Abstract
A changing climate and more frequent extreme weather events pose challenges to the oil and gas sector. Identifying how these changes will affect oil and gas extraction, transportation, processing, and delivery, and how these industries can adapt to or mitigate any adverse impacts will be vital to this sector’s supply security. This work presents an overview of the sector’s vulnerability to a changing climate. It addresses the potential for Natech hazards and proposes risk reduction measures, including mitigation and adaptation options. Assessment frameworks to ensure the safety of people, the environment, and investments in the oil and gas sector in the face of climate change are presented and their limitations discussed. It is argued that a comprehensive and systemic analysis framework for risk assessment is needed. The paper concludes that climate change and extreme weather events represent a real physical threat to the oil and gas sector, particularly in low-lying coastal areas and areas exposed to extreme weather events. The sector needs to take climate change seriously, assess its own vulnerability, and take appropriate measures to prevent or mitigate any potentially negative effects.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.
Notes
Tropical cyclones are known as hurricanes in the Atlantic Basin and as typhoons in the Pacific Basin.
References
ACIA (2004) Impacts of a Warming Arctic – Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Antonioni G, Bonvicini S, Spadoni G, Cozzani V (2009) Development of a framework for the risk assessment of Na-Tech accidental events. Reliab Eng Saf Sys 94(9):1442–1450. doi:10.1016/j.ress.2009.02.026
ARIA (2010) Analyse, Recherche, et Information sur les Accidents (ARIA). ARIA Chemical accident database, French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development. http://www.aria.developpement-durable.gouv.fr. Accessed 10 May 2010
Baskin B (2006) A year after Katrina, US Gulf drillers rein in rogue rigs. Dow Jones Newswires. http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=35708. Accessed 9 April 2013
Bouquegneau C (2007) Lightning Protection of Oil and Gas Industrial Plants. IX International Symposium on Lightning Protection, 26–30 November, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. Available at: http://igs.nigc.ir/STANDS/BOOK/LIGHTNING-PROTECTION-A.PDF. Accessed 30 May 2013
Brosnan G, Otis J (2007) Floods spare oil fields, not oil workers. Houston Chronicle. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/5279858.html. Accessed 9 April 2013
Bushell C (2007) Coffeyville, Kansas Disaster. eHam. http://www.eham.net/articles/17220. Accessed 9 April 2013
Businessweek (2011) Ohio gas prices jump in wake of Hurricane Irene. BusinessWeek. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9PBRTAG0.htm. Accessed 9 April 2013
Chang JI, Lin CC (2006) A study of storage tank accidents. J Loss Prev Process Ind 19(1):51–59. doi:10.1016/j.jlp.2005.05.015
Cozzani V, Campedel M, Renni E, Krausmann E (2010) Industrial accidents triggered by flood events: Analysis of past accidents. J Haz Mater 175:501–509
Cruz AM, Krausmann E (2008) Damage to offshore oil and gas facilities following hurricanes Katrina and Rita: an overview. J Loss Prev Process Ind 21(6):620–626. doi:10.1016/j.jlp.2008.04.008
Cruz AM, Krausmann E (2009) Hazardous-materials releases from offshore oil and gas facilities and emergency response following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. J Loss Prev Process Ind 22(1):59–65. doi:10.1016/j.jlp.2008.08.007
Cruz AM, Okada N (2008) Consideration of natural hazards in the design and risk management of industrial facilities. Nat Haz 44(2):213–227. doi:10.1007/s11069-007-9118-1
Cruz AM, Steinberg LJ, Luna R (2001) Identifying hurricane-induced hazardous materials release scenarios in a petroleum refinery. Nat Haz Rev 2(4):203–210. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)1527-6988(2001)2:4(203)
Cruz AM, Steinberg LJ, Vetere-Arellano AL (2006) Emerging issues for natech disaster risk management in Europe. J Risk Res 9(5):483–501. doi:10.1080/13669870600717657
Energo Engineering (2007) Assessment of fixed offshore platform performance in hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Final report. Energo Engineering. http://www.energoeng.com/Documents/MMS%20Project%20_578%20-%20Final%20Report.pdf. Accessed 11 April 2013
Fletcher S (2006) OTC: experts see “new era” of hurricane activity. Oil Gas J 104(19):22–25
Gillam C (2007). Kansas hit with oil spill, flooding. Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/07/02/us-refinery-coffeyville-idUSN0234050120070702. Accessed 11 April 2013
Glöckler O (2010) Effects of extreme weather on nuclear power plants. Presented at the Joint ICTP/IAEA Workshop on Vulnerability of Energy Systems to Climate Changes and Extreme Events, April 19–23 2010, ICTP, Trieste, Italy
Godoy LA (2007) Performance of storage tanks in oil facilities damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. J Perform Constr Facil 21(6):441–449. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0887-3828(2007)21:6(441)
Goethals M, Borgonjon I, Wood M (2008) Necessary measures for preventing major accidents at petroleum storage depots: Key points and conclusions, Seveso Inspections Series, Vol. 1, EUR 22804 EN. European Commission, Ispra; Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue, Brussels
Heinrichs CS (2005) Apache Corporation: Hurricane Ivan Overview. Hurricane Readiness and Recovery Conference, 26–27 July 2005, Houston, Texas. Available at: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, http://www.bsee.gov/Research-and-Training/Technology-Assessment-and-Research/tarprojects/500-599/559/559AE3.aspx. Accessed 12 April 2013
