Risk Assessment

Safety, Environmental and Health Risk Bridging Documents
After assisting a major international oil and gas company with high-level risk assessments for over 50 onshore and offshore facilities in the Lower 48 and Alaska, Acorn International prepared documents for its client to allow the information from risk assessments to be utilized in other corporate processes.  The risk assessments included information concerning potential scenarios associated with safety, health or environmental risk that may be relevant to emergency response and crisis management planning, community engagement or occupational hygiene programs.  The documents listed potential scenarios that may potentially be relevant to these other activities or processes, included details regarding specific facilities and concerns, and recommended actions around specific risks that will meet the company’s risk management requirements.

Environmental, Health, Safety and Social Risk Assessment Screening Reference Tool, Worldwide
Acorn International developed a Screening Tool for a major oil and gas company to facilitate the identification of potential Environmental, Safety, Health and Social risks for coastal and marine facilities. The tool identified readily available resources related to marine and coastal project management concerns around the world such as the locations of mangroves, corals, and sensitive habitats or species, as well as meteorological data, travel safety risk information, and artisanal fishing communities.  The tool will be used by the client to identify major potential risks, concerns or project hazards in the early stages of project conception.  In addition the tool provided references to guidance documents from sources such as UNEP, IPEICA and OGP that are related to the identification, assessment and management of environmental health and safety issues in coastal and marine areas.

Facilitation of an Integrated Environmental and Social Risk Assessment for an FPSO, USA
Acorn International facilitated the environmental, health and social components of a HAZID risk assessment of a proposed Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) facility for a major international oil and gas company.

Facilitation of an Integrated Environmental and Social Risk Assessment for a Produced Gas Management Program, West Africa
Acorn International’s Principal facilitated the environmental, health and social components of a HAZID risk assessment of a proposed Produced Gas Management Program for a major international oil and gas company. The Produced Gas Management Program involved installing compression and gas processing facilities to reduce the amount of flaring in a series of oil production assets in the West Africa business unit. Special attention was given to potential social risks related to nearby communities and security concerns, leading to recommendations for further evaluation and measures to reduce the anticipated risk.

Environmental, Health and Social Risk Assessment for Onshore and Offshore Production Fields in Eastern Nigeria
Acorn International facilitated the environmental, health and social (E/H/S) elements of a corporate risk assessment of production and supporting activities in a series of seven onshore and offshore oil and gas fields in eastern Nigeria.  We led this portion of a 5-day risk assessment workshop in Nigeria with members of the field management teams.  At the same time, we helped train and evaluate the capacity of members of the team to facilitate future E/H/S risk assessments for other operating units.

Facilitation of an Integrated Environmental and Social Risk Assessment for Six Onshore Facilities, CA USA
Acorn International facilitated the environmental, health, social and reputational components of HAZID risk assessments of six large onshore facilities in California for a major international oil and gas company.  The scope of facilities included oil and gas wells, production and processing equipment, steam generation and injection facilities, water injection, treatment and disposal facilities as well as the company’s activities associated with maintenance, construction and ongoing operations.  The facilities are located in areas with threatened and endangered species habitat and other environmental concerns.  The Integrated HAZID assessments were conducted to identify potential risk associated with facility operations and activities at a high level and recommend further risk assessments and/or mitigation techniques for reducing anticipated risk.  As part of the process, Acorn International facilitated a two day workshop focused on identifying potential social and reputation risks potentially arising from safety incidents, environmental releases, operational footprint, future environmental regulatory changes, key stakeholder interests, and public perception concerns. 

Facilitation of an Integrated Environmental and Social Risk Assessment for a Power Plant, Thailand
Acorn International’s Principal facilitated the environmental, health and social components of a HAZID risk assessment of a proposed Power Plant development for a major international oil and gas company.

Facilitation of an Integrated Environmental and Social Risk Assessment for Offshore Natural Gas Development, Trinidad and Venezuela
Acorn International facilitated the environmental, health and social components of a HAZID risk assessment of proposed offshore processing facilities, wells and pipelines for a major international oil and gas company. The project will feed LNG facilities in both Venezuela and in Trinidad.  Special attention was given to potential project impacts on sensitive coastal areas.

Facilitation of an Integrated Environmental and Social Risk Assessment for Rare Earth Mine, USA
Acorn International led an integrated environmental, health and social risk (E/H/Social) assessment of on-going operations and remediation activities at a primarily closed mine adjacent to the Mojave National Preserve in California.  The work was performed as part of an on-going contract to perform E/H/Social facilitation of risk assessments for operating units and major capital developments of a major oil and gas company worldwide.  Specific attention was paid to alleged public health impacts related to historic mine tailings and water quality concerns.

Facilitation of an Integrated Environmental and Social Risk Assessment for Over 50 Onshore and Offshore Facilities, USA
Acorn International is facilitating the environmental, health, social and reputational components of a HAZID risk assessment of over 50 onshore and offshore facilities in North America for a major international oil and gas company.  The Integrated HAZID assessments was conducted throughout 2008 to identify potential risk associated with facility operations and activities at a high level and recommend further risk assessments and/or mitigation techniques for reducing anticipated risk.  As part of the process, Acorn focused on identifying potential future environmental regulatory changes, key stakeholder interests, and public perception concerns that have the potential to impact the companies operations and reputation. 

Facilitation of an Integrated Environmental and Social Risk Assessment for Oil and Gas Field Development, USA
Acorn International facilitated the Environmental, Health and Social aspects of an IHAZID risk assessment for a proposed 4,000 well gas field development in rural, northwestern Colorado.  Our work included research and planning of the risk assessment, co-facilitation of the three day session with the project team, and documenting the risks and recommendations for further analysis required. Acorn’s facilitator helped the team identify and make special recommendations for managing potential reputation risks that could result from developing the extensive project in a remote, scenic area.

Facilitation of an Integrated Environmental and Social Risk Assessment for a Marine Terminal, USA
Acorn International facilitated the environmental, health and social components of an integrated HAZID risk assessment for the proposed upgrades and re-activation of an old petroleum export terminal on the Arthur Kill in New Jersey, facing New York City.  We worked with the project team engineers, planners, and HSE specialists to identify and recommend measures to manage environmental, health and social risks as well as safety risks associated with the reactivation activities and on-going operations.