2010 environmental update

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
Alastair Sharp-Paul ◽  
Alexandra Hare ◽  
Alice Turnbull ◽  
Tara Halliday

Focusing on Australian projects, this paper provides a summary of the key environmental challenges and developments that arose in 2010 and the industry’s response. The paper considers: developments in legislation and the regulatory environment relating to environmental approvals and management; major project approvals and their environmental requirements and implications; key environmental incidents; and reviews new environmental research and management initiatives that were introduced by the industry. A number of states have introduced changes to the way legislation and regulations are interpreted through changes to guidelines and administrative procedures. There has been a general increase in the standard and level of information that regulators expect proponents to provide and while generally these expectations are documented in guidelines and other documents, in some instances there has been a perceived ‘moving of the goal posts’ without clear guidance on what is expected and how the information will be considered once provided. There has been a number of major projects either commencing or gaining environmental approval in 2010. This includes major projects: in Western Australia, on the North West Shelf and in the Timor Sea/Browse Basin; onshore in Queensland in the coal-seam gas fields and continued exploration and development both onshore and offshore around Australia. One of the most significant approvals in 2010 was the Prelude LNG Project–the first approval in Australia of floating LNG technology. Major environmental incidents in 2009 (Montara in Australia and Macondo in the USA) continued to have repercussions in 2010 with the draft government response to the Report of the Montara Commission of Inquiry released in November. These incidents have put the oil and gas industry under the spotlight and this paper looks at some of the statistics on the frequency and severity of environmental incidents, albeit at a high level. Finally, the industry has continued to implement a number of environmentally related initiatives both in response to government policy and suggestion and independently through groups such as the APPEA environment committee.

Author(s):  
Sławomir OSZCZEPALSKI ◽  
Andrzej CHMIELEWSKI ◽  
Stanisław SPECZIK

The Polish Geological Institute – NRI has conducted investigations of the Kupferschiefer series since 1957, when the giant sediment-hosted stratiform Cu-Ag ore deposit was discovered in the central part of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline. Until 1991, a number of drilling programs were completed by PGI-NRI and later research has been focusing mainly on cooperation with oil and gas industry and their core material. Over the last few years, thanks to systematic examination of the drill holes located in the north-western extension, many prospective areas have been recognized and delineated. These prospects are located between Lubin-Sieroszowice deposit and the eastern part of the Zielona Góra oxidized field. In the Kożuchów area, the lower part of Zechstein copper-bearing series contain only relict sulphide mineralization accompanied by iron oxides while reduced rocks with metal sulphides occur in the uppermost part of Zechstein Limestone or at the base of Lower Anhydrite. Grochowice area, where reduced facies prevail in copper-bearing series, is characterized by the predomination of rich Cu-Ag mineralization proximaly to oxidized area. The western part of studied area is dominated by Cu-S type sulphides (chalcocite, digenite, covellite) whereas the eastern part is represented by Cu-Fe-S type minerals (bornite, chalcopyrite) with high galena and sphalerite concentrations. The spatial variability of sulphide mineralization with respect to the oxidized rocks indicates that Bytom Odrzański deposit extends in the north-west direction, continuing in the form of a copper belt along the eastern border of the oxidized area. An extensive deep exploration drilling program is implemented to verify the resource potential within predicted copper belt.


2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 777
Author(s):  
B.F Ronalds

Oil and gas production is characterised by a truly international industry, and yet a unique local environment. Solutions developed elsewhere cannot always be imported directly for Australian use. For this reason alone, a strong local technology base is of value to the Australian oil and gas industry. Other benefits include the ability to provide high quality education and training for people entering, and already in, the industry.A case study is described where the Western Australian technology base is facilitating solutions to a specific challenge faced on the North West Shelf (NWS); namely, that the criteria for reliable development and operation of its offshore infrastructure for oil and gas production are more severe than other petroleum provinces, requiring new analytical tools to be developed.


