Offshore Oil and Gas Production and Transportation

Abstract

An analysis of sources and factors of environmental risk at the various phases of the offshore oil and gas industry (OOGI) is presented. Practically all operations of the OOGI are shown to be accompanied by physical, chemical and biological disturbances in marine ecosystems. The level of impacts, their scale as well as negative ecological effects vary widely depending on local situations and conditions. Environmental impacts of drilling operations as well as platform and pipeline construction in the sea usually result in local and reversible disturbances in the water columns and benthic communities. The most significant sources and factors of ecological risk associated with the OOGI’s activities include accidental oil spills in the coastal zone, operations with tanker ballast waters resulting in introduction of alien species, discharge of produced waters and seismic exploration. Such impacts could produce not only disturbances to local biota but could also lead to ecological catastrophes at a regional level. The most serious economic losses of fisheries result from the restrictions imposed on fishing and mariculture following oil spills in coastal areas.