This application study highlights the potential of the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery for regional oil pollution mapping. The paper presents an approach and methodology for oil spill mapping in the Caspian Sea based on analysis of the ERS-1/ERS-2 SAR image quick-looks; this image seta has been collected in May 1996. By using expert evaluation all oil spill candidates on the SAR images have been detected, analyzed and finally introduced into geographical information system (GIS). GIS consisting of layers (databases) including coastal line, oil production infrastructure, hydrography, currents, bathymetry, allowed, first, to create oil spill distribution map and, second, to define oil spill accumulations and outline risk areas. Detected oil slicks were mostly located in the southern part of the Caspian Sea and were related to the oil exploitation and production areas, oil rigs, terminals, river runoff and bottom seepages. Results indicate that periodically refreshing oil spill distribution maps are a value source of information on oil spill distribution, statistics and sources. Moreover, GIS-based oil spill maps together with ground truth data is considered to be an important element in establishing of oil spill monitoring and risk management system