29 research outputs found
Environmental impacts of the deep-water oil and gas industry: a review to guide management strategies
The industrialization of the deep sea is expanding worldwide. Increasing oil and gas exploration activities in the absence of sufficient baseline data in deep-sea ecosystems has made environmental management challenging. Here, we review the types of activities that are associated with global offshore oil and gas development in water depths over 200 m, the typical impacts of these activities, some of the more extreme impacts of accidental oil and gas releases, and the current state of management in the major regions of offshore industrial activity including 18 exclusive economic zones. Direct impacts of infrastructure installation, including sediment resuspension and burial by seafloor anchors and pipelines, are typically restricted to a radius of ~100 m on from the installation on the seafloor. Discharges of water-based and low-toxicity oil-based drilling muds and produced water can extend over 2 km, while the ecological impacts at the population and community levels on the seafloor are most commonly on the order of 200–300 m from their source. These impacts may persist in the deep sea for many years and likely longer for its more fragile ecosystems, such as cold-water corals. This synthesis of information provides the basis for a series of recommendations for the management of offshore oil and gas development. An effective management strategy, aimed at minimizing risk of significant environmental harm, will typically encompass regulations of the activity itself (e.g., discharge practices, materials used), combined with spatial (e.g., avoidance rules and marine protected areas), and temporal measures (e.g., restricted activities during peak reproductive periods). Spatial management measures that encompass representatives of all of the regional deep-sea community types is important in this context. Implementation of these management strategies should consider minimum buffer zones to displace industrial activity beyond the range of typical impacts: at least 2 km from any discharge points and surface infrastructure and 200 m from seafloor infrastructure with no expected discharges. Although managing natural resources is, arguably, more challenging in deep-water environments, inclusion of these proven conservation tools contributes to robust environmental management strategies for oil and gas extraction in the deep sea.Copyright © 2016 Cordes, Jones, Schlacher, Amon, Bernardino, Brooke, Carney,
DeLeo, Dunlop, Escobar-Briones, Gates, Génio, Gobin, Henry, Herrera, Hoyt, Joye,
Kark, Mestre, Metaxas, Pfeifer, Sink, Sweetman and Witte. This is an open-access
article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC
BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the
original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this
journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution
or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms
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Executive summary describing a study to assess benthic impacts of drilling at four sites along the Gulf of Mexico's continental slope. Objectives studied are cuttings accumulations, seabed changes from anchors and mooring systems, debris accumulations, chemical modification of sediments, and effects on benthic organisms
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Effects of Oil and Gas Exploration and Development at Selected Continental Slope Sites in the Gulf of Mexico
Executive summary describing a study to assess benthic impacts of drilling at four sites along the Gulf of Mexico's continental slope. Objectives studied are cuttings accumulations, seabed changes from anchors and mooring systems, debris accumulations, chemical modification of sediments, and effects on benthic organisms
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Explosive Removal of Offshore Structures: Information Synthesis Report
This report is about the explosive removal of offshore structures in aquatic environments. The scope is worldwide. The sensitive marine resources considered in this analysis include marine fishes, marine turtles, and marine mammals
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Monitoring Environmental Recovery at Terminated Produced Water Discharge Sites in Coastal Louisiana Waters
This report presents the results of a study of terminated produced water discharge sites in the coastal waters of Louisiana. Environmental recovery at the sites is documented by comparing pre-termination and post-termination (six months and one year) data. Produced water, sediments, and sediment interstitial water samples were analyzed for radionuclides, metals, and hydrocarbons. Benthic infauna were identified from samples collected in the vicinity of the discharge and reference sites. Radium isotope activities were determined in fish and crustacean samples. In addition, an environmental risk assessment is made on the basis of the concentrations of metals and hydrocarbons determined in the samples
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Continental Shelf Associates, Inc. Study
Summary describing the work completed at Continental Shelf Associates, Inc. for 'Northeastern Gulf of Mexico Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Program: Ecosystem Monitoring, Mississippi/Alabama Shelf.' It includes background information on the project funding and sponsorship, goals, methodology, and findings
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Continental Shelf Associates, Inc. Study
Summary describing the work completed at Continental Shelf Associates, Inc for Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Information Resources Data Search and Literature Synthesis. It includes background information on the project funding and sponsorship, goals, methodology, and findings
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Radionuclides, Metals, and Hydrocarbons in Oil and Gas Operational Discharges and Environmental Samples Associated with Offshore Production Facilities on the Texas/Louisiana Continental Shelf with an Environmental Assessment of Metals and Hydrocarbons
This report presents concentrations of radionuclides, metals, and hydrocarbons in samples of produced water and produced sand from oil and gas production platforms located offshore Texas and Louisiana. Concentrations in produced water discharge plume/receiving water, ambient seawater, sediment, interstitial water, and marine animal tissue samples collected in the vicinity of discharging platforms and reference sites distant from discharges are also reported and discussed. An environmental risk assessment is made on the basis of the concentrations of metals and hydrocarbons determined in the samples
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Continental Shelf Associates, Inc. Study
Summary describing the work completed at Continental Shelf Associates, Inc. for 'Explosive Removal of Offshore Structures Information Search and Synthesis.' It includes background information on the project funding and sponsorship, goals, methodology, and findings
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Continental Shelf Associates, Inc. Study
Summary describing the work completed at Continental Shelf Associates, Inc. for 'Long-Term Monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks.' It includes background information on the project funding and sponsorship, goals, methodology, and findings