Exploration of Oil and Gas

Question: Discuss the impact of oil and gas Exploration and Hydrological impacts and issues related to oil and gas exploration. Answer: Introduction Exploration of oil and gas is referred to as a cost and technology intensive method that helps in exploring on the oil and gas by implementing a geological survey over a particular area (Madduri 2016). This geological survey helps in assessing the potential of the area in respective of the availability of oil reserves, which is then followed by a seismic survey. The surveys are then followed by an exploratory drill which could lead into further drilling of the earths surface if any possibility of the discovery of the oil and gas reserves is found. This extensive drilling of the surface is to assess the extent of the oil and gas reservoir in that particular area. A feasibility report is then made which is followed by further drilling of wells in order to extract the oil and gas from the natural reserve in the area by developing necessary pipelines and related infrastructure (Madduri 2016). This drilling and establishment of an infrastructure for facilitation the exploration process ma ke the area to be abandoned and also expose the same to the environmental degradation owing to the drilling process. This intensity of the oil and gas exploration can produce a variety of effects which can vary with the distance and time from the development site (Badia and Ormazabal 2016). Impact of Oil and Gas Exploration and Hydrological Impacts Most of the oil and gas reserves are found to be lying beneath the ocean. This exploration of oil and gas beneath the surface requires the development of the infrastructure (Salazar et al 2013). And enough power supply and generation along with the drilling processes make the exploration site to be exposed to the environmental degradation (Mariano and La Rovere 2016). This intensity of the oil and gas exploration can produce a variety of effects which can vary with the distance and time from the development site. The environmental impact of this oil and gas exploration business is affected at both the local and at international level as well. The effects can be seen large on the water bodies with the point source showing the contamination of the water sources, and changes in land-use. The exploration process also result in the production of the marine and freshwater discharge including the incidences of the oil spills which can lead to the contamination of ground water (Mariano and L a Rovere 2016). The major by-products of the oil and gas exploration include the oil drill mud, oil field brine and oil bearing water. The major concern of the oil and gas exploration process is the aquatic ecosystems that are constantly being influenced owing to the rise in the oil and gas production (Esswein et al 2014). The operational activities are responsible for the introduction of the contaminated waste into the aquatic environment. Moreover, the wetland communities have also become susceptible owing to the pollution arising from the activities involved with the oil and gas exploration process (King 2012). The primary aqueous waste stream as produced from the operations are well treatment and drilling fluids, drainage water, and oil brine which are not only disrupting the surface water movements and contaminating the water bodies with chemicals but also changing the topographical patterns, clearin1g of vegetation and destroying the ecology as well (Linde and Renn 2013). Issues related to oil and gas exploration The improper treatment and inappropriate disposal of the by products is leading to a number of environment pollution problems including the creation of misbalance in the water ecosystem leading to the death of the aquatic biotic (Abdullah and Suffet 2016). In this respect, the composition of oil brine, produced as a by-product of the exploration process, can be found to be composed of high quantity mineral salts of sodium, calcium and potassium chlorides, bicarbonates and sulfates which act as a deadly potion when contaminated with the water bodies. Thus, it becomes very important to consider immediate concerns regarding the impact of the oil and gas exploration in the world and take appropriate measures in order to prevent the water bodies to get polluted both on short term and long term impacts (Kharaka and Dorsey 2016). There is an urgent need of exalting the potential effect of the operations on the water resources particularly near the area where the local population, fisheries, and wildlife populations are overlapping (Perry 2012). The infill and excavation could be using the significant alternatives to the existing drainage and water sources patterns in order to lead the change in the aquatic diversity in the vicinity. Further operations of the exploration could lead to the increased contamination of the surrounding area with mud, dissolved salts, oil spills and brine produced as a result of the exploration process. Measures to minimize the impacts Pollution prevention and cleaner exploration The practical measures related to the pollution control can be varied from planning and integrating environmental issues within the business environment to the application of procedures helping in reducing down on the risk of pollution. The preventive and proactive measures are the most efficient and effective techniques which are co-ordinated by personnel through special programs including the Pollution prevention, Eco-efficiency and Cleaner production (Gluyas and Whitehead 2014). These