arctic offshore oil and gas drilling : understanding and …€¦ · arctic offshore oil and gas...
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Arctic Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling :Understanding and Evaluating
Environmental and Social Impacts
Elizabeth Tedsen
Researcher, Ecologic Institute, Berlin
Visionary Arctic
10 February 2012, Kirkenes
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Offshore Exploratory Drilling and Production in the Arctic
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Most Arctic oil and gas development to date has been on land. Limited offshore.
Pew Environment Group, 2010
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„ 90 billion barrels of oil, 1,669 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and 44 billion barrels ofnatural gas liquids may remain to be found in the Arctic, of which approximately 84percent is expected to occur in offshore areas.” - USGS 2008
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Environmental ConsiderationsOil Spills and Releases
Enhanced risks
Seasonal darkness, dynamic ice cover and moving floes, severe
storms, extreme cold, high winds and swells, low visibility/heavy
fog, lack of infrastructure, distance to population centers, slower
oil weathering and bacterial degradation
Limited circumstances under which Arctic conditions might aid oil
spill response
Extended daylight during summer months, ice dampens wave
action, solid ice pack can serve as platform to support heavy
equipment and vehicles, cold temperatures may slow spreading
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Anchorage Daily News
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Environmental ConsiderationsWaste and Water Discharges – Drilling Fluids, Produced Water, Chemicals
Air Emissions – CO2, NOx, SO2, VOCs, Methane, Black Carbon
Biodiversity – Disruption of migration patterns, noise sensitivity to drilling and seismic
exploration, exposure to toxins and bioaccumulation, habitat fragmentation, sensitivity of
birds and mammals relying on feathers and fur for insulation
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www.washingtonpost.com www.mnh.si.edu
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Social Considerations
Benefits: Job creation, resource and tax revenues, stimulate local businesses,
improved public services, health care, and schools, energy security
Costs: Upheaval of traditional customs and ways of life such as hunting and fishing
activities, food supplies, changes to community composition, human health risks,
occupational hazards to workers, decommissioning, cessation of benefits
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www.guardian.co.uk
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Arctic Council Offshore Oil and Gas Guidelines
The Arctic Council’s Arctic Offshore Oil and Gas Guidelines (AOOGG) recommend
regulatory and industry best practices and policies.
The AOOGG cover all stages of offshore oil and gas activity - planning, exploration,
development, production and decommissioning - except for transportation.
The Arctic Council endorsed its latest version of the AOOGG in April 2009.
“Intended to define a set of recommended practices and outline strategic actions
for consideration by those responsible for regulation of offshore oil and gas
activities.”
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AOOGG Goals for Environmental Protection DuringOil and Gas Activities in the Arctic Area
Offshore oil and gas activities in the Arctic should be planned and conducted so as to avoid:
• adverse effects on air and water quality that exceed national or applicable international standards or regulations
• changes in the atmospheric, terrestrial (including aquatic), glacial or marine environments that exceed national or
applicable international standards or regulations
• detrimental changes in the distribution, abundance or productivity of species or populations of species
• further jeopardy to endangered or threatened species or populations of such species
• degradation of, or substantial risk to, areas of biological, cultural, scientific, historic, aesthetic or wilderness
significance
• adverse effects on livelihoods, societies, cultures and traditional lifestyles for northern and indigenous peoples
• adverse effects to subsistence hunting, fishing and gathering.
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AOOGG General Principles
Arctic offshore oil and gas activities should be based on the
following principles:
Precautionary Principle
Polluter Pays Principle
Continuous Improvement
Sustainable Development
www.nasa.gov
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Arctic Communities, Indigenous Peoples, Sustainability, and
Conservation of Flora and Fauna
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Monitoring
Safety and Environmental Management
Operating Practices
Emergencies
Decommissioning and Site Clearance
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Florian Schultz, visionsofthewild.com
Arctic Offshore Oil and Gas Guidelines
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United States - Alaska
Need map of current
Pew Environment Group, 2010
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BOEMRE
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Greenland
www.guardian.co.uk
Financial Times Limited 2012
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Conclusions•Stakeholder participation
•Precautionary approach - further scientific research and
development of technology needed
•Full assessment of impacts, risks, and baseline conditions
•Demonstration of operational capacity and financial responsibility
•Adaptive regulatory mechanisms
•Effective governance
•Ensure continuing benefits
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Thank you!Florian Schultz, visionsofthewild.com