scholarly journals Geoenvirоnmental risks on the background geopolitical challenges for the oil and gas industry in the Arctic

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 12-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. P. Trubitsina ◽  
V. N. Bashkin
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Environmental Safety ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Expert Assessment ◽  
Arctic Ecosystems ◽  
Oil And Gas Development ◽  
Projected Changes

The article is devoted to the issues of geoecology and geopolitics in the Arctic. The authors reveal the need to consider geopolitical challenges in the analysis of geoecological risks (GER) of oil and gas development of the Arctic region. This is due to the intersection here of the strategic interests of several States and their focus to prove the inability of Russia to ensure environmental safety in the development of Arctic fi elds. Th e subject of GER is used as a geopolitical tool against Russia due to the probability of it becoming a key player in the region. The authors propose a model for the analysis of GER, which is based on critical loads (CL) of acidity of pollutants and includes 2 stages: 1) the stage of quantitative assessment of GER, which allows to calculate not only the magnitude of the projected changes in the state of the Arctic ecosystems, but also the probability of their occurrence; 2) the stage of management of GER taking into account geopolitical factors, assuming a qualitative expert assessment, which is a procedure for making a management decision to achieve acceptable levels of the total GER.

scholarly journals ARCTIC TOURISM: STATE AND PROSPECTS FOR RUSSIA

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 5-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuriy N. Golubchikov ◽  
Victor I. Kruzhalin ◽  
Aleksandra D. Nikanorova
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Ecosystems ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Human Presence ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Travel Industry ◽  
The Arctic Region

Tourism is the key factor of human presence in the Arctic region. The number of tourist visits has been growing extensively since the end of XX century. The Arctic region is not regarded only as prospective region for oil and gas industry but now it is also recognized as the region with high potential for tourism development. The research is dedicated to the assessment of the spatial distribution of human presence within the Arctic region on the basis of statistical analysis of population and tourist visits in different parts of the Arctic. Taking into account the uncertainty of regional Arctic borders definition, which are commonly determined in accordance with given purposes and tasks, we assessed the population and tourist visits for the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation as administrative union as well as for the Arctic region as physic-geographical region.The growing number of tourists in the Arctic region influences future development prospects of the region. In 2017 the Arctic region with population of 4.3 million people was visited by 10.2 million tourist. While the favorable environmental conditions of Arctic ecosystems exist, the Arctic region should be considered as the source of nature resources for tourism and various recreational activities. Modern technologies enable the development of travel industry in the region, and therefore the industrial paradigm of “conquer” and “utilization” should be replaced with the axiological paradigm of “Arctic beauty” and recreational resource value.

Consideration of Geopolitical Challenges within the Analysis of Geoenvironmental Risks for Oil and Gas Development of the Russian Arctic

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 50-59
Author(s):  
O. P. Trubitsina ◽  
V. N. Bashkin
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Optimal Operation ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Stage Model ◽  
Oil And Gas Development ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Geopolitical Risks

The article is devoted to the consideration of geopolitical challenges for the analysis of geoenvironmental risks (GERs) in the hydrocarbon development of the Arctic territory. Geopolitical risks (GPRs), like GERs, can be transformed into opposite external environment factors of oil and gas industry facilities in the form of additional opportunities or threats, which the authors identify in detail for each type of risk. This is necessary for further development of methodological base of expert methods for GER management in the context of the implementational proposed two-stage model of the GER analysis taking to account GPR for the improvement of effectiveness making decisions to ensure optimal operation of the facility oil and gas industry and minimize the impact on the environment in the geopolitical conditions of the Arctic.The authors declare no conflict of interest

scholarly journals Forecasting of Technology Development of the Arctic Hydrocarbon Resources’ Extraction

2020 ◽  
Vol 162 ◽  
pp. 01008
Author(s):  
Tatiana Chvileva
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Industrial Systems ◽  
Technological Forecasting ◽  
Energy Needs

The Arctic region has a great potential in development of hydrocarbon resources and can play an important role in meeting future global energy needs. In the presented work the specific features of the Arctic hydrocarbon projects are identified. Key needs of oil and gas industry in technology development within the framework of projects of extraction of hydrocarbon resources in the Arctic are revealed. A critical analysis of technological forecasting methods is presented. Problems and prospects of their use in the conditions of the Arctic zones are established. The need for an integrated approach to forecasting the development of industrial systems of the Arctic zone is justified.

