team

Environmental Advisor/ReviewerWilliam Ritchie OBE, BSc, PhD, DUniv, DSc, FRSGS, FRICS, FRS

William Ritchie

Key Skills

  • Pipelines and Terminals (UK, Azerbaijan)
  • Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Options
  • Environmental / Ecological Monitoring Strategies
  • Estimation and Prediction of Natural and Anthropogenic Changes to Coastal and Nearshore Areas
  • Special Interest in Coastal and Marine Spatial Areas
  • Decommissioning and Recycling of Coastal and Marine Structure

Education

  • BSc Geography
  • PhD Machairs of Uist

Biography

Professor William Ritchie has had a long academic career including research positions within the years 1979-1989, at Louisiana State University and senior professorial and executive positions at both the University of Aberdeen, Scotland and Lancaster University in the north of England. He specializes in applied coastal geomorphology and has published over 40 papers relating to the oil and gas industry (predominantly oil spill preparedness, monitoring programs and regulatory compliance).

He was appointed in 1993 by UK Secretary of State to chair the Steering Group and report on the Environmental and Ecological Impact of the major Braer oil spill in Shetland (ESGOSS). This included the role of principal editor for the content of the final Braer Report. Within the period 1980 to 2012 he held several positions within SOTEAG: a group that monitor and advised operators (BP, Shell and Shetland Islands Council) on the assessment of oil pollution risks and consequences at the port and oil terminal at Sullom Voe, Shetland. During his career he has had many opportunities to provide consultancy services to oil and gas stakeholders, regulatory agencies and operators relating to nearshore and coastal oil and gas related activities.

Career Highlights

  • State of Alaska (Informal site discussion on comparing operation, wild life response and citizen involvement at Sullom Voe (UK) and Valdez (USA).
  • Whilst at LSU, Baton Rouge, provided informal ad hoc advice to State and and Federal agencies on changes to the barrier island coastlines that were relevant to possible oilspill incidents.
  • Multiple monitoring programs, environmental management advice for pipeline landfalls and adjacent areas.
  • Welsh Government Working Group on assessment of the Sea Empress oil spill at Milford Haven (to provide initial information on “best practice” from Braer experience)
  • SNH (Scottish Natural Heritage) assessment of numerous coastal SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) in Scotland on risks and probabilities of oil spill damage and pollution scenarios.
  • Oil and Gas UK (Review of offshore blowout modelling, including fate of oil)
  • World Maritime University (Review of dissertation on oil spill preparedness in Sweden)