Minimizing The Impact Of Oil And Gas Exploration/Production/Distribution On The Environment

Air Pollution

The Impact of the Oil and Gas Exploration/Production/Distribution on the Environment  As an environmental consultant, your role is to provide guidelines and information on issues related to the impact of oil and gas exploration, production and distribution on a specific part of the environment e.g. air, or water or soil pollution.

Discuss the measures that can be taken to minimise those impacts. At the same time, link your discussion to the most efficient approach in implementing new technology and recent research and regulations in reducing the above impact. Your approach should conform to sustainability in relation to the economic, social and environmental issues. By doing so, you may need to establish a monitoring scheme and an enforcement programme. Your recommendations for the new sustainable environmentally friendly approach and implementation should be sourced from actual data and reliable references.

The misuse of gas and oil storages has not always been without certainenvironmental side effects. The damaged lands, oil spills, fires, and accidents, as well as water pollution, has been recorded at various places. This part describes a broad overview of measurements taken to minimize the water, airas well as soil pollution caused by the impacts of water, air and soil pollution(Inkpen and Moffett, 2011). The potential for gas and oil operations must be measured according to a case-by-case methods. It is done by this way because different activities in different environments, in different situations, produce huge differences in the magnitude of a probable impact. These potential impacts can be mitigated or eliminated by the use of proper application of best environmental practices as well as best management techniques.

The impact of oil and gas exploration, production and distribution on environment

The current environment is very much affected by the gas and oil productionand exploration. Major impact of these pollutions depends on the stages of process, complexity and size of the project. Talking about the atmospheric impacts due to the oil and gas exploration and production, there are many variables involved in this section (Usen, Udofia and Offiong, 2012). In order to examine the potential impact of oil and gas exploration, production and distribution it is very important to understand the resources and nature of the radiations and their contribution to the air pollutions. The main resources of air pollution are followed:

Purging, venting and flaring gases from oil and gas industry

Gas production from the diesel engines and gas pipelines

Water Pollution

Loading process and gas leakages from the gas chambers and the loss of process equipment

Airborne particulars for the disturbance of construction and traffic vehicles.

Particulars from other resources, for example burning well testing

The air pollution due to the gas and oil productionand exploration includes some effective elements of natural gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, nitrogen oxide and volatile organic carbons. When the oil and gas industry uses the power sources, then sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide occur. In addition both composed gases depend on the sulphur content of hydrocarbon. This sulphur dioxide is very harmful to the environment. Moreover, the ozone layer is also affected by those harmful gases. The volume of air pollution and its potential impact depends on the production process of oil and gas industry. However, during the production, the emissions of air pollution are increasing with the activity of the operations. The World Resources Institutes indicated that the total methane emissions from oil and gas production in 1991 were 26 x 106 tonnes comparatively only 10 percent of the global emissions. On the other hand, other emissions gases such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon mono oxide and sulphur dioxide from the North Sea production operations are only 1 percent of the global gas emissions. Apart from that, the level of Volatile Organic Carbon (VOC) is exceptional because the net volume is still less than 2 percent of global emissions (Trevors, 2010).

It is critical to have a significant view on air pollution. The air pollution aspect has particularly effected the environment in a very tragic way according to me. Thus, I can hereby state that the governments along with the industries and factories that emit poisonous gases affecting the air must prolifically look into the issue and make basic criteria to deal with it.

Water is an essential element for sustain in this environment. During the production process of oil and gas industry, the water has been polluted very much. In addition, there are some resources from the gas and oil productionand exploration operations followed below;

They produced water

They drill fluids and mix chemicals in water

They include domestic wastes, sewerages and sanitary in the produced water

Leakage and spills

Cooling water

The volume of the wastages production depends on the various stages of the exploration and production process of oil and gas industry (Xu, Wu and He, 2013). In the process of exploratory drilling, many micro particles such as organic carbon, drilling fluids and cuttings influence the water pollution. On the other hand, many studies proved that the toxicity of chemicals is used in the exploration and production of oil and gas. Moreover, the water-based drilling fluids create the limited impact on the environment. The fresh water sources are affected by the great pH and saltedcontented of the confident drilling liquids. Apart from that the produced water contains a large amount of organic fluids which is arising from the exploration and production of oil and gas industry (Yao, Naeth and Chanasyk, 2014). In addition, other typical elements are included in the produced water of oil and gas production such as heavy metals parts, ironic salts, production chemicals, benzenes, hydrocarbons and other radioactive metals. Talking about the pollution of ground and surface water is very much affected by the exploration, production and distribution process of oil and gas industry. The resources of ground water are mainly used for domestic and household purpose such as fisheries. Due to the pollution of oil and gas industry and their exploration, many people are suffering because fishes cannot live in chemical water. On the other hand, the exploration and production of oil and gas affect directly or indirectly on local drainage patterns. For an example, the polluted produced water is passing through local drains and leaving harmful gases on air, so it is very dangerous for the local people (Loucks, 2012). Moreover, according to recent studies, 50% people of this world are using groundwater as their drinking water but the exploration, production and distribution of oil and gas industry puts harmful chemicals in that ground water as a produced water including organic wastages. So, oil and gas industry should pay attention to their exploration and production process.

