BHP Billiton has planned a disaster drill that will involve numerous local public safety agencies.

The drill is scheduled for 9 a.m.-noon Tuesday, May 17, on Robinson Road in southeast Caddo Parish. The exercise scenario involves a simulated loss of well control and fire isolated to the well site, as well as simulated injuries to a worker on-site.

The Caddo Sheriff's Office, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Caddo 911, Louisiana State Police, Shreveport Fire Department, Caddo Fire District #5, Department of Environmental Quality and Life Air Rescue will all be involved in the drill.

This is an especially helpful exercise, since BHP Billiton has gas well sites in the Haynesville Shale, located in Caddo, Bossier, DeSoto and Red River Parishes.

"Co-operation and communication in emergency incidents can make the difference between quickly returning the situation to normal versus experiencing a delay that allows the incident to be larger than it has to be," said BHP Safety Supervisor Sammy Halphen. "Training together has given insight into what each entity brings to the event and how we can best work together toward the common goal of saving lives and protecting property."

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