Environmental Support Services Pacific Environmental Corporation began providing oil spill response services to Alaska oil companies more than 20 years ago. During that time, they have seen their role as emergency oil spill response personnel evolve to take on a more proactive role. “It’s been several years since we’ve had a major event on the North Slope,” says Matt Melton, Alaska area manager for PENCO. “We’ve worked on a lot of oil spills over the years, but an increased attitude towards safer and cleaner work practices by our clients have required us to become versed in not just oil spill clean-up, but oil spill prevention as well.” Prevention requires a lot of monitoring and a thorough understanding of spill prevention countermeasures and controls. For PENCO field hands, this means being aware of everything that is happening on the pad. “The day is spent making the rounds, identifying any contamination, no matter how small, finding the source and ensuring it is brought to the attention of the client
“The day is spent making the rounds, identifying any contamination, no matter how small, finding the source and ensuring it is brought to the attention of the client so the problem can be corrected. This includes making sure there are containments under vehicles and that those containments don’t show any signs of discharge from vehicles.” —Matt Melton Alaska Area Manager, PENCO
so the problem can be corrected,” says Melton. “This includes making sure there are containments under vehicles and that those containments don’t show any signs of discharge from vehicles.” It’s up to the PENCO spill technician to be able to identify what kind of fluid has been discharged, the source and how to effectively clean it up. “By identifying the source, it allows the client to keep small problems from turning into big problems,” says Melton. “This proactive approach means better maintained equipment and safer operations.” Maintaining the integrity of spill containment areas, monitoring fluid and fuel transfers as well as general oil
field housekeeping tasks are all part of the job. “Our clients depend on the expertise and experience of our personnel out in the field to make sure all of their operations are safe and environmentally compliant,” says Melton. “We are trained in response, but being able to work around a pad and have an eye for things that aren’t right is a critical component to what we do.” Performing seasonal project specific work in addition to being available to respond to an oil spill of any size on a moment’s notice requires a large pool of on-call personnel to draw from. “Every time we send personnel to a worksite, it’s like a job interview,” explains Melton.
Where the road ends…
Our Work Begins
Our crews have decades of experience, and the skilled manpower to take on any task. With our tundra-approved vehicles, we can get your drill rig and project materials to any remote location, and build ice pads and ice roads. And our range of logistics support – hauling fuel and freight – has been broadened with the addition of our new marine services division.
cruzconstruct.com
Main Office (907) 746-3144 North Slope (907) 659-2866
From start to finish, we are a partner who can deliver what you need.
Anywhere you need it. Any season of the year.
tundra transport • rig moves • rig support • remote camps • ice roads • ice pads • well site trailer units • marine services
130
Alaska Business Monthly | April 2013
www.akbizmag.com