NCJ Number
59749
Date Published
1979
Length
24 pages
Annotation
THE VULNERABILITY OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS INDUSTRIES TO TERRORIST ATTACKS IS DISCUSSED, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE NATIONAL IMPACT OF SUCH ATTACKS.
Abstract
PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS OPERATION, THEIR PIPELINE INTERTIES, AND ASSOCIATED TANKAGE AND STORAGE ARE THE MOST ATTRACTIVE TARGETS OF DISSIDENTS. SABOTAGE TO THE INDUSTRY COULD COME FROM THE EFFORTS OF A DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEE OR LOCAL DISSIDENT, A SMALL GROUP OR CULT SEEKING PRESS ATTENTION FOR THEIR CAUSE, A GROUP ACTING FOR MONETARY GAIN ONLY, PERSONS WITH A 'PATRIOTIC' CAUSE, GUERRILLA ACTIVITIES WITHIN A NATION, LIMITED WARFARE BETWEEN NATIONS, OR TOTAL WARFARE. SABOTAGE BY ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS OF THE PETROLEUM OR NATURAL GAS FACILITIES WOULD CREATE CHAOS IN COMMERCIAL AND PERSONAL LIFE. THE TREND TOWARD CONCENTRATING REFINING FACILITIES IN A FEW AREAS OF THE NATION SHOULD BE REPLACED BY AN EFFORT TO DISPERSE SUCH FACILITIES OVER A WIDER AREA TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ELIMINATE SUCH OPERATIONS WITH ONLY A FEW PROPERLY PLACED NUCLEAR BOMBS. IF TERRORISTS CAUSE WIDESPREAD DAMAGE TO THE OIL SUPPLY, PRODUCT TRANSPORTATION, OR POWER SUPPLY OF A REFINERY GROUP, PRODUCTS FROM THE PLANT WILL QUICKLY CEASE TO FLOW. OFFSHORE OIL OPERATIONS HOLD MORE POTENTIAL FOR TERRORIST ATTACK THAN ONSHORE OIL FIELDS, ALTHOUGH A LACK OF EASY PRESS ACCESSIBILITY TO THESE AREAS SERVES AS SOME PROTECTION AGAINST TERRORISTS WHO LOOK FOR EXTENSIVE PRESS COVERAGE OF THEIR ACTIVITIES. NATURAL GAS FIELDS HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS TO THE OIL FIELDS AS ABOUT ONE-FIFTH OF DOMESTIC NATURAL GAS COMES FROM OIL WELLS AS ASSOCIATED GAS. SINCE LOUISIANA IS THE MOST STRATEGICALLY LOCATED STATE IN THE NATION FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE NATURAL GAS SUPPLY, DISRUPTION TO THE FLOW OF NATURAL GAS FROM THIS STATE COULD CAUSE MAJOR CHAOS TO THE VAST NUMBERS OF CONSUMERS IN HEAVILY POPULATED AND COMMERCIAL AREAS OF THE EAST. PROTECTIVE SURVEILLANCE TO MAJOR RIVER CROSSINGS AND COMPRESSOR STATIONS ALONG MAJOR TRANSMISSION LINES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. ATTACKS ON CRITICAL SEGMENTS OF THE PIPELINE SYSTEM COULD ALSO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE ECONOMY. SINCE MOST COMPANIES DO NOT WANT DIRECT GOVERNMENT SECURITY SUPERVISION FOR FEAR OF ENCROACHMENT ON THEIR MANAGERIAL RIGHTS, ALMOST NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO PROTECT PETROLEUM AND GAS FACILITIES FROM TERRORIST ATTACK. REFERENCES, TABULAR DATA, AND MAPS ARE PROVIDED. (WJR)