Impacts of Hydrocarbon Activities on Wetlands

Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Activities Impacting Wetlands Case StudiesPaul R. Krause, Ph.D.

Knowledge Management ProgramSensitive Ecosystem WorkshopBogota, ColombiaNovember 2012The worlds leading sustainability consultancyThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyE&P Impacts to Wetlands Case StudiesE&P Development Within WetlandsNiger River DeltaSouthern USA

Offshore E&P Impacts to Wetlands Oil SpillsIXTOC 1979Deepwater Horizon 2011

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E&P Development Within Wetlands- Niger River DeltaDivider customWhats this layout for?Use this if you with to change the colour of the linesThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyNiger River DeltaOne of the worlds largest wetland environment impacted by oil and gas development activities over many years.

Basic Facts:Covers over 70,000 km27.5% of Nigerias land massCovers 8 Nigerian States31 million peopleOver 40 ethnic groupsEcologically one of themost productive ecosystemson Earth.

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyNiger River DeltaOil Exploration and Production

Almost every major oil companyoperates in the delta

All level of operationsOffshore ProductionOnshore ProductionRefiningPipelinesShipping

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyNiger River DeltaOver the years since E&P activities started in the Delta wetlands, there have been numerous small spills and releasesThe most recent occurred 20 November, 2012 with at 32 Km slick in the delta resulting from a pipeline breach

These have affected both the ecology and population of the region

To date there has been little restoration activity in the Delta and the local Governments address impacts within their jurisdiction

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyNiger River DeltaThe local population has become politically active and there has been widespread periods of unrestThis has led to security issues at all E&P sitesSecurity has required substantial input from Nigerian military sourcesIssues include:KidnappingsPipeline breachesInfrastructure damagesEnvironmental impactsof E&P activity is oftennot a priority

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E&P Development Within Wetlands- USA Gulf of MexicoDivider customWhats this layout for?Use this if you with to change the colour of the linesThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyUSA Gulf CoastThe southern Gulf Coast of the United States contains the largest concentration of E&P activities, and the largest area of coastal wetlands

Basic Facts:Covers 5 US States20 million peopleMississippi River Deltaand coastal wetlands23% of US oiland 7 % of gas productionover 3800 offshore oil andgas production facilities

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyUSA Gulf CoastUS Federal and State resource agencies regulate oil and gas activities within each State and in Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Impacts associated with E&P in wetlands can be widespread and on-going activities include:Infrastructure developmentPlatforms, drilling pads(offshore/onshore)Tank farmsPorts and shipping terminalsRefining

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyUSA Gulf Coast

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyUSA Gulf CoastOverall impacts to wetlands is minimal throughout the Gulf States from E&P activitiesSeveral types of impacts observed in the Gulf of Mexico wetlands:Spills direct and indirect impactsInfrastructure related -Dredging ImpactsChannelization of wetlandsWater availabilityFill of wetlandsLand creationAquatic habitat lossRoad and pipeline crossingsIncreased human populationsIncreased erosion

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyUSA Gulf CoastThe largest impact has been natural - Erosion

Typical causes of coastline erosionHurricane and Storm ActivityDecreased water flow from riversUpstream water useDamsDiversion systems

E&P activities that may impact erosionare important to monitor and mitigate

Mississippi River Delta Erosion1893-1993ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyUSA Gulf CoastMitigation measures for E&P activities within wetlands are regulated by both Federal and State agencies

Mitigation banks have been set up in all Gulf States for wetlandsProjects are managed by individual states or NGOsMitigation projects can range from restoration of impacted areas to other compensatory actionsArtificial reefsWildlife care networksSeed and plant propagation programs

Other mitigation measures used in the regioninclude:Development of Best Management Program (BMP)for erosion controlReplacement of dams and culverts for wildlifepassage

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Offshore E&P Impacts to Wetlands- Oil SpillsDivider customWhats this layout for?Use this if you with to change the colour of the linesThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyOil Spills IXTOC - 19793 June, 1979Loss of control of an exploratory well headSedco 135F Platform from PemexBahia de Campeche, Approximately 100 km NW ofCiudad del Carmen50 m water depthFlow for 10 monthsSubsurface relief well480,000 m3 of oil released(3,000,000 bbl)Surface slick cover 2,800 km2

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyOil Spills IXTOC - 1979

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyOil Spills IXTOC - 1979IXTOC occurred very early in the development of effective spill responsetechnologyThe slick was treated with dispersants from aircraftThis, and the warm climate, resulted in rapid weathering of the oilThe impacted areas Included:Sandy beaches requiring mechanical and hand removal of oilWetland habitats along the MexicancoastlineApproximately 260 km of US beacheswere affected

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyOil Spills IXTOC - 1979Oil penetrated wetlands along the Mexican coastlineEfforts for wetland clean up were minimalLong term monitoring of the wetlands has indicatedthat since the spill wetlands have recovered naturally.Little evidence of the spill exits todayRancho Nuevo, in Tamaulipas, MexicoThe beach was impacted by oil.Main nesting ground for the Critically Endangered Kemps Ridley sea turtle. Efforts were made to protect the species and the population is stable with little sign of IXTO effectson the population.Included airlifting eggs from nests to non-impacted beaches.

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyOil Spills Deepwater Horizon - 201020 April, 2010Loss of control of an exploratory well headDeepwater Horizon Platform from BP/TransoceanMississippi Canyon, Gulf of Mexico Approximately 66 km SE ofBiloxi, MS1500 m water depthFlow for 5 monthsSubsurface relief well780,000 m3 of oil released(4,900,000 bbl)Surface slick cover 10,000 km2

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyOil Spills Deepwater Horizon - 2010

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyOil Spills Deepwater Horizon - 2010Following the Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989, the science of spill response and the technology to fight oil spills has greatly improved.

All modern method to fight the spill were used.DispersantsContainmentPhysical removalIn-Situ Burning

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyOil Spills Deepwater Horizon - 2010Wetland clean up and restoration activities continue to this dayKey Lessons LearnedMechanical mechanisms for removal of oil are only marginally successfulAbsorbent boomVacuumingWashingBurning of oil is very successful in removal of oil massAt seaIn wetlandOil penetration into the wetland was less than expected

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyCase Studies SummaryNiger River DeltaPoor control of resourcesWidespread environmental damagePopulation unrestInstability for region

US Gulf Coast Largest density of E&P activityVery little environmental damageLarge amount of regulationGood use of mitigation and monitoringActive management of resources

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyCase Studies SummaryIXTOC SpillEarly responseEffected US coast more than MexicoWetlands impacted directly in MexicoGood wetland recoveryGood beach recovery

Deepwater HorizonBest available technologyWetland effects were minimalOn going recovery effortsRestorationMonitoring and mitigation

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyCase Studies ConclusionsOil and gas exploration and production can be done in wetland ecosystems with minimal environmental impacts.

Requires advanced planning and strong impact analysis.

Avoid the mistakes of the past.

Develop strong mitigation and monitoring programs before the project gets startedMitigation bankingSpill response

Contingency Planning

ContentsWhats this layout for?Formatting for contents slide this slide has slightly different spacing between lines to emphasise topicsThe worlds leading sustainability consultancyEffects on Wetland Function or Service27Any Questions?

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