programs have been developed by each and every employee of the related companies at all the levels. Moreover, theses programs constitute the changes involved in both the technical and organizational changes in the business operations. The pollution prevention goals of the oil companies are achieved partly through the transition of the process encouraging the industry to conduct a critical analysis on its raw materials, practices and processes and to look for the ways for eliminating the pollution. The evolution of improved procedures and technology are one of the many factors that would be affecting the transition. Waste disposal techniques The waste management can be accomplished by utilizing the measures inclusion the reduction, recycling, recovery, re use, treatment and disposal of the harmful products (Davies et al 2014). The waste management plan is an area specific plan that relates directly with the options of waste disposal and handling to the eco logical sensitivities, regulatory requirements and infrastructure of the geographical area being involved. The waste management plan can be comprised of the following measures: Training of the employees Ensuring the protection of the environment and compliance with the regulatory requirements Application of the plan Minimization of the toxicity and volume of the waste being produced (Kharaka and Dorsey 2016) Oil spill contingency plan All the operations are required to be evaluated on the basis of the risks, nature, sizes and potential consequences of the oil spills during the exploration process (Madduri 2016). The contingency plan also includes the development of appropriate plan for removing the hazards. The contingency plan is based on the identification of the risks, planning, managing and implementing the procedures for testing and reviewing of the training and preparedness of the employees (Skogdalen and Vinnem 2012). This contingency plan helps in facilitating the rapid mobilization with the effective utilization of the equipments and man power required for carrying out the emergency response operations,. The training and the exercises are required to be conducted regularly in order to ensure the preparedness of the employees. The various steps involved with the oil spill contingency plan include: Management approval Defining of the area Identification of waste Regulatory analysis Evaluation of waste management options Minimization of waste Selection of appropriate waste management measures Implementation of the waste management plan (UNEP 2016) Most efficient approach Environment Management System The most efficient approach for the environmental protection in relation to the oil and gas industry would be to integrate the environmental management practices into the business environment of the oil and gas companies. This EMS (Environmental Management System?) would help in minimizing the various environmental risks and disturbances as produced due to the oil exploration practices (Madduri 2016). This EMS would be helpful in providing an appropriate management tools that would enable the companies to better understand about the environmental aspects in respective of the drilling and e3xplorartion. This would be enabling the establishment of targets and objectives within the business environment such that to implement effective programs and other activities which would help them to control and monitor the environment protection. This EMS within the business structure of the oil and gas companies would also help them in meeting with the compliance requirement, changing legislation , public concerns, organizational policy and respond to the environmental care regime as well (Madduri 2016). Recent research and regulations At present, various attempts have been made based on the observations of the impact of the oil and gas exploration in the environment (Madduri 2016). There has been an implication of certain policy guidelines which are intended for providing a qualitative improvement in respective of the environmental management scenario such that there exists a harmonious relationship between the production of oil and gas and the environment (Jinxing and Xiaoqi 2012). The regulations are defined by the frameworks of consents and standards which help in determining the quantitative control on the harmful emissions as produced by the oil and gas companies. Establishing a monitoring scheme and enforcement program The monitoring scheme related to the oil exploration industry exists under the international regimes which help in examining the approaches that need to be adopted by the companies under the national regime. The national authorities are responsible for the implementation of the monitoring scheme and the enforcement program for the oil and gas companies. It should be noted that the national authorities are also responsible for the implication of the international requirements through the primary legislation (Madduri 2016). The requirements are supported by a set of guidelines and regulations which deals in providing detailed information related to the specific requirements. The factors required for monitoring the effective application of the environmental concerns include: Enforceable standards for operations Appropriate national an international regulations, laws and guidelines Adequately motivated and properly funded enforcement authorities Appropriate political will and sanctions for the enforcement Appropriate monitoring protocols and procedures (Madduri 2016). Recommendation The environment awareness should be given the top priority in the oil fields such that all the sections of individuals could be made aware about the necessity of the environmental protection (Demski and Pidgeon 2014). It is essential to be noted the establishment of appropriate regulatory framework, enforcement rules and regulations are to be implemented for dealing with the controlling of the efficient as produced form the industry. The authorities should be establishing an appropriate efficient treatments plant for managing the harmful waste products being produced as a result of the exploration of the oil and gas. The regulatory mechanism is required to be strengthened as part of guiding the oil companies to protect the environment, sustainable development and biodiversity in the oil and gas industry (Nolan 2014). Moreover, this regulatory system should be applied more towards the offshore operations for the oil and gas companies (Madduri 2016). Conclusion The project aims at improving and maintains the quality of the environment by establishing the limiting values in respective of the production of the effluents and keep limitations in the concentrations of the pollutants in the future. The project also aims at preventing major accidents involving the harmful substances and to limit the consequences of the same in respective of the man and the environment. The main objective of the project is to ensure high levels of the environmental protection throughout the community by establishing appropriate measures for keeping the information. The major concern is of owing to the rise in the oil and gas production. The oil and gas exploration process is the aquatic ecosystems that are constantly being influenced. The primary aqueous waste stream as produced from the operations are well treatment and drilling fluids, drainage water, and oil brine which are not only disrupting the surface water movements and contaminating the water bodies with chemicals but also changing the topographical patterns, clearing of vegetation and destroying the ecology as well. References Abdullah, K., Malloy, T., Stenstrom, M.K. and Suffet, I.H., 2016. Toxicity of acidization fluids used in California oil exploration. Toxicological Environmental Chemistry, pp.1-17. Badia, M., Barth, M.E., Duro, M. and Ormazabal, G., 2016. Firm Risk and Disclosures about Dispersion in Asset Values: Evidence from Oil and Gas Reserves. Available at SSRN. Davies, R.J., Almond, S., Ward, R.S., Jackson, R.B., Adams, C., Worrall, F., Herringshaw, L.G., Gluyas, J.G. and Whitehead, M.A., 2014. Oil and gas wells and their integrity: Implications for shale and unconventional resource exploitation. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 56, pp.239-254. Demski, C., Poortinga, W. and Pidgeon, N., 2014. Exploring public perceptions of energy security risks in the UK. Energy Policy, 66, pp.369-378. Esswein, E.J., Snawder, J., King, B., Breitenstein, M., Alexander-Scott, M. and Kiefer, M., 2014. Evaluation of some potential chemical exposure risks during flowback operations in unconventional oil and gas extraction: preliminary results. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 11(10), pp.D174-D184. Jinxing, D.A.I., Yunyan, N.I. and Xiaoqi, W.U., 2012. Tight gas in China and its significance in exploration and exploitation. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 39(3), pp.277-284. Kharaka, Y. and Dorsey, N. 2016. Environmental issues of Petroleuam Exploration and Production: Introdcutioon. [online] Available at: https://toxics.usgs.gov/pubs/KharakaIntro.PDF [Accessed 24 Mar. 2016]. King, G.E., 2012, January. Hydraulic fracturing 101: what every representative, environmentalist, regulator, reporter, investor, university researcher, neighbor and engineer should know about estimating frac risk and improving frac performance in unconventional gas and oil wells. In SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference. Society of Petroleum Engineers. Linde, P.H., Baram, M. and Renn, O. eds., 2013. Risk governance of offshore oil and gas operations. Cambridge University Press. Madduri, V. 2016. An Environmental Assessment of Oil and Gas Exploratio n. [online] Available at: https://www.irade.org/eerc/pdf/IPP_FR_Madduri.pdf [Accessed 24 Mar. 2016]. Mariano, J. and La Rovere, E. 2016. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE OIL INDUSTRY. [online] Available at: https://www.eolss.net/sample-chapters/c08/e6-185-18.pdf [Accessed 24 Mar. 2016]. Nolan, D.P., 2014. Handbook of fire and explosion protection engineering principles: for oil, gas, chemical and related facilities. William Andrew. Perry, S.L., 2012. Environmental reviews and case studies: Addressing the societal costs of unconventional oil and gas exploration and production: A framework for evaluating short-term, future, and cumulative risks and uncertainties of hydrofracking. Environmental Practice, 14(04), pp.352-365. Salazar-Aramayo, J.L., Rodrigues-da-Silveira, R., Rodrigues-de-Almeida, M. and de Castro-Dantas, T.N., 2013. A conceptual model for project management of exploration and production in the oil and gas industry: The case of a Brazilian company. International Journal of Project Management, 31(4), pp.589-601. Skogdalen, J.E. and Vinnem, J.E., 2012. Quantitative risk analysis of oil and gas drilling, using Deepwater Horizon as case study. Reliability Engineering System Safety, 100, pp.58-66. UNEP, 2016. Environmental management in oil and gas exploration and production. [online] Available at: https://www.ogp.org.uk/pubs/254.pdf [Accessed 24 Mar. 2016].