Northwest Pacific Oil and Gas Industry Risks for the Environment

Man also needs water to maintain a healthy living. This implies that once the oil has polluted the waters, man will have to be one of the victims of this adverse effect. Unless man does not find ways of purifying the waters, the PAHs will have accumulated in the human system thereby damaging the various essential organs of the body. In order to prevent this, man will have to apply expensive process that will see him filtering the water from oil. Therefore, water pollution arising from a spill of oil has a devastating and long lasting effect on both the aquatic and the terrestrial environment (Xhelilaj & Sinanaj, 2010). In the quest to offset this effect, man has been on his way to designing better strategy that could help in reducing the effect water pollution; arising from oil spills.

1. Predicting oil behavior: development of models

The industries study the feature of the oil spills by knowing when the oil spills and the direction of oil spills. This is critical since it helps the oil industry in developing better strategies that will act as emergency plans for the potential disasters and spill respondence during real emergencies (Xhelilaj & Sinanaj, 2010). The environmentalist has taken a crucial step in developing models and fate that will help inn forecasting the place where the oil is likely to spill and the direction in which it will travel. This makes the environmentalist to be aware of the oil spill; consequently, designing a counter against the fate of the oil spill. They avail themselves within the scene of the spill before the latter spreads to a wider area. The environmentalist will eventually be in a position to reduce the effect of oil spills in relation to spreading and causing water pollution.

2. Fingerprinting

This process helps the environmentalist in determining the exact place where the mystery spill would have originated. Fingerprinting will help the environmentalist in determining the origin of the mystery spill thereby making it easy to deal with the mysterious spread of the oil. This is because the environmentalist would have determined the source of the spill and put in place strategies of stopping the oil from continuing its spread. Fingerprinting removes the difficulty, which arises when there is a need to assign responsibility for a spill having many possible sources (Wang & Stout, 2007). The fingerprinting procedure involves determining oil formation conditions with the unique properties of the crude oil taken as the “fingerprint”. The environmentalist uses these properties to trace the geological origin of the oil spill and in the determination of the extent oil spill. The environmentalist can also use forensic analysis to identify the origin of PAH compounds in water; consequently, they will be able to apply precautions before the intended adverse effect.

Future fate

The number of lives loss because of the oil spill shows that there is rising need to apply better oil strategy such as that of Canada (Environment Canada’s oil spill science).  This will help in easily predicting about the features of the oil spill including the source and direction of the oil spill. This will help in anticipating the associated problems and in determining the best solutions.

Effects of mining to the local community

The locations that are affected by the exploration vary from areas that are inhabited by indigenous communities mostly of a rural nature to others of the urban nature that have a higher population threshold. Though operations of oil and gas industry appear as the most formidable activity, they are respected for being at the fore ground in implementation of new technology and have an immense deal of their attention to eradicating ecological anomalies that arise from their activities. Even though the industry tries at their level best to contain the problems that arise from the mining process they unfortunately, still manifest in the ecosystem (Habeck, 2005). The industry is known to have already, adversely affected Russia adversely over its years of oil and natural gas mining especially in relation to the country's landscape.     The continuous occurrence of the predicaments in the country ranging from oil spills to pipeline ruptures that occur in the mining process and the transportation phase has led to a point of disorientation especially to the local ecosystem (Habeck, 2005). With all these factors accounted for the resulting havoc, ensuing not only leads to the disorientation of the country's forest landscape but also leads affects the residing population in the locality of the exploration. This in essence manifests from the fact that the environment to which the local communities were previously dependent on becomes eroded hence depriving of the local communities their lively hood.

 

 

Case study

An exemplary case study of the effects of oil and gas manufacture in Russia is exemplified by the state of one of its Okrugs, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug (NOA). The Okrug is a leading player in the production of oil and gas, in Russia, but more importantly is its small population that renders it a minimal industrial enterprise reception (Mikkelsen & Langhelle, 2008).

Effects & problems of pollution from mining

The area has a high thresh hold of pollution mostly from the presence of the oil and gas industries and the presence of housing and infrastructure utilities. The most persistent form of pollution in the region atmosphere resonates from gas flaring. The pollution of the landscape in the region manifests, in both physical and chemical properties. Hydrocarbons cause serious pollution when they leak into water bodies especially if there is a malfunction in the well or a rupture to the oil pipes.