1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 560
Author(s):  
H.B. Goff

The traditional planning for decommissioning oil and gas projects has included the option to remove platforms from the project area leaving the site clear for other uses. However, decommissioning presents a number of opportunities for alternative uses for facilities that are relatively close to the coast and in developing areas.This paper examines the potential for the alternative use of facilities on the North West Shelf using the WMC operated Airlie Project as an example.Airlie Island presents an opportunity to conduct a number of research activities which would have the capability to enhance the understanding of the natural environment in the region and to gain better understanding of the long-term impact of the oil and gas industries impact on the natural environment. There is also the supplementary opportunity to conduct engineering research applicable to the oil and gas industry without the distraction and hazards of an operating field to interfere with the research projects. Allied to these possibilities is the potential to conduct research applicable to tourism and fishing related activities which are beginning to exert more pressure and the North West Shelf environment than has been the case in the recent past.In addition to the research opportunities, there exists the potential to manage Airlie Island as a support base for tourism activities on a commercial basis. The example presented could easily be applied to other projects nearing decommissioning.


Author(s):  
Azhari Yahya ◽  
Nurdin MH

The oil and gas industry in Indonesia has been started since 1871 by Royal Dutch Shell. Meanwhile, the oil and gas industry in Aceh began in 1971 which was marked by the discovery of the Arun oil and gas fields. At that time, the management of oil and gas is done centrally by not involving the Government of Aceh as a regional producer. This led to armed conflict between the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement and prolonged conflict (for 32 years) ended with the approval of the joint oil and gas management pattern found in the territory of Aceh as stipulated in the MoU Helsinki on August 15 2005, Law No. 11 of 2006 concerning the Government of Aceh and Government Regulation No. 23 of 2015 concerning Joint Management of Oil and Gas in Aceh. In order to finalize joint oil and gas management in Aceh, universities, especially the Faculty of Law, need to immediately prepare human resources who are competent in the oil and gas and energy law so that they are skilled at negotiating and drafting a Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) for oil and gas or Kontrak Bagi Hasil (KBH). For this purpose, law faculties need to immediately incorporate oil and gas and energy law courses into their curriculum.


Author(s):  
V. T. Kryvosheyev ◽  
V. V. Makogon ◽  
Ye. Z. Ivanova

Economic hardship in Ukraine during the years of independence led to a sharp reduction of exploration work on oil and gas, a drop in hydrocarbon production, a decrease in inventories and a sharp collapse of research work to ensure the growth of hydrocarbon reserves.The hydrocarbon potential of various sources of Ukrainian subsoil is quite powerful and can provide future energy independence of the country. Potential hydrocarbon resources in traditional traps of various types are exhausted by only 25 %. Ukraine has recently experienced so-called “shale gas boom”. The experience of extraction of shale gas in desert areas of the United States can not be repeated in densely populated Ukraine in the absence of such powerful shale strata, resource base, necessary infrastructure, own technologies and techniques and economic, environmental and social risks.Taking into account the fuel and energy problems of the state, we constantly throughout the years of independence oriented the oil and gas industry and the authorities on the active use of our own reserves and opportunities for accelerated opening of new oil and gas fields.The results of geological exploration work in the old oil and gas basins at the high level of their study indicate that deposits in non-structural traps dominate among open deposits.A complex of sequence-stratigraphical, lithology-facies and lithology-paleogeographical studies is being successfully used to forecast undeformational traps in well-studied oil and gas bearing basin of the Ukraine – the Dniprovsko-Donetsky basin. The authors predict wide development of stratigraphic, lithologic, tectonic and combined traps in terrigenous sediments of Tournaisian and Visean age, reef-carbonate massifs of the lower Tournaisian, lower and middle Visean age and others. They should become the basis for exploration of oil and gas fields for the near and medium term and open the second breath of the basin.


