ABSTRACT
The oil industry is continually seeking to identify new areas for exploration to increase its reserves. The major international oil companies are investing millions of dollars in ever more technologically advanced drilling programmes which will ensure future levels of production. In doing so the industry is increasingly moving into frontier regions to explore new development areas. The governments in these areas require the industry to plan and prepare for potential oil spill incidents. Issues for industry to consider include what level of response should be available to support exploration activities and what options are available to deliver this response. The aim of this paper is to review the potential risks associated with drilling operations during the exploration phase, set against a backdrop of legislation requirements and increasing environmental awareness. The paper will investigate the options for spill response during exploration operations and their respective benefits and limitations. The paper will also discuss the drivers in the decision making process for selecting which strategy is the most appropriate for each potential scenario