Petroleum-related Activities Research Articles

Organic tracers in sediments from the coastal zone of Ras Abu el-Darag, Gulf of Suez

Sediment samples from the coastal zone of the Gulf of Suez contain a variety of organic compounds from anthropogenic and natural sources. A total of 12 surface samples of bottom sediments were collected with an Ekman grab sampler along an off-shore transect south of Ras Abu el-Darag. The samples were extracted with a mixture of dichloromethane and methanol (3:1 v/v) after drying and sieving through 250 μm mesh. The extracts were derivatized and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in order to characterize the chemical composition and sources of the organic components. Marine with minor terrestrial biota were the major natural sources of organic tracers and included n-alkanoic acids, sterols and saccharides (5.7–76.7%). Anthropogenic sources, from petroleum related activities, detergent usage for spill cleaning and littering, are indicated by the presence of n-alkanes with carbon preference index ≤1.0, hopanes, steranes, unresolved complex mixture of branched and cyclic hydrocarbons, alkyl nitriles, alkamides and plasticizers. Their total relative concentrations ranged from 23.3 to 97.3% of the total extracts. Petroleum residues from natural seepage may also be part of these hydrocarbons. The levels of anthropogenic inputs decrease from about 94% in coastal zone sediments to about 20% in sediments from the reef front.

Editorial: Emerging Technologies for Petroleum Waste Management

Petroleum waste management has been of concern in the past decades since pollution from petroleum industries may lead to a variety of impacts and liabilities. Many petroleum-related activities, suc...

An Assessment of Oil Pollution in the Coastal Zone of Patagonia, Argentina

The Patagonian coast is considered a relatively pristine environment. However, studies conducted along coastal Patagonia have showed hydrocarbon pollution mostly concentrated at ports that have fishing, oil loading, general merchant, and/or tourist activities. A high value of total aliphatic hydrocarbons (TAH) was found at the Rawson fishing port (741 microg/g dw). In other ports with and without petroleum-related activities, hydrocarbon values were approximately 100 microg/g dw. The highest values for TAH and total aromatic hydrocarbons (TArH) were found in Faro Aristizábal, north of San Jorge gulf (1304 and 737 microg/g dw, respectively). This is very likely the result of petroleum-related activities at the Comodoro Rivadavia, Caleta Cordova, and Caleta Olivia ports located within this gulf. In other coastal areas away from potential anthropogenic sources, hydrocarbon values were less than 2 and 3 microg/g dw for TAH and TArH, respectively. This review of published and unpublished information suggests that ports are important oil pollution sources in the Patagonian coast. More detailed studies are needed to evaluate the area affected by port activities, to understand the mechanisms of hydrocarbon distribution in surrounding environments, and to assess bioaccumulation in marine organisms. Despite that some regulations exist to control oil pollution derived from port and docked vessel activities, new and stricter management guidelines should be implemented.

Development of an expert system for tackling the public's perception to climate-change impacts on petroleum industry

Climate change could cause significant impacts on human activities, which is especially true for regions that are of high latitude such as Canada. Petroleum industry is a main economic sector in Canada's prairie, where a number of its production and processing practices are vulnerable to the fluctuations of climatic conditions. In this study, an expert system (ES) for integrated climate-change impact assessment within the prairie's petroleum sector was developed. Interactive relationships among climate change, natural-condition variations, industrial activities, environmental concerns and economic objectives, as well as the related policy implications, were comprehensively examined and incorporated within the ES. A series of questionnaire surveys were conducted for acquiring knowledge about the interrelationships between the climate change and the petroleum-related activities. Processes that were vulnerable to climate change were analyzed, followed by an integrated impact assessment. The results indicated that the impacts of increased temperature and natural hazards would be very significant on most of the petroleum-related processes. Also, the petroleum industry would be quite sensitive to changed precipitation patterns. The developed ES can be used for both acquiring knowledge of climate-change impacts on the petroleum industry and supporting formulation of the relevant adaptation policies.

A review of ecological impacts of oil and gas development on coastal ecosystems in the Mississippi Delta

We review the multiple ecological impacts of oil and gas development on coastal ecosystems in the Mississippi Delta. This area has one of the greatest developments of oil and gas production in the world. This activity has generated significant impacts on coastal ecosystems due to the toxicity of spilled oil and the secondary and indirect effects of petroleum-related activities, such as alteration of hydrology. Effects on plant communities include disruption of plant–water relationships, direct impacts to plant metabolism, toxicity to living cells, and reduced oxygen exchange between the atmosphere and the soil. Effects on consumers include growth inhibition, reduced production, altered metabolic systems, and biomagnification of hydrocarbon compounds. Petroleum-related activities have contributed significantly to wetland loss in the Delta. Subsidence was increased by 2–3 times due to fault activation. Canals altered natural hydrology by altering water flow pathways, increasing saltwater intrusion, and reducing overland flow and sediment inputs. The combination of these factors increased plant stress and plant death.

Noise and Vibration Levels in Artificial Polar Bear Dens as Related to Selected Petroleum Exploration and Developmental Activities

The noise and vibration levels resulting from seismic testing, drilling and transport were measured in artificial polar bear dens of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. It was concluded that the dry and wind-beaten arctic snow muffles both sound and vibrations extremely well and it seems unlikely that polar bears in their dens will be disturbed by the type of petroleum-related activities measured here, providing those activities do not take place within 100 m of the den.Key words: Ursus marifimus, seismic activity, conservation

Oil and Gas Developments in Far East in 1981

Petroleum activity throughout the Far East region was brisk during 1981. Exploration acreage acquisition, drilling, and seismic activity proceeded rapidly in all of the main producing countries. In addition, activity expanded into some hitherto relatively inactive areas such as onshore Thailand, Sri Lanka, North Vietnam, etc. Exploration drilling increased approximately 12% in 1981. For the past few years there has been a dearth of major discoveries in the Far East region. However, during 1981 this trend was reversed. Although commercial significance of the discoveries is not entirely known, there were interesting oil and gas discoveries in onshore Thailand, offshore India, in the Cauvery basin, and onshore Burma. Indonesia was the most active country in the Far East again in 1981. Numerous discoveries were recorded. Exploration in India started in earnest along the east coast. Burma also recorded a busy year along the Irrawaddy River. Sri Lanka experienced exploration drilling in 1981 for the first time since 1976. Onshore Thailand had a flurry of activity and provided the most significant discoveries in the Far East region. The Philippines also had an active year and progressed rapidly with development work on 2 additional producing fields. Countries in the Far East region which recorded no significant change in petroleum related activities during 1981 were Bangladesh, Japan, Pakistan, South Korea, and Taiwan. The outlying islands such as Maldives likewise had minimal petroleum activity. China, in spite of great expectations, did not sign offshore contracts and thus recorded approximately the same level of activity as 1980. Production from the Far East region again declined slightly to an estimated 4.4 million BOPD. With no major discoveries over the last few years, present producing fields are for the most part fully developed and on the decline. Acreage acquisition during 1981 showed a large increase in many parts of the region. Indonesia offered 9 exploration blocks. All were successfully tendered. Onshore Thailand also had intense competition for areas adjacent to oil and gas discoveries by Shell and Esso. Participation by foreign contractors in exploration and production ventures throughout the Far East region increased during 1982. Countries such as Bangladesh, Burma, India, Thailand, and Malaysia all experienced increased interest by foreign companies. On the other hand, relinquishments by contractors in Pakistan and Philippines indicated a decrease in interest in those areas.