Offshore Oil Activities Research Articles

Quantifying financial liabilities from offshore oil activities a New Zealand case study

ABSTRACT Estimating damages is both a spatial and temporal problem; spatial distribution and intensity of pollution depends on when a spill occurs, which way the wind is blowing, currents, and water temperature among other factors [4]. This results in a range of outcomes ranging from minor consequences, when winds blow persistently offshore, through to a worst case where oil is brought ashore in larger quantities and in many locations. Often modellers resort to identifying a “worst case” which might be the run when oil reaches shore soonest, or when the most oil washes ashore [5], [6]. However, it is well known that damages and costs of clean-up vary spatially by shoreline type and activity [7], [8]. So how can decision makers be confident that the so-called “worst case” selected by these methods is in fact a worst case. And in any case, is the “worst case” an appropriate basis for setting financial assurance amounts. The researchers explicitly addressed these uncertainties in a novel way for oil spill damages assessments, by providing a cumulative probability distribution of outcomes, with each outcome representing the total damages from a particular spill event. An automated method using oil pollution damage models was developed and applied to enable this approach.

Critical Review of Domestic Laws and Regulations Related to Offshore Oil Activities

Critical Review of Domestic Laws and Regulations Related to Offshore Oil Activities

Consortiums in the Upstream Oil Sector – How to Deem the Existence of a Permanent Establishment From Offshore Oil Activities?

Consortiums in the Upstream Oil Sector – How to Deem the Existence of a Permanent Establishment From Offshore Oil Activities?

Ecotoxicity of diethylene glycol and risk assessment for marine environment

Diethylene glycol (DEG) is a chemical compound used during offshore oil activities to prevent hydrate formation, and it may be released into the sea. A full ecotoxicological characterization is required according to European and Italian regulations for chemical substances. We have evaluated long-term toxic effects of DEG on indicator species of the marine environment as algae (Phaeodactylum tricornutum), crustaceans (Artemia franciscana), molluscs (Tapes philippinarum) and fish (Dicentrarchus labrax). A range of no observed effect concentrations (365–25,000mg/L) has been identified. Based on the toxicity results and the ratio between predicted environmental concentration and predicted no-effect concentration, we have estimated the maximum allowable value of DEG in the marine environment.

Risk Assessment and Emergency Response of Oil Spill for Offshore Oil Activity

With the greatly development in offshore gas and oil activity in China, the potential risk of oil spill attract more public attentions. In order to effectively limit the spilling incidence and bring it under control, it is necessary to establish a risk assessment model for offshore petroleum activity and prepare the oil spill response resource in an effective way. In this paper, a quantified risk assessment model, including the spill probability and consequence assessment, was developed using fuzzy comprehensive method. The spill probability assessment was established with view of the operative manual and statistic leakage/damage data of different kinds of offshore petroleum facilities and operation; the consequence assessment was proposed to several factors including the spilling volume, property of spilled oil, spilling location and the elements of spilling detection and controlling capability of operator. Based on the result from risk assessment, we can identify the comprehensive spill risk level (low, ALARP, high) and make a decision whether the response resource allocated to the site could be enough. The multiply oil spill response devices and facilities, especially the oil recovery vessel, were largely used in China and will be expand in future.

Fragmented International Governance of Arctic Offshore Oil: Governance Challenges and Institutional Improvement

The governance architecture in the Arctic region is subject to broad public and academic debate. Existing governance arrangements are not considered sufficient to minimize risks and impacts from Arctic offshore oil activities. These governance arrangements are fragmented between law of the sea norms, numerous regulatory conventions, and non-legally binding guidelines produced by the Arctic Council, an informal body of the eight Arctic states. While the benign form of cooperative fragmentation seems to prevail, specific governance challenges exist. The nature of these governance challenges and political feasibility considerations suggest an enabling joint management approach for the architecture of Arctic governance.

Immune function in the Arctic Scallop, Chlamys islandica, following dispersed oil exposure

With the current expansion of offshore oil activities in Arctic regions, there is an urgent need to establish the potential effects of oil-related compounds on Arctic organisms. As susceptibility to growth, disease and survival is determined partly by the condition of an organism's immune system, measurement of endpoints linked to the latter system provide important early warning signals of the sub-lethal effects of exposure to contaminants. This study assessed the impact of dispersed oil exposure on immune endpoints in the Arctic Scallop Chlamys islandica, using a combination of cellular and humoral biological responses. Laboratory exposures of C. islandica to sub-lethal dispersed oil concentrations (0.06 and 0.25 mg l −1) were conducted over 15 days, followed by a 7-day recovery period in clean, filtered seawater. Cellular endpoints were significantly altered following dispersed oil exposure: haemocyte counts ( P < 0.01) and protein levels ( P < 0.01) were significantly elevated, whilst cell membrane stability ( P < 0.001) and phagocytosis ( P < 0.01) demonstrated a significant reduction. Whilst these results indicate alteration in the immune endpoints measured, this appears to be reversible upon removal of the contaminant stress. However, the impact of long-term continuous exposure and high-level acute exposure to oil is still unknown, and may have consequences for disease resistance and hence survival.

Air Emissions Assessment from Offshore Oil Activities in Sonda de Campeche, Mexico

Air emission data from offshore oil platforms, gas and oil processing installations and contribution of marine activities at the Sonda de Campeche, located at the Gulf of Mexico, were compiled and integrated to facilitate the study of long range transport of pollutants into the region. From this important region, roughly 76% of the total Mexican oil and gas production is obtained. It was estimated that the total air emissions of all contaminants are approximately 821,000 tons per year. Hydrocarbons are the largest pollutant emissions with 277,590 tons per year, generated during flaring activities, and SOx in second place with 185,907 tons per year. Marine and aviation activities contribute with less than 2% of total emissions. Mass of pollutants emitted per barrel of petroleum produced calculated in this work, are in the range reported by similar oil companies.

Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons in American Oysters Crassostrea virginica from the Terminos Lagoon, Campeche, Mexico

The concentrations of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in oyster tissues from one of the most productive shrimp-fishing and oyster-farming areas in the coastal Gulf of Mexico, the Terminos Lagoon, were measured to assess the impact that offshore crude oil production on the continental shelf of Campeche might have on local resources. Total PAH concentrations in oyster tissues ranged from 2470 to 42,500 ng/g during this six-month study. The predominance of low and medium molecular weight alkylated compounds over their parent compounds indicates the petrogenic source of these PAHs. The apparent correlation between the geographical distributions of the measured PAH concentrations and the distinctive circulation pattern into and inside the lagoon suggests that offshore oil activities are the source of these PAHs to local oysters. Although comparable, the concentrations reported in this study are on the high side of those reported earlier in samples from the same general area and from the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. This should be a cause for concern in a protected area where oysters are farmed for human consumption and should result in the implementation of monitoring programs.

TRACE METALS AND BIOMARKERS IN OIL: A TOOL FOR IDENTIFICATION OF SPILLS

ABSTRACT The western offshore oil activities contribute significantly to India's hydrocarbon requirements. Oil spills in the sea cause serious problems to marine ecology and oil installations. Since weathering effects interfere with most of the matching methods now in use, a crude fingerprinting method is needed to identify the sources of oil spilled on the west coast. The ratios of n-alkanes and isoprenoids, along with trace elements, apparently are independent of weathering effects and thus could be especially useful in the matching of oil to its source.

