RPS UXO - Case Study - LIBYA - Al Jaghbub

RPS Explosives Engineering Services (EES) were awarded the contract by Statoil to provide Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) QA\QC services and ERW technical support to their 2D Seismic Exploration Project located in eastern Libya, along the border with Egypt. RPS EES was further selected to compile, on behalf of Statoil, their working in hazardous areas contaminated with ERW corporate health and safety policy, which included the document itself and a workshop for Statoil staff that took place in their Norway headquarters. The duration of this project is anticipated to be from March 2007 to November 2007.

BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT

As a direct result of a General Mine Action Assessment (GMAA) conducted for Area 94 in November 2006 many of the Seismic Exploration Areas shown to offer a potential Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) risk, which is a result of the intense battles that occurred during the desert campaign in the Second World War (WWII).

In August 2006 MTI was contracted to conduct a Level One Survey of Statoil concession Area 94. Utilising archived maps (MoD Danger Area maps & Oasis Oil Co. Maps), it was indicated that there was significant ordnance contamination in and around the village of El Jaghbub. This contamination consisted of both Mines and UXO the presence of which was confirmed during an onsite inspection. However not all of the minefields listed on the maps were identified and during further field trips additional unlisted minefields were also discovered. The discovery of new minefields lead RPS EES to scrutinise the reliability of these maps and as such assess the unknown areas as Potentially Hazardous Areas and ensure the inspected Hazardous Areas were properly marked.

The results of the Level One assessment led to the planned clearance of all seismic lines in all sectors of the concession. Taking these factors into account, RPS EES provided a 2-man rotation team to deliver ERW QA/QC/ Management services in support of the seismic company (BGP) involved with the seismic acquisition. A clearance contractor (S3 International) was employed throughout the project providing ERW Clearance activities and Mine Risk Education (MRE) briefings to crewmembers within the seismic acquisition areas.

Quality Management

RPS EES ensured that all ERW clearance activities were properly conducted in accordance with International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and the contractual agreement between S3 International and Statoil. A total of 3226 square kilometres of seismic lines was declared fit for purpose without any ERW related incidents. Approximately 335 personnel were involved on the project. To ensure a high degree of understanding of working in a Mines/UXO contaminated area, all persons involved were incorporated into the MRE programme. The MRE was administered by S3 International and monitored by RPS EES to ensure the training met with the standards required for all personnel involved in the project.

Risk Assessment

Mine and UXO Clearance is a time consuming and financially expensive process. Appropriately assessing the requirement for such an operation prior to and throughout the project will lead to a more efficient process at a cost proportional to the actual threat on the ground.

RPS EES conducted Quality Assurance inspections throughout the project focusing on the actual clearance procedures performed and throughout the Risk Assessment process. Additionally, RPS continuously analysed the reporting data from the clearance contractor to ascertain whether the threat levels should remain at their present status. This proved both beneficial and practical in keeping with a methodology that couples the clearance requirement with the threat. Streamlining the clearance process enhanced the productivity of the operation without any disregard to safety. Throughout this contract RPS EES monitored all aspects of the clearance activity and conducted several reassessments and reductions in clearance capacity based on continuing Risk Assessment.

Near the end of the contractual period RPS EES worked closely with the Libyan Civil Defence Force (CDF) and instigated the destruction or removal of no fewer than 150 items of unexploded ordnance. A series of planned demolitions took place with RPS EES acting within its role as the client representative, ensured the safety of Statoil and its contracted staff.

MINES AND UXO SUMMARY

The total amount of Mines and ERW recovered is illustrated in the table below:

Category	Projectiles	Grenades	Mines	Mortars	Bombs	Minefields	Contaminated Area
Totals	178	28	36	65	6	7	2