The occurrence of such pollution negatively affects the resident population with greater reparation transferred to wild animals and water creatures such as fish. In the case of housing and utilities infrastructure, the biggest problem is the lack of  equitable solid waste disposal areas that can account for a central waste disposal site hence all waste is disposed in random sections. The region also has a limited number of sewage treatment sites and a majority of the housing facilities lack facilities for the treatment of sewage.       Another cause of worry to the town is the military activities that happen in the area especially with the continuous test of their radioactive material. Even though, the radiation exposure of NAO is not the worst of all the other affected territories, it remains at a greater risk to catastrophe especially with an account of the geographical factor of regions terrain. After exposure to continuous blasts from both air and ground, NOA terrain remains at a weak state and its ever-changing structure, unfortunately, not considered as an exemption to testing of nuclear equipment. This, therefore, leaves the population of the area at risk especially with the landscape vulnerable from continuous drilling in oil mining and the fact that the military is relentless to the testing of their catastrophic weapons. A case that happened around 1980-1990 clearly justifies the cause for concern especially with radionuclide escaping to the surface at the period.  

Dependency to mining

The oil and gas industry is a highly lucrative business and at times will affect a country's economy with a tremendously positive effect. A point of concern to the dependency of the resource is the fact that it is a non-renewable resource and is, therefore, vulnerable to depletion at any time without prior notice or warning. This fact brings the discussion of what might happen to a territory such as NOA that was once composed of an indigenous community that was before the discovery of oil composed of people who their occupation was cattle herding but now through industrialization has converted to entrepreneurship.

The Okrugs reliance to the oil and gas industry as evidently stipulated in the territories revenue remains the greatest contributor to the regions sustainability (Mikkelsen & Langhelle, 2008). The region's infrastructure and development attributes all possibility to the existence of oil and gas industry and more so to the fact that most of it happens for the sole reason of enhancing efficiency in the industry with little or no consideration to enhancing lively hood to the residing population. There exists little or no effort directed to acquiring an alternate source of finance to the region and to its citizens as contingency for the period when the resource finally runs out in a way to secure the future of the regions occupants.      Even though, a few of the regions inhibitors still practice their traditional occupations, chances that they will continue with the practices grow slimmer with time to the point where they may be considered to be endangered as they are at the point of extinction. This occurs from the reasoning that the communities are adapting to the industrial nature taking over the region not forgetting that the communities are cattle keepers hence with the continued pollution of the landscape they are still at the risk of permanently losing their plan b alternative.

Advantages and solutions

Even though the existence of the mining industry in the region resonates, as a disadvantage to the local community, a paramount factor of consideration, is the fact that the mining industry goes out of its way to ensure that the lively hoods of the local communities remain safe. The advantages that apply to the existence of mining in Russia especially to the rural areas surpass the disadvantages that manifest from the mining process (Mikkelsen & Langhelle, 2008). An important point of consideration remains the fact that the Russia obtains their main source of revenue from revenue collected from oil and gas industry. Through the funds that NAO collects from revenues in the mining industry they enable them support other activities such as regional programs and community based projects. The greatest advantage to the residing people remains the opportunities that they attain from the surplus employment opportunities waste (Fingas, 2011).          Contingent persons to the mining base also enjoy a privileged lively hood with increased incomes and revamped infrastructure. Most of the infrastructure that was absent prior the investment of  mining endeavor sooner or later manifest in the affected region hence creating new opportunities for residing occupants. Oil and gas companies that exist in the NOA territory support its residents directly by purchasing equipment to the herders through a close association to existing community groups.

Recommendations

Clearly, it is evident that what is profitable for one group is the exact contrary to another. This represents the conundrum that the state and territorial interests face when aspects of compromise in economic activities is affected. Though circumvention remains applicable, figuratively the problem has no solution.

Mining advancements and in combating ecological problems

The methods of mining are a continuing revelation that grows better with age especially on the cautious factor that plays the greatest role in the verdict to the competency of a mining method (Noyes, 2009). New methods such as the horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies play a crucial role in assisting the United States majorly in its mining endeavors. They have ensured that they have the capability to obtain an immense amount of natural gas from shale rock located deep below the earth’s surface. Shale gas exists naturally in shale rock that in turn is located deep in the earths crust (Noyes, 2009).

Advantages and solutions

With the development of technology, facilities now exist to extract the natural resource that previously was inaccessible. The existence of new equipment for horizontal drilling associated with hydraulic fracking advancement enable miners reach and extract the natural gas at ease (Liu, 2010). Despite the reasons that the extraction of the shale gas is more environmental friendly than that of other gases, the gas also has qualities that enable it reduce green house gas emission. Natural gas compared to other energy sources such as coal or oil when combusting, is cleaner and hence leads to less acid rain with reduced production of toxic waste that eventually lead to pollution or global warming (Liu, 2010). With this new revelation, the use of other natural resources as sources of energy could be outdated, and the new resource implemented to suffice in the new generation for the production of clean energy.      

