Shell U.K. Exploration & Production opened a web site on the Internet Mar. 22 to provide information and enable debate about abandonment of the idle Brent spar loading buoy.
Controversy over a plan to dump the spar in the Atlantic Ocean and later public protests claimed oil industry headlines last summer (OGJ, Nov. 27, 1995, p. 23).
Eric Faulds, Shell Expro's decommissioning manager, said, "The events of last year taught us a great deal, particularly about how we communicate and listen to concerns.
"When we launched the new Way Forward for the Spar last October, we promised that openness would be a hallmark. The World Wide Web site will be another way of making the process of finding a solution for the spar transparent to people all over the world."
Shell site
Shell's Internet site contains a detailed diagram showing the buoy in cross section. There is a mass of technical information on the spar, along with Shell's recent public statements about the buoy.
There is a "debate facility," which allows anyone to ask questions about abandonment of the spar and to make suggestions about how it should be done. There also is a page of answers to frequently asked questions.
Shell says it will not be able to respond to every query and suggestion it receives but will answer commonly occurring questions on a regular basis.
"We want to listen to different views as the project develops," Faulds said. "The Internet is ideal for making in-depth information freely available across frontiers, not only to a rapidly growing number of people everywhere but to policy-makers, scientists, academics, and other special interest groups.
"People can freely access debate, views, ideas, and technical data about the spar instead of the extracts and soundbites that many have had to rely on. The net culture also is ideal for feedback, which will be important in helping us sense public opinion and respond to particular concerns and interests."
Besides getting the Shell viewpoint, the company's web site enables users to transfer to Internet pages of environmental campaign group Greenpeace to see what the opposition has to say.
Strong response
Earlier, Shell opened a web site providing details of the Ferrari Formula 1 racing team, which it sponsors, and fuels and lubricants used by the team. This site has had thousands of responses.
Before the launch of the Internet site, Shell had received more than 400 proposals for what to do with Brent spar.
While Brent spar disposal may not have the broad appeal of motor racing, a strong response is expected. Shell said there are 30-50 million Internet users worldwide, and this number is increasing by 10%/month.
The company hopes to announce this month a "long list" of about 20 contractors that will be asked to provide outline plans for disposing of Brent spar, bearing in mind all practicable suggestions received.
From among these, a short list of six contractors will then be invited to develop detailed disposal plans. Shell expects the short list to be decided about midyear.
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