SPILL IMPACT MITIGATION ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK FOR OIL SPILL RESPONSE PLANNING IN THE ARCTIC ENVIRONMENT

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (1) ◽  
pp. 2017-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilary Robinson ◽  
William Gardiner ◽  
Richard J. Wenning ◽  
Mary Ann Rempel-Hester
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Ecosystems ◽  
Oil And Gas Development ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Oil Spill Response ◽  
Different Response

ABSTRACT #2017-351 When there is risk for oil release into the marine environment, the priority for planners and responders is to protect human health and to minimize environmental impacts. The selection of appropriate response option(s) depends upon a wide range of information including data on the fate and behavior of oil and treated oil, the habitats and organisms that are potentially exposed, and the potential for effects and recovery following exposure. Spill Impact Management Assessment (SIMA; a refinement of Net Environmental Benefits Analysis, or NEBA, in the context of oil spill response) and similar comparative risk assessment (CRA) approaches provide responders a systematic method to compare and contrast the relative environmental benefits and consequences of different response alternatives. Government and industry stakeholders have used this approach increasingly in temperate and subtropical regions to establish environmental protection priorities and identify response strategies during planning that minimize impacts and maximize the potential for environmental recovery. Historically, the ability to conduct CRA-type assessments in the Arctic has been limited by insufficient information relevant to oil-spill response decision making. However, with an increased interest in shipping and oil and gas development in the Arctic, a sufficiently robust scientific and ecological information base is emerging in the Arctic that can support meaningful SIMA. Based on a summary of over 3,000 literature references on Arctic ecosystems and the fate and effects of oil and treated oil in the Arctic, we identify key input parameters supporting a SIMA evaluation of oil spill response in the Arctic and introduce a web portal developed to facilitate access to the literature and key considerations supporting SIMA.

scholarly journals Geopolitical Risks of Hydrocarbon Development in the Russian Arctic

2021 ◽  
pp. 109-127
Author(s):  
Olga P. TRUBITSINA ◽  
◽  
Vladimir N. BASHKIN ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Legal Status ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Geopolitical Risks ◽  
The Arctic Region ◽  
Hydrocarbon Development

The article is devoted to the issues of geopolitical risks (GPR) in the hydrocarbon development of the Russian Arctic. The authors pay special attention to the analysis of modern geopolitical and geostrategic challenges of the Arctic region development. The article identifies the key geopolitical factors that affect the sustainable development of the Arctic and analyzes the similarities and differences in the geostrategic positions of the Arctic Five. One of the most important factors of the XXI century that determines the alignment and interaction of various geopolitical forces is the struggle for resources. In this regard, an increase in GPR in the Arctic, related to its resource potential, is inevitable. For oil and gas industry facilities, GPR can be transformed into opposite environmental factors in the form of additional opportunities or threats, which the authors identify in detail for each type of risk. The authors focus on such positions of the GPR, which are related to ensuring access and obtaining control rights over the Arctic's hydrocarbon resources from different countries, the uncertainty of the legal status of the Arctic region, and the use of geoecological risks (GER) as manipulative priorities of attention to Russia's actions in the Arctic.

Calculation of Time-to-Freeze for Liquids in Pipes

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjarte O. Kvamme ◽  
Jino Peechanatt ◽  
Ove T. Gudmestad
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Temperature Drop ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Flow Assurance ◽  
Maritime Industry ◽  
Oil And Gas Exploration ◽  
Polar Code

In recent years, there has been unprecedented interest shown in the Arctic region by the industry, as it has become increasingly accessible for oil and gas exploration, shipping, and tourism. The decrease in ice extent in the Arctic has renewed the interest in the Northern Sea route, necessitating further research to evaluate the adequacy of the equipment and appliances used on vessels traversing in polar waters. In the oil and gas industry, exploration and production vessels and platforms are highly dependent on the piping facilities for rendering their intended function, and therefore, flow assurance is extremely crucial. If the winterization of pipes is not done properly, this could lead to massive cost overruns due to unplanned production shutdowns or even worse, accidents. A temperature drop between the different areas of the production facilities will change the thermodynamic properties of the fluids, and could cause the processing of the crude oil to become inefficient. The introduction of the Polar Code by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) attempts to mitigate some of the risks endangering the vessels in polar waters. The Polar Code is scheduled to take effect on 01.01.2017, and applies to all vessels traversing in polar waters. The Polar Code requires that all machinery installations and associated equipment required for the safe operation of ships shall be protected against the effect of freezing and increased viscosity of liquids, and that working liquids shall be maintained in a viscosity range that ensures the operation of the machinery. To account for this, the heat loss of pipes carrying liquid (water for fire extinguishing and hydraulic fluid amongst others) needs to be estimated and mitigating measures must be taken. In this study, methodology from the refrigeration industry is applied to calculate the estimated time to freeze for liquids in pipes. The methodology is adapted for use in the maritime industry, and results are presented in this study. The methodology used was found to be quite flexible, allowing for the calculation of complex scenarios and shapes, including the effect of varying degrees of insulation on pipes, and can easily be applied for approximating the best suitable method of insulating pipes to ensure flow assurance and maintain fluid properties at desired levels. Tables estimating the time-to-freeze for insulated pipes of different diameters and insulation thicknesses exposed to cross-winds of varying speeds are provided. The methodology is found to have great potential, and should be investigated further with experiments. The objective of the paper is thus to introduce the methodology for cold-climate engineering and use it for practical analysis of realistic estimates of insulated and non-insulated piping.

SPILL IMPACT MITIGATION ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK FOR OIL SPILL RESPONSE PLANNING IN THE ARCTIC ENVIRONMENT

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (1) ◽  
pp. 1325-1344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilary Robinson ◽  
William Gardiner ◽  
Richard J. Wenning ◽  
Mary Ann Rempel-Hester
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Ecosystems ◽  
Oil And Gas Development ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Oil Spill Response ◽  
Different Response

ABSTRACT #2017-351 When there is risk for oil release into the marine environment, the priority for planners and responders is to protect human health and to minimize environmental impacts. The selection of appropriate response option(s) depends upon a wide range of information including data on the fate and behavior of oil and treated oil, the habitats and organisms that are potentially exposed, and the potential for effects and recovery following exposure. Spill Impact Management Assessment (SIMA; a refinement of Net Environmental Benefits Analysis, or NEBA, in the context of oil spill response) and similar comparative risk assessment (CRA) approaches provide responders a systematic method to compare and contrast the relative environmental benefits and consequences of different response alternatives. Government and industry stakeholders have used this approach increasingly in temperate and subtropical regions to establish environmental protection priorities and identify response strategies during planning that minimize impacts and maximize the potential for environmental recovery. Historically, the ability to conduct CRA-type assessments in the Arctic has been limited by insufficient information relevant to oil-spill response decision making. However, with an increased interest in shipping and oil and gas development in the Arctic, a sufficiently robust scientific and ecological information base is emerging in the Arctic that can support meaningful SIMA. Based on a summary of over 3,000 literature references on Arctic ecosystems and the fate and effects of oil and treated oil in the Arctic, we identify key input parameters supporting a SIMA evaluation of oil spill response in the Arctic and introduce a web portal developed to facilitate access to the literature and key considerations supporting SIMA.

GEOPOLITICAL RISKS OF HYDROCARBON DEVELOPMENT IN THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-53
Author(s):  
Olga TRUBITSINA ◽  
Vladimir BASHKIN
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Geopolitical Risks ◽  
Hydrocarbon Development

The article is devoted to the issues of geopolitical risks (GPR) in the hydrocarbon development of the Russian Arctic. Meanwhile, the authors pay special attention to the analysis of modern geopolitical and geostrategic challenges to the development of the Arctic region. The key geopolitical factors affecting the sustainable development of the Arctic are identified, similarities and differences in the geostrategic priorities of the Arctic Five countries are analyzed. GPR can be transformed into opposite environmental factors of oil and gas industry objects in the form of additional opportunities or threats, which the authors identify in detail for each type of risk.

scholarly journals Ecological rating as an indicator of geoenvironmental risk management of Russian oil and gas companies in the Arctic

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. P. Trubitsina ◽  
V. N. Bashkin
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Management Model ◽  
Environmental Responsibility ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Foreign Investors ◽  
Oil And Gas Companies ◽  
The Arctic Region

The article is devoted to the issues of environmental ratings as an indicators of the process of geoenvironmental risk (GER) management of Russian oil and gas companies, operating in theArctic. The authors demonstrate the algorithm of GER management model processes and reveal the need to use environmental ratings for the oil and gas industry. Particular attention is given to the issues of rating results of Environmental Responsibility of Oil and Gas companies in Russia that was held in 2014—2017 years. It was conducted by the cooperative initiative by CREON Group and WWF Russia with participation of National Rating Agency. The authors have selected from all Russian oil and gas companies only those who operating in the Arctic region and they have analyzed them. The rating's results show that the leaders are companies whose management pays special attention to gas. They are Sakhalin Energy (Sakhalin-2), Gazprom and Zarubezhneft. The authors point out that the environmental rating of Russian oil and gas companies can serve as an indicator of GER management, as a tool to inform foreign investors about the environmental impact to ensure the ecological safety of the region.

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