stock when it is needed most.
Darcy also maintains a 24/7 emergency response line because when spills happen, response times are critical to reduce the environmental impact of spills.
Spill responders attended the Poole Harbour oil spill and used their existing stock of absorbent booms. Due to the size of the spill and sensitive nature of the location, responders at the site contacted Darcy to replenish stocks to ensure ongoing capability. Booms and Pom Poms were delivered promptly the very next day.
In addition to supplying the spill response crews, we also supplied the site operators and replenished their emergency stock.