ILIT (Independent Levee Investigation Team) (2006) Investigation of the Performance of the New Orleans Flood Protection Systems in Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005. University of California at Berkley. http://www.ce.berkeley.edu/projects/neworleans/report/intro&summary.pdf. Accessed 30 May 2013
IPCC (2007) Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge and New York
Kessler J (2012) Sandy ruptures tank, causing diesel spill in New Jersey. CNN. http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/31/us/new-jersey-sandy-spill. Accessed 12 April 2013
Kinsman P, Lewis J (2000) Report on a study of international pipeline accidents. Contract research report 294/2000. HSE Books, Norwich, United Kingdom
Krausmann E, Baranzini D (2012) Natech risk reduction in the European Union. J Risk Res 15(8):1027–1047. doi:10.1080/13669877.2012.666761
Krausmann E, Mushtaq F (2008) A qualitative Natech damage scale for the impact of floods on selected industrial facilities. Nat Haz 46(2):179–197. doi:10.1007/s11069-007-9203-5
Krausmann E, Renni E, Campedel M, Cozzani V (2011) Industrial accidents triggered by earthquakes, floods and lightning: lessons learned from a database analysis. Nat Haz 59(1):285–300. doi:10.1007/s11069-011-9754-3
Lyon C (2011) Drought harming buildings, pipes in Austin: Building managers see cracks, busted pipes and failing equipment. Austin Business Journal. http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/print-edition/2011/08/19/drought-harming-buildings-pipes-in-aus.html. Accessed 12 April 2013
Mabey N, Mitchell J (2010) Investing for an Uncertain Future: Priorities for UK Energy and Climate Security. Chatham House. http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/public/Research/Europe/bp0710_mitchellmabey.pdf. Accessed 12 April 2013
Marsh Risk Consulting (2003) The 100 largest losses 1972–2001: Large property damage losses in the hydrocarbon-chemical industries, 20th Edition. The Equity Engineering Group. http://www.equityeng.com/sites/default/files/reports/M&M-article_452602.pdf. Accessed 12 April 2013
MMS (2006) MMS updates hurricanes Katrina and Rita damage, US Minerals Management Service, News Release 3486. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. http://www.boem.gov/boem-newsroom/press-releases/2006/press0501.aspx. Accessed 12 April 2013
NCADAC (2013) Federal Advisory Committee Draft Climate Assessment Report. U.S. Global Change Research Program. http://ncadac.globalchange.gov. Accessed 12 April 2013
NTSB (1996) Pipeline Special Investigation Report: Evaluation of Pipeline Failures during Flooding and of Spill Response Actions, San Jacinto River near Houston, Texas, October 1994 (PB96-917004, NTSB/SIR-96/04). National Transportation Safety Board. http://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/safetystudies/sir9604.pdf. Accessed 15 April 2013
Paskal C (2009) Briefing paper: The vulnerability of Energy Infrastructure to Environmental Change (EERG BP 2009/01). Chatham House, London
Rasmussen K (1995) Natural events and accidents with hazardous materials. J Hazard Mater 40(1):43–54. doi:10.1016/0304-3894(94)00079-V
Renni E, Krausmann E, Cozzani V (2010) Industrial accidents triggered by lightning. J Hazard Mater 184(1–3):42–48. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.07.118
Savonis MJ, Burkett VR, Potter JR (2008) Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Transportation Systems and Infrastructure: Gulf Coast Study, Phase I. U.S. Climate Change Science Program. http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap4-7/final-report/sap4-7-final-all.pdf. Accessed 15 April 2013
Sengul H, Santella N, Steinberg LJ, Cruz AM (2012) Analysis of hazardous material releases due to natural hazards in the United States. Disasters 36(4):723–743. doi:10.1111/j.1467-7717.2012.01272.x
Steinberg LJ, Sengul H, Cruz AM (2008) Natech risk and management: an assessment of the state of the art. Nat Haz 46(2):143–152. doi:10.1007/s11069-007-9205-3
Tanos AE (1981) Meredosia Oil Terminal - the Illinois River floods a tank farm. Int Oil Spill Conf Proc 1981(1):243–247. doi:10.7901/2169-3358-1981-1-243
US EPA (1997) Lightning hazard to facilities handling flammable substances (EPA 550-F-97-002c). Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/osweroe1/docs/chem/lit-flam.pdf. Accessed 15 April 2013
Van der Meer JW, Cooper C, Warner MJ, Adams-Morales H, Steendam GJ (2008) The success of the hurricane protection around Chevron’s refinery at Pascagoula, MS, during Katrina. In PIANC USA Gulf Coast Hurricane Preparedness, Response, Recovery & Rebuilding Conference, 11–14 November 2008, Mobile, Alabama. Available at: http://www.vandermeerconsulting.nl/downloads/risk_assessment/2008_vandermeer_cooper.pdf. Accessed 30 May 2013
Wilbanks TJ, Bhatt V, Bilello DE, Bull SR, Ekmann J et al. (2007) Effects of Climate Change on Energy Production and Use in the United States. U.S. Climate Change Science Program. http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap4-5/final-report/sap4-5-final-all.pdf. Accessed 15 April 2013
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This article is part of the Special Issue on “Climate Change, Extremes, and Energy Systems.”
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cruz, A.M., Krausmann, E. Vulnerability of the oil and gas sector to climate change and extreme weather events. Climatic Change 121, 41–53 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-013-0891-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-013-0891-4
Keywords
- Tropical Cyclone
- Extreme Weather Event
- Lightning Strike
- Natech Accident
- Tank Roof