Holistic environmental management of discharges from the oil and gas industry - Combining quantitative risk assessment and environmental monitoring

Author(s):  
Ingunn Nilssen ◽  
Stale Johnsen
1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 809
Author(s):  
Louis H. Evans ◽  
Jeffery T. Spickett ◽  
Joseph R. Bidwell ◽  
Robert J. Rippingale ◽  
Helen L. Brown.

Environmental impact from offshore oil and gas exploration and production is likely to arise from five main sources—produced formation water, drilling fluids and cuttiftgs, industrial chemicals used in production activities, accidental oil spills and the physical disruption of the marine environment by coastal and offshore engineering works. The principle task of environmental managers is to evaluate the risk of impact on the marine environment from their company's activities and to formulate and implement company policy and procedures aimed at minimising this risk. Of critical importance is the determination of the extent and scope of the environmental program designed to control and monitor impacts.The development of environmental management programs in the oil and gas industry involves two main processes—ecological risk assessment and formulation of a monitoring program. This review outlines the steps involved in ecological risk assessment with specific reference to the offshore oil and gas industry. Information is presented on the basic principles involved in risk assessment, the main source of environmental impact from offshore oil and gas exploration and production and the different approaches that can be used to predict and monitor impacts. Approaches for improving the cost efficiency of ecotoxicological testing are discussed. Results of recent ecotoxicological studies on a biocide preparation and two corrosion inhibitors used in oil and gas production activities on the North West Shelf are also presented.


Author(s):  
T Sheydai ◽  
O Nykyforuk ◽  
U Berezhnytska ◽  
I Melnychuk ◽  
I Mandryk

1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 714
Author(s):  
H.B. Goff ◽  
R.K. Steedman

Environmental risk assessment is becoming an increasingly important factor in the assessment process for new projects. The oil and gas industry is familiar with assessing and managing risks from a wide range of sources. In particular, risk assessment and management is fundamental to the evaluation and implementation of Safety cases. Risk assessment is essential in valuing exploration acreage. Various industry and government risk management standards and criteria have been developed for public and occupational health and safety.This paper examines the extension of these approaches to environmental risk management for the offshore oil and gas industry and proposes a conceptual management scheme.We regard risk as the probability of an event occurring and the consequences of that event. The risk is classified into four categories, namely:primary risk, which relates to the mechanical oilfield equipment;secondary risk, which relates to the natural transport processes. For example dispersion of oil in the water column and surrounding sea;the tertiary risk, which relates to the impact on some defined part of the physical, biological or social environment; andthe quaternary risk, which relates to the recovery of the environment from any impact.Generally the methods of quantitatively analysing primary and secondary risks are well known, while there remains considerable uncertainty surrounding the tertiary and quaternary risk and they are at best qualitative only. An example of the method is applied to coral reef and other sensitive areas which may be at risk from oil spills.This risk management scheme should assist both operators and regulators in considering complex environmental problems which have an inherent uncertainty. It also proves a systematic approach on which sound environmental decisions can be taken and further research and analysis based. Perceived risk is recognised, but the management of this particular issue is not dealt with.


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