Effects &  problems of new technology

The prospect of using the extraction method to mine the gas in both countries is still at its baby steps with both fearing for the environmental pollution factors that could ensue from its adoption especially if not all safety measures are followed to the tee. Since the method is practically new and is a product of US, both countries have decided to form an initiative of compromise to allow the US has access to china mining grounds waste (Fingas, 2011). This ergo allowing them to monitor procedures in a bid to ensure that safety protocols remain comprehensively followed. The association also allows the US give a hand on investment aspects of the mineral by implementing operations for safeguarding and developing of the region. Even though, the cooperation between the two countries on the agenda has so far been smooth, the aspect of cooperation remains trending behind from the reason that the developers of the method are still in the process of perfecting it hence the effective threshold of the process.   

Recommendation

This example shows the potential that mining posses and the capability that the process could take place without necessarily having to harm to the environment. This, therefore, sets the trend that other stake holders in the mining business should partake in to ensure that they conserve the environment (Yong, 2012). The method has inspired china to follow on the same path in the extraction of the same natural resource that it also has below its earth surface. The method represents some of the safe practices that mining industries should adopt in their endeavors. To use the method correctly a variety of safety measures apply that include retrieving of greenhouse gases emitted in the mining process and decontaminating of waste water in order to avoid contamination of natural existing waterways.

Solution to Northwest Pacific oil and gas risks to environmental sustainability

The developing of oil projects, megaprojects (Sakhalin 2), exposes the oil management into numerous problems. The solutions to this problem are vital in establishing and evaluating the success of the oil industry in this region of the world (Goel, 2011). The problems exposed in this are inclusive of the, ecological problems should be detected (damage to ecosystems and biodiversity, water pollution, damaging local communities in the region and the pipeline construction in geologically dangerous region. This is necessary to sustain the progression of the persistent gaining from the advantages while checking on the side effects of the oil production sector.  The location of the Sakhalin 2 is on the Pacific Ocean (Burger, 2011). This exposes it its effects on the aquatic life (Cowell 2010). The project should upstage the technology of applied in the exploitation the oil resources in the area.

The aquatic life exposed to the effects of the oil includes the vast varieties of the fish species, whales, and the birds living on the water. Statistics from American reports more than 70 of oil spills on mean daily. This leads to the expounding the effects of hypothermia, hydrocarbon, chronic long-term effects and smothering.  On the sea life and other fresh water points surrounding the places suffers the effects of pollution. This calls for the establishment of the contingency planning at both the national and local levels. The respondent solutions facilitate the achievement of the structural measures in the solving of the problems.  Scientific analysis of the fishes to determine the effects on the special cases of the seawater animals is essential.  Plant varieties on land, swampy grasses in riverbanks and estuary, and organisms at beds in the sea; microscopic animals; and large animals, like fish, reptiles, amphibians and birds, and mammals get the impacts of contact, toxicity, smothering, and   long-term effects. These actions result from chemical and physical qualities of the spilled oil. The animals suffer numerous effects. This includes the lack of insulation from the cold (Goel, 2011). 

Dehydration for the animals results from lack of the uncontaminated water to drink. The intestinal disorder and stomach upsets emerge from the oil spillage. The animals experience the destruction of the red blood cells due to the consumption of the oil (Cowell, 2010).  Inhalation of the oil gases causes the occurrence of pneumonia in the animals.  Further effects on the animals are eye and skin irritations. There are chances of impairing the reproduction process of the animals. During the rehabilitation process, of the seawater animals suffer further. Skin problems, infectious diseases, lesions and joint swelling emerge from the process. Research results contend that the small effects of the oil spillage may result in the demise of the embryos (Burger, 2011). For the fish varieties, oil spillage causes the blocking of the gills. The chemical effects on the gills are severe due to the suffocation elements of the oil. There are high levels of toxicity in the water. Oil Spillage causes respiratory rate problems, enlargement of the liver, fin erosion, a set of biochemical and cell alterations.   Oil prompts genetic process results in the abnormalities of the   animal body cells. 

The possible remedies that help in the reduction of the effects oil on the water cause several other factors to the water.  They are majorly depressants that eliminate the oil effects on the seawater. Mr. Goel in his book Water pollution: Causes, effects and control   explains that depressant of the oil pollution facilitates the tainting of the fish. This happens due to the increasing the intensity of the oil concentration in the water.   The effects of oil on human existence have adverse in the recreational and fishing sectors. This ha s unfavorable on the tourism sector especially for the countries bordering the Sakhalin 2 project. Oil causes the feathers of the birds to glue to each other. The feathers naturally overlap on top of one another to facilitate the trapping of the air. This maintains the buoyancy of the bird and facilitates the insulation of the bird against heat losses.

