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Securing Oil and Gas Assets
Energy Security
a report by
Yahya Mehdizadeh
Surveillance and Security Division, SAIC
Oil and gas assets are under attack. For domestic and international oil Assets Under Attack
companies, securing oil and gas assets has become imperative, as the Oil and gas assets are being attacked from all angles: air, land and
nature of these assets makes them a target for malicious sea. Offshore platforms, transport tankers, floating production,
activities. Potentially, an attack could result in financial and storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels and liquid natural gas (LNG)
environmental devastation, wreaking havoc on global economies, processing plants are the industry’s most vulnerable assets. Intruders
international trade and domestic necessities such as food distribution, are leading paramilitary-style attacks using various attack vehicles,
emergency services and daily commerce. including boats, submarines and/or air strikes. Coastal-based
refineries and ship channels are being targeted for underwater
Before finding a solution, it is important to understand the problem. attacks. Land-based pipelines and refineries are the most vulnerable
Knowing what challenges are facing the industry, why these assets are and frequently targeted installations.
under attack and what makes them vulnerable is imperative in order to
be able to provide mitigation strategies based on physical security Unauthorised perimeter penetration is the major physical security issue
solutions. The concept of ‘defence in depth’ is used to present concerning refineries. Explosive projectiles launched from movable
technologies that can reduce and manage risk levels, while the artillery are the most severe air-based threat. Direct air assault is a
integrated approach focuses on command and control (C2) possibility, but its probability is minimised by national air space
technologies that provide a holistic view to the security issues protection regulations.
surrounding an energy asset.
Mitigation Strategies
This article does not endorse or recommend specific types of deterrent Detective controls such as surveillance, monitoring and intrusion
technology, but rather presents options to help understand potential detection are used to discover attacks. Once threat vectors have been
security solutions. identified, mitigation strategies are implemented to off-set these risks,
triggering preventative or corrective controls that respond to and
Industry Outlook contain the assault.
In 2007, the rate of oil consumption was 84 million barrels
per day (bbl/d) worldwide. With an average annual growth rate of Mitigation strategies are part of the overall security objective based on
3.8%, the International Energy Outlook (IEO) predicts that by 2015 the defence in depth approach, in which multiple layers of protection
consumption rates will increase to 98 million bbl/d and they will rise to are placed within systems, people, technology and processes. Each
118 million bbl/d by 2030. With no significant slowing in sight, a recent specific asset or location has its own unique factors that are considered
benchmark index noted that over the past two years there has been a when developing mitigation strategies. Preventative controls protect
53% increase in the cost of major oil and gas production projects. vulnerabilities, making an attack unsuccessful or reducing its impact.
Corrective controls such as physical security and perimeter access
Vulnerability Factors reduce the effects of an attack.
International terrorists are now attacking oil and gas installations.
Factors making these installations susceptible to attack are their remote Mitigation strategies begin with a comprehensive risk assessment,
geographical locations, poor transportation and communication allowing for proper evaluation of the physical security of the energy
infrastructures, potential for capital for investment, geopolitical turmoil assets. The assessment identifies what assets need to be protected and
and production outputs. A 2006 study conducted by New York determines how critical each asset is, examining the impact of each
University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service found that asset as it relates to human resources, infrastructure and production.
terrorists most commonly targeted production (15%) and distribution During the assessment process, threats and vulnerabilities are
(70%) facilities; within the distribution facilities, pipelines are the most identified, characterising potentially hostile occurrences that directly
commonly attacked components. affect the asset and could be capable of damaging others.
After completing the assessment, the next step is implementing the
Yahya Mehdizadeh works in the Surveillance and Security Division at SAIC, providing
physical security solutions for high-value energy assets. He has over 18 years of
appropriate countermeasure. Countermeasures are deterrent in
experience in the oil and gas industry, designing and deploying information technology nature and reduce the likelihood of a deliberate attack,
and security solutions for upstream and downstream businesses. He has had numerous
including perimeter intrusion detection and surveillance systems.
articles published on security-related topics and holds multiple industry certifications in
this domain.
Proper incident responses, policies, procedures and change
management procedures are then put into place; these contain and
manage risk levels, implementing control mechanisms such as
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