2020 ◽  
Vol 175 ◽  
pp. 13029
Author(s):  
Denis Ushakov ◽  
Oleg Patlasov

Paper analyzes the prospects of biofuels second and third generation in the structure of the global energy balance, demonstrates a sharp decline in oil and gas revenues in the Russian budget, describes advantages and disadvantages of biodiesel and bioethanol production. The connection between the growth of Russia’s export potential in terms of hydrocarbon products processing with EU standards implementation has been proved. The problems of the realization of programs on the oxygenate technologies development in the Union State of Russia-Belarus were revealed. The capacity of the market of 3-4 generations fuel with using non-food raw materials and various types of biomass was estimated. Was proved that at a high level of growth in business value and profitability of production there are incentives to organize deep processing in Russia’s hydrocarbon production. It is proved that the oil and gas industry in a creative economy should increase its science intensity and depth of raw materials processing, including ones in related industries.


2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 498
Author(s):  
Mike Lynn ◽  
Alan Samuel

In the last 12 months or so, particularly with the drop in oil price, there’s been a lot of speculation about the future of the Australian oil and gas industry. Strenuous efforts are being made to bring down costs, reduce complexity and expedite the completion of major capital projects. Yet with the commodity price looking likely to be subdued for some time, serious questions persist. How can we sustain activity in Australia, secure the investment needed to continue exploration and appraisal drilling, for the next wave of projects? In looking for answers to these challenges, collaboration is a theme that comes up time and time again. But what does it actually mean? What does it look like in practice? Who does it well and how? And which companies are reaping the rewards of great collaboration? To fill this knowledge gap we are launching a survey which will look at many aspects of collaboration in the Australia and compare this with the results of similar surveys conducted in the UK. We will be looking to survey both operators and service companies working in the Australia and find out: What does collaboration mean? What constitutes effective collaboration? How do companies view themselves and each other as collaborators? How does collaboration in Australia compare with companies in the North Sea? We hope a better understanding of collaboration could help companies in Australia continue to improve productivity and efficiency, adopt new ways of working, and truly make the most of Australia’s abundant resources.


1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 134
Author(s):  
R. Bogan

Early in 1982 CSR Limited established an Oil and Gas Division. By 1983 this Division had recruited twenty-six overseas technical personnel mainly from Canada and the United Kingdom. The Company needed to recruit overseas because the skills required were not available in Australia.During 1983 a review of the recruitment and settlement of these personnel and their families was undertaken. The objectives of this review were to:improve the Company performance in the recruitment, induction and settlement of overseas recruits and their families;increase the likely "length of stay" in Australia of overseas recruits and their families;to address specific problems faced by recruits and their families in settlement in Australia.In depth interviews were conducted with twenty-one of the twenty-six recruits and their families using a structured interview format.The analysis of the interviews results revealed that:on average it took longer for those recruited in the United Kingdom to obtain immigration "approvals" and to physically relocate than those recruited in Canada;families with previous experience in relocating adapted and coped better with the physical move and resettlement than families without previous experience.The detailed results showed further that:While there was sufficient information provided about the job and department, there was dissatisfaction with the lack of detailed information about aspects of living in Australia, particularly: taxation; housing; bank mortgage arrangements; cost of living data and medical insurance.There were gaps in the expectations that many- recruits and their families had about living in Australia, such as climate, lifestyle and housing. This was attributed to an "oversell" through glossy brochures and "word pictures".The attention given to staff and their families on arrival was seen as a positive introduction to Australia and CSR's Oil and Gas Division.The provision of initial temporary accommodation in a single apartment complex for all overseas recruits and families in Adelaide assisted greatly in the induction and settlement process. It provided a high level of support especially for wives with young children. The "welcome waggon" group together with the assistance provided by the wives of senior executives were also positive influences in the settlement process.The most positive features seen in the move to Australia were career and lifestyle opportunities. On the other hand loss of disposable income was seen as a significant negative.From the results and analysis a detailed set of recommendations and actions were developed to improve company performance in recruitment and settlement. These recommendations were implementated prior to the 1984 recruiting mission to Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.The preliminary results from the 1984 recruiting mission have resulted in:a reduction in recruiting lead time;quicker and more informed decision making by candidates and their families in accepting job offers;more professional preparation of both the recruiting teams and the company's agents overseas.


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