An oil spill drill is being rehearsed in Dunedin's upper harbour today

Otago Regional Council and Port Otago are conducting a six-hour long exercise to ensure their oil spill response is up to scratch.

It will cover the deployment and launch of containment equipment, rehearsing cooperation between Port Otago, Oil Transfer Site holders and council staff.

Up to 30 staff will be involved, and Port Otago vessel New Era will be the fictitious source of the oil.

Regional council's Deputy Harbourmaster Pete Dryden says they're testing their capabilities to skim oil from both shore and sea sides of the harbour.