Soil Pollution

Water pollution has affected the aquatic ecosystem in a drastic way the petroleum leaks has been the most prominent factor that has affected the water life. According to me it is proving to be more fatal as every day the aquatic ecosystem is being harmed by various toxic materials dumped in the water. I think the locals and the governments should look after it and try to preserve the aquatic life by passing various laws and regulations.

It is our primary responsibility to save the soil because we cannot live without soil. The soil is mainly used for the harvesting. There are many reasons involved in the soil erosion such as rain fall, cut off trees but the most effective reason is the exploration, production and distribution of oil and gas industry (Matthiessen, 2000). The soil is losing its capacity for growing the crops due the effect of the gas and oil production and exploration. In other words, the land farming and land spreading both have been extremely suffered due to the treatment of oily petroleum organic wastages, muds and cuttings. One of the major reasons of soil erosion is the concentration of toxic salts in the muds and cuttings. During a major drilling of a classic dig at the depth of 3000m, almost 500 tonnes of soil is utilized and 1000-1500 tonnes of carvings have been formed (Newbury and De Lorne, 2009). According to the calculation, a huge amount of soil is used for the exploration and production of oil and gas. Moreover, the experts of hydrology said that the physical and chemical composition of the wastage materials of oil and gas mixed with soil and produce the waste-soil mixture which is very harmful for cultivation (Oil & Gas Industry Waste Management, 2015). The management process is discussed below:   

The valuation of possibleeffects as well as management measures is commonly carried out by an environmental value. It is accompanied either autonomously or inside the agenda of management arrangement of HSE. The process of evaluating the likely impacts on the environment of a suggested development or project which takes into results on human health and cultural environment, inter-related socio-economic account, both adverse and beneficial is called Environmental Impact Assessment or EIA (Dale, 2014). The potential effects of production and exploration activities must also be considered according to the international and national legislation and policies.

The soil pollution has affected major farmers and even the governments affecting the economic conditions. In current day soil pollution is caused by dumping of various toxic materials. This has also affected the fertility of the soil and creating huge problems. A specific, significant process must be outlined to deal with this issue.

According to The Clean Air Act, EPA or Environmental Protection Agency sets NSPS or New Source Performance Standards for changes in industries which comprise of the cause and the vital contribution to reducing air pollution which may endanger public health (Breville, 2011). They also review and approve permit applications for industries or chemical procedures. EPA assists tribal, state and local agencies by giving research, engineering designs as well as funding to support progression regarding clean air.

Environmental Protection Agency is phasing in requirements for the reduction of VOC emissions from new and modified tanks. It works with enough combustion devices which will reduce the emissions (O’Neill, Rogers and Thorp, 2015).

Centrifugal compressors are used to reduce VOC. The compressor is made up of wet seal systems.

Reciprocating compressors are utilized as well. It requires replacement of rod packing which can leak VOC's as it wears.

Pneumatic controllers are used for the regulation of temperature and pressure. It affects high-bleed controllers as it allows the use of important applications like emergency shutoff valves.

Glycol dehydrators are used to cover under two air toxic standards, they are, natural gas treating plants as well asnatural gas and oil production (Cook and Rinfret, 2013).

At gas processing plants, leaks from valves strengthened requirements to repair and detect for VOCs and air toxics.

First of all, oil spills significantly affect the environment as well as local communities. The oil and gas manufacturing industry and governments have been operating together to improve oil spills with the help IPIECA and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). It provides a high-level strategic network for organizations for the establishment of good practices. It is done by discussing and sharing oil spill preparedness and response issues.