Man's Impact on the Barents Sea

The Barents Sea ecosystem is a polar system with high biological production. Production takes place during a short season, mainly along the ice margin. As biological production is very limited in both space and time, the ecosystem is vulnerable to the influence of human activity. Fishing activity represents the most significant environmental load by man on the Barents Sea. In recent years offshore oil and gas exploration activity has increased, resulting in environmental problems as well as conflicts with fishing operations. Heavy metals and organic contaminants of man-made origin have been observed in both sediments and organisms at different trophic levels. Both long-range atmospheric transport and transport by ocean currents are important. Organic contaminants accumulate mainly in the body fat of the organisms; northern ecosystems are therefore especially vulnerable because fat has much greater ecological importance in such systems than in more southerly ecosystems. In recent years there has been public concern in both Norway and Russia over the possibility of radioactive pollution. Nuclear power plants, nuclear vessels and weapons are present in the area and produce radioactive wastes. Reports of wastes have influenced public opinion in many countries. The Barents Sea is strongly influenced by ocean climate variations. Global climate models forecast that the most elevated ocean temperatures due to possible greenhouse effects will probably occur in polar regions. Key words: Barents Sea, fishing, offshore oil activity, organic contaminants, radioactivity

Private and public approaches to solving oil/fishing conflicts offshore California

Offshore oil activity is projected to increase significantly in the south-central coast of California: from 80 000 barrels a day in the mid-1980s up to 400 000 barrels a day by 1994. Serious clashes between fishermen and oil company operators occurred during the initial stages of the oil build-up, with fishermen claiming they were experiencing ‘death by a thousand cuts’—from loss of fishing gear, to loss of fishing opportunity, to resource dispersal and deterioration. This paper reviews the impacts of oil operations on the commercial fishing industry in California utilizing the results of a recent survey of commercial fishermen. Reported impacts include not only the typical area displacement effects reported in other oil/fishing conflict cases, but the unleashing of a chain of events which also affects, among others, fishermen working in other locations as well as fish processors whose supply sources and markets may be disrupted. Efforts to mitigate negative effects on the fishing industry have been made in both the private and public realms with mixed results. The conclusion suggests that in conflict cases involving publicly owned resources and pitting contestants of unequal power, private mediation should not become a replacement for, but only a supplement to, public decision-making.

The conflict between petroleum production, navigation and fisheries in international law

Abstract Growing offshore oil activity and new technology have resulted in increased interference with traditional uses of the sea, such as fishing and navigation. This article discusses where oil production is prohibited, the extent of safety zones and the removal of installations after use. These questions are examined on the basis of the 1958 Continental Shelf Convention, the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention and state practice. When assessing this multiple use conflict, the different legal regimes for the continental shelf, fishing and navigation must be harmonized. “Creeping jurisdiction”; in state practice and the handling of these questions in the International Maritime Organization are also examined.

ECOLOGICAL MAPPING AND CLEANUP OF OIL SPILLS ONSHORE

ABSTRACT An ecological mapping project aims at mapping in advance areas along the Norwegian coast most likely to be exposed to oil spills from offshore oil activities. Up to now, the southernmost parts of ths coast as well as those parts along the northern coast most likely to be subject to oil spills from possible wells at the Haltenbanken, Traenabanken and Trømsoflaket have been mapped. Oil originating from a blowout at the northern oilfields is likely to reach the coast in a few days. This stresses the necessity and demand for locality information in a survey able and operative form. The maps provide information about important areas with respect to natural resources, and their value for nature conservation reasons, industrial utilization, or development. Among parameters recorded on the maps are geomorphological beach types and important geological, zoological and botanical localities. Further, seabird species, seals, local fishing places and important resorts or outdoor life areas are mapped. The mapping of areas for pelagic fish species, as well as localities for fish farming and storage in the sea of live catches, has been a subject of major concern. The geomorphological types are correlated to anticipated self-cleaning ability. A matrix for prioritizing localities with respect to cleanup actions also is presented. This implies quantifying each locality with regard to its biological, commercial, and outdoor life importance and self-cleaning ability.

New Developments for the Offshore Oil Industry

More than a decade ago, oil drillers and naval architects started to use vessels instead of fixed structures for offshore drilling. A multitude of novel platform concepts were developed which allowed the tremendous spreading of offshore oil activities. Today, search for oil spreads into areas of greater depth and farther away from the shores. This requires new developments of technology over a broad spectrum. The latest concepts of underwater oil production systems are briefly described.