Environmental Information for Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Decisions in Alaska (1994) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
2 Description of Operations
2 Description of Operations
Pages 31-40
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From page 31... ...
The physical effects of industrial activity in polar environments can be outlined as follows: Seismic exploradon requires He generation of sound waves, generated by mechanical devices and discharges from air guns. High-energy sound waves are propagated in unconsolidated sediments and consolidated rocks, as well as in seawater and biological material, and can cause local or regional disturbance of fish, marine mammals, and other wildlife.
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From page 32... ...
Over possible sources of harm associated wig OCS development include the discharge of drilling muds and produced water at well sites. Seismic surveys and the construction and operation of platforms and pipelines can disturb wildlife and interfere wig commercial, recreational, and subsistence fishing.
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From page 33... ...
Exploration and production · Liquid effluents drilling · Solid wastes · Gaseous emissions · Operational noise · Vessel and vehicle (on iced traffic · Aircraft traffic · Blow-outs Hydrocarbon production and · Produced water transport · Gaseous emissions · Operational noise · Vessel and/or vehicle traffic · Aircraft traffic · Ruptured storage units Vessel noise Tanker spills Pipeline dredging Pipeline rupture Marine construction . Artificial islands Coastal bases · Channel excavation High explosives · Causeways Icebreaking · Vessel noise · Traffic channels Abandonment of production facilities Vessel and aircraft traffic · High explosives · Residual materials
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From page 34... ...
The potential effects of offshore production-site abandonment pose unresolved concerns; Mere is lithe practical experience wad pos~production sites. Offshore produchonsite decommissioning is an area of study and experimentation.
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From page 35... ...
and gas exploration and development focuses on the marine environment of the Arctic. In general, the marine Arctic is characterized by three types of areas: those that are ice-free in summer; transition zones that contain deformed first-year and multiyear pack ice that show seasonal shifts in actual distribution and that are marked uniquely by He presence of leads and polynyas and a well developed under ice ecology; and the areas of permanent polar ice pack, which is predominantly multiyear and shows little biological activity.
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From page 36... ...
Although intertidal areas are productive and highly diversified near temperate oceans, Hey are of less year-round significance in He Arctic because of He biologically limping effects of seasonal ice and low temperature. If an of} spill were to occur during a foraging or staging season for large numbers of shorebirds, however, Here would be a risk of harm to Pose animals.
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From page 37... ...
The bulk volumes of Apical discharges from offshore oil and gas activities are shown in Table 2-2. The largest volume of material discharged from production activities is formation water derived from He petroleum reservoir.
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From page 38... ...
Base oil on cuttings Productior' site Drilling mud Cuttings Production water 15 - 30 1 50 - 400 200- 1,000 30- 120 45,000 50,000 1 ,500/day-varies greatly with reservoir a Actual loss to environment may be higher (Chenard et al., 19899. b Estimate based on 50 wells drilled Dom a single offshore production play, drilled over 4 to 20 years (Neffet al., 1987~.
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From page 39... ...
· It is highly unlikely Cat Me discharge of chemical wastes from offshore exploration and production causes any hazard to human heals. TABLE 2-3 Major Permitted Discharges and Potential Impact-Causing Agents Associated with Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration and Production in the United States Drill cuttings Drilling fluids Cooling water deck drainage, ballast water Domestic sewage Sacrificial anodes, corrosion, antifouling paints Production water Hydrocarbons 1,100 tons/exploration well, less for development well 900 tons/exploration well, 25% less for development well May be treated in an oiVwater separator Primary activated sludge treatment May release small amounts of several metals (Al, Cu.
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From page 40... ...
The GESAMP (1992) evaluation did make a recommendation relevant to this evaluation of MMS Alaskan OCS studies: It said that the information is drawn almost exclusively from experience in North Sea and North American offshore operations, and that additional information should be obtained from a larger variety of environments and from latitudes in more vulnerable localities, such as shallow or enclosed waters and the Arctic.
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