Assessing offshore vulnerabilities and counter-response capabilities using RapidOps

Offshore hydrocarbon exploration, production, and transport capabilities represent critical national and international energy assets and infrastructures. As such, ensuring their continued protection against a diverse array of threats represents a top priority among government and industrial organizations alike. A first step in offering such assurances is the ability to conduct realistic vulnerability assessments of these key offshore assets and to evaluate various response capabilities. A recently developed tool (RapidOPs) and associated method for evaluating vulnerabilities and response effectiveness is described. RapidOps links time- and probability-based modeling in a graphic, intuitive, easy-to-use, and field deployable computer-assisted environment. This paper summarizes the basic concepts associated with assessing vulnerabilities and counter-response capabilities, especially related to deliberate, malevolent attacks. It then describes and illustrates the salient and applicable features of RapidOps and demonstrates how it can be specifically applied to assessing offshore vulnerabilities and response capabilities.