Terrorism & Oil
Essential for anyone working in oil-related professions or concerned about resource security, this book discusses the vulnerabilities faced by the global petroleum supply and infrastructure in the wake of the war on terror.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Terrorism & Oil
Chapter 6: Oil As a Target
General Selection Criteria
Oil and gas facilities as terrorist targets cover a far-ranging spectrum from reservoirs to wellheads, pipelines, refineries, storage facilities and end market points such as common gasoline convenience stores. Some type of attacks would have only short-term damage while others could be greater.
Access
Common among most potential oil targets is their relatively low level of security against an attack, i.e., they are soft targets. Even with facilities valued from several hundred million to billions of dollars, such as refineries and offshore platforms, terrorist attacks would require only a trivial effort and could cause severe damage, in some cases requiring long periods of down time, subsequent lost production, and job losses.
Security Level
Security for potential oil targets, particularly in areas such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Western Europe is miniscule and superficial at best. Weapons screening is non-existent at facility access points. Employee background checks against a terrorist or watch database have not been implemented. The oil industry is not unduly relaxed in this area but rather is on par with most other western industries except, perhaps, the nuclear industry.
Process Interruption
Process interruption can be a consideration in evaluating oil targets. Refineries often have long and complex start-up procedures if they had been shut down using emergency conditions. Some large industrial complexes depend on a single-source pipeline to provide fuel. A targeted attack on these or similar sites can have a domino effect in interrupting normal manufacturing processes with the attendant social upheaval.
Copyright PennWell Corporation 2003 under license agreement with Books24x7