The waterproof quality of the feather diminishes as the oil penetrates in the feathers. Ingestion of oil induces the extensive reproductive challenges to the animals. The effect of oil on the water mammals depends on the sensitivity of the animals (Burger, 2011). The mammals that live in water are the polar bear, dolphins, walrus, porpoises, manatees, river otters, seals, beavers and the sea lions.   The effects are predominant on the thermoregulation capability of the animals. The clean fur for the mammals facilitates the management and conservation of heat for the animals. When these animals leave water for the land life, they experience cold due to the closely attached feathers resulting from the oil.  The aquatic, mammalian   eye has poor resistance to the effects of the eye oil effects. This prompts temporary effects on the mammalian animal eyes. The consumption of the swallowing of the oil results in the bleeding of the alimentary canal.

The oil influences results in the damaging of the kidney and the liver (Nardo, 2009). Oil leads to the damage of the nerve tissues and alteration of the behavior of the animals. Remedy for the oiled seawater is not achievable. The scientific research on the management of the   effects of the sea pollution is extremely challenging due to the extensive investment it requires. The oil effects expose the animals to further fungal attacks on the mammals.The adverse effects of the oil pollution on the ocean around the pacific especially from the Sakhalin 2 project require international cooperation and joint ventures of the countries in the management of the sea affairs.  Laws on the ocean territory ownership by different countries provide guidelines on management of some tracts of the sea. This includes the proportion of sea about 147 km from the ocean (Nardo, 2009). The beneficiaries of the Sakhalin 2 projects should come up with proper guidelines on how to share the returns of the projects. This provides for the development and the technological advancement of the technology of managing the pollution cases.

Concerted efforts by Russia and its business partners are compulsory for the entire fight against the pollution menace. This is vital in containing the immense effects of the spilled oil. The reorganization of the policies on the environmental management should have the backing by the various countries benefiting from this project.  The basis response strategy to the oil spillage includes elimination of the oiled debris. The management process involves the removal of the   contaminated water animals and the carcasses of the dead animals from the water.  The management should initiate environmental l advisory committee to look into the issue of the pollution (Verheij, 2009). This facilitates quick responses to the accidental spillage of the oil in the sea (United States, 2011). The daily management of the issues regarding the expulsion of the animals from the oil spillage zones to reduce the effects of the danger on the animals. This should include infrastructural mechanism of deterring the animals away from the spillages area. These methods include the use of hazing, auditory, use of a variety of visual deterrents. The visual deterrents include the balloons, smokes, kites, flags, reflectors and the scarecrows.

The auditory means attempts to use the loud sounds to scare the animals. The sounds are creatable from the alarms, predator recordings, model wildlife anguish calls and other noisemakers. However, extreme conditions the pollution regulators apply a combination of the auditory and visual cases to counter the intolerant animals from a spillage scene (United States, 2011).   These solutions attempt to reduce the effects of the seawater animals having adverse consequences from the oil spillage. However, attempts have control of the oil spillage require intense discipline from the management of the Sakhalin projects. They should create tough rules to deter accidents that people may perceive to be due to human negligence. The management with the aid of the cooperation should aid in the formations standards regulation department that checks on the servicing of the water vessel equipments. The marine vessels operating in many countries do not observe recurrent checkups. This exposes the cargo and passengers in to a condition of danger of accidents (Fingas & Charles, 2010). There should be application of the    modern technology on measuring and the assessing the safety of the various water vessels. Sakhalin project stands to benefit various states. This includes the consumer of the oil and the producer – Russia. It offers employment to thousands of individuals in the area. This entails the direct and indirect employment of people. 

The management of the project should ensure a monitoring and reviewing risk assessment of the ship movement. The analysis should have the coverage of about twelve months. The maritime management recommends a hazard identification and assessment procedure for the   management of the shipment issues. The management of the of collision accidents is exceedingly fundamental.  Noting that grounding of a vessel results in the wreckage of   a ship. This leads to the spillage of the oil in case the ship carry’s oil (United States, 2011). Management of the cargo transfer failure and the fire explosion accidents is a vital process of ensuring safety of the marine vessels. Other cause of the accidents that need proper safeguard against is the sinking and the structural failure of the ship. International cooperation should set up proper guidelines on the management of the structural standards of the ships. From the historical statistics, grounding is the most cause of the of the ship oil spillage. The increased frequencies of the ship movement along the ocean amplified the chances of the accidents occurrence (Verheij, 2009).  Major staff errors and physical or the mechanical condition contributes to numerous other causes for the accidents on the seas.

Oil spillage occurred along the ports and the harbor due to inefficient offloading and loading of the oil products. The grounding of the ship occurs when the ship is on route to its destination while some other accidents occur while the ship is at the harbor. Along the coast, the accidents occur due to the high traffic density, navigational hazards, the frequency of the motion of the sea ships and the transit time through a region.   The navigational causes of the ship oil accidents are the configuration of the seabed, confinement of the waterway, strong tidal streams, proximity to the shore and the choke spots for the traffic.  The response prepared audit department is highly crucial. Therefore, