Offshore oil and continental shelf ecology

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Environmental Impact of the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry by Stanislav Patin - a unique summary of world-wide studies on the environmental issues associated with offshore oil and gas exploration and development

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Offshore Oil and Continental Shelf Ecology

Author: Dr Stanislav Patin
VNIRO Publishing, Moscow, 2001. 241pp (Russian)

* The English translation of the book will be soon available at offshore-environment.com in the digital form

Read the book Synopsis and Author's Foreword

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1. Geography, Scale and Prospects of the Offshore Oil and Gas Development

1.1. Global and Regional Aspects

1.2. Oil and Gas Hydrocarbon Resources on the Russian Shelf

Project "Sakhalin-1"

Project "Sakhalin-2"

Conclusions
References

Chapter 2. Environmental Impacts: Stages, Activities and Factors

2.1. Nature and Scale of Impact

2.2. Geological and Geophysical Surveys and Field Development

Seismic Surveys

Sampling and Probing of Bottom Sediments

Field Development

2.3. Drilling Activities

2.3.1. Well Drilling

2.3.2. Drilling Fluids (composition, volumes, discharge regimes, behavior in the marine environment)

2.3.3. Drilling Cuttings (composition, volumes, discharge regimes, behavior in the marine environment)

2.4. Production and Decommissioning

2.4.1. Produced Waters (composition, volumes, discharge regimes, behavior in the marine environment)

2.4.2. Technological and Other Wastes

2.4.3. Air Pollution

2.4.4. Decommissioning and Abandonment

2.5. Accidents

Conclusions
References

Chapter 3. General Characteristics and Variability of the Shelf Ecosystem (Sakhalin shelf)

3.1. Structure and Functions of Shelf Ecosystems

3.2. Physico-geographical and Oceanological Parameters

3.3. Plankton Communities

3.4. Benthic Communities

3.5. Fisheries Resources and Marine Mammals

3.6. Background Contamination of the Marine Environment

Conclusions
References

Chapter 4. Ecotoxicological Characteristics of Drilling and Production Wastes

4.1. Main Approaches, Principles and Methods of Aquatic Toxicology

4.2. Ecotoxicology of Drilling Wastes

4.2.1. Drilling Muds

4.2.2. Drilling Muds Components

4.2.3. Drilling Cuttings

4.3. Ecotoxicology of Produced Waters

4.4. Oil and Gas Hydrocarbons

4.5. Heavy Metals and Radionuclides

Conclusions
References

Chapter 5. Suspended Matter as an Ecological Factor in the Sea and an Indicator of Environmental Impact

5.1. General and preliminary considerations

5.2. Composition, Levels and Distribution of Natural Suspended Matter in the Sea

Sources

Forms in Sea Water

Analytical Methods

Open Waters (Pelagial)

Shelf (Neritic) Zone

Mixing and Shallow-water Zones

5.3. Ecotoxicological Characteristics of Suspended Matter

Impact on Phytoplankton

Impact on Zooplankton

Impact on Benthos

Impact on Fish

5.4. Levels, Thresholds and Zones of Manifestation of Biological Effects

Relationship between Effects and Suspense Concentrations

Quality Criteria (Ecologically Tolerable Levels)

Conclusions
References

Chapter 6. Environmental Impact Assessment of the Offshore Oil and Gas Projects (Impacts on Marine Ecosystems, Bioresources and Fisheries)

6.1. Methodology of Environmental Impact Assessment

Basic Principles and Approaches

General Scheme and Stages

Gradation and Ranking of Assessments

Risk and Hazard Assessment

Ecotoxicological Approaches

6.2. Assessment of Environmental Impacts and Disturbances in Areas of the Offshore Activities

6.2.1. Exploratory Drilling

Impact on the Marine Environment, Plankton, Fish and Marine Mammals

Impact on Bottom Sediments and Benthos

6.2.2. Production Activities

Impact on the Marine Environment, Plankton and Necton

Impact on Bottom Sediments and Benthos

6.2.3. Pipelaying and Construction Activities

Disturbances in Bottom Biotopes and Ecosystems

Ecological Effects in the Areas of Increased Turbidity

6.2.4. Transportation

Pipelines

Tankers

6.3. Long-term (Cumulative) Impacts

6.4. Seismic Impacts and Disturbances

6.5. Impact on Biological Resources, Fishing and Fisheries

6.6. Rigs and Platforms as Artificial Reefs

6.7. Summary of Environmental Impact Assessments

Conclusions
References

Chapter 7. Accidents and Oil Spills

7.1. General Characteristics, Causes and Statistics

Drilling and Production Accidents

Pipeline Accidents

Tankers Accidents

7.2. Oil Distribution, Transport and Fate in the Marine Environment

7.3. Environmental Impact and Consequences

7.3.1. Oil Spill Types and Possible Scenarios

7.3.2. Pelagic Scenarios (no contact with shoreline)

7.3.3. Littoral Scenarios (contact with shoreline)

7.3.4. Accidental Gas Blowouts in the Sea

7.4. Impacts on the Fishing Industry

7.5. Oil Spill Response Methodology

7.5.1. Modern Approaches, Methods and Means

7.5.2. Mechanical and Physical Techniques

7.5.3. Chemical Methods

7.5.4. Microbiological Methods

Conclusions
References

Chapter 8. Ecological Monitoring in Areas of Offshore Oil and Gas Projects

8.1. General Structure, Goals and Tasks

8.2. Methodology and Methods

8.3. Monitoring of Local Impacts

8.3.1. Exploration Drilling

8.3.2. Offshore Construction Activities

8.3.3. Production Activities

8.4. Regional Monitoring

8.5. Interpretation of Monitoring Results

Conclusions
References

Chapter 9. International and Russian Practices of Waste Handling Wastes During Offshore Oil and Gas Activities

9.1. International Conventions and Agreements

9.2. Strategic Principles and Approaches

9.3 National Experience and Practices

9.4. Methods and Options of Waste Handling

Discharges into the Sea

Reinjection

Waste Treatment and Cleaning

"Zero" Discharge

9.5. Environmental Standards and Requirements

9.5.1 General Characteristics

9.5.2. Drilling Discharges

9.5.3. Produced Waters

9.5.4. Other Wastes

9.6. Regulation of the Offshore Activities in Russia

9.6.1. Basic Concepts and Principles of Environmental Legislation

9.6.2. Environmental Requirements, Norms and Standards