Secondly, hydraulic fracturing leads to water pollution. The hydraulic fracturing fluids include propane and other substances which contain toxic chemicals. Such activities are treated as trade secrets by various organizations (Spellman, 2013). A trade secret is a process, practice, formula, design, pattern and instrument used as a popular method in business which is not known by others.

The water pollution can also be reduced by the use of membrane process. The membrane processes are characterized by ambient temperature operations, modular nature, and low energy consumption. The oil and gas industry must use little energy to reduce pollution in water.

Another method includes construction of proper sanitary landfill sites. According to The Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA), it established general standards for siting in landfill which include siting in the floodplain, impacts on endangered species and quality of groundwater (Gabay, 2012). It also includes control of safety and surface water discharges.

The gas and oil industry has a less performing record on the environment. Itbecome even worse in regions of tropical rainforest. These rainforest areas contain large amounts of deposits of petroleum. The extraction of oil from these areas leads to soil erosion. The one of the simplest and reliable ways to mitigate damage is a prohibition of oil extraction in a tropical rainforest (Bai, 2014). The reduction of pollution and avoiding oil spills can be made by better pipeline management, stopping flaring of methane as well as reinjection techniques. The limitation of road development and restricting access helps in avoiding deforestation.

During the distribution of oil and gas products from one corner of the world to another, oil spills from storage tanks due to leakage. These oils affect soil. Proper measurements should be taken to avoid leaking of oil from tanks. The leaking of oils can be prevented by proper maintenance of tanks and vehicles on a daily basis. The tanks should be made from tough, light and heat resistance material to carry oil on highways.

The biological diversity should be encouraged by planting different types of plants together. The increase in trees and forest will toughen the soil and, therefore; it will be hard for any types of oil for soil erosion.

Reforesting is another process to control land loss and soil erosion caused by the emissions from oil and gas industries. The crop rotation or mixed cropping can improve the fertility of the earth. Apart from these, the cropping techniques should also be developed to prevent the growth of weeds.

The proper methods should be implemented for the managingsolid waste disposal. Individual pits should be utilized for the dumping of waste. The wastages in different holes can be used for recycling products. There are three types of permanent recycling facility: civic amenity sites, bring banks and recycling centers.

Conclusion

In order to control the air, water and soil pollutions, and the oil and gas industry should pay more attention to their exploration, production and distribution process. They should be very careful about their organic hydrocarbon wastages which influence the air, water and soil pollution rapidly. Finally, the environment should be protected carefully because our next generation supposed to ask us what we left for them for survive.

References

Loucks, E. (2012). World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2012. Reston, Va.: American Society of Civil Engineers.

Matthiessen, P. (2000). Environmental Impact of the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry. Environmental Pollution, 110(2), p.367.

Newbury, H. and De Lorne, W. (2009). Industrial pollution including oil spills. New York: Nova Science Publishers.

Oil & Gas industry Waste Management. (2015). Applied Science Reports, 12(3).

Trevors, J. (2010). Human Addictions: Oil, Conflicts and Super Consumerism. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 217(1-4), pp.1-2.

Usen, S., Udofia, A. and Offiong, A. (2012). Effective Management of Wastages in Vocational Education for Sustainable Development in Nigeria. African Research Review, 6(3).

Xu, J., Wu, J. and He, Y. (2013). Functions of natural organic matter in changing environment. Dordrecht: Springer.

Yao, L., Naeth, M. and Chanasyk, D. (2014). Spent Potassium Silicate Drilling Fluid Affects Soil and Leachate Properties. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 225(10).

Bai, Y. (2014). Subsea pipeline integrity and risk management. Waltham, MA: Gulf Professional Publishing.

Breville, M. (2011). US Environmental Protection Agency Tribal Environmental Health Research Program. Epidemiology, 22, p.S115.

Cook, J. and Rinfret, S. (2013). The Environmental Protection Agency Regulates Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Is Anyone Paying Attention?.Review of Policy Research, 30(3), pp.263-280.

Dale, V. (2014). Environmental Management: Past and Future Communications. Environmental Management, 54(1), pp.1-2.

Gabay, M. (2012). Resource Conservation and Recovery Act: Management of Pharmaceutical Waste. Hospital Pharmacy, 47(10), pp.769-770.

Inkpen, A. and Moffett, M. (2011). The global oil & gas industry. Tulsa, Okla.: PennWell.

O’Neill, B., Rogers, D. and Thorp, J. (2015). Flexibility of ephemeral wetland crustaceans: environmental constraints and anthropogenic impacts. Wetlands Ecology and Management.

Spellman, F. (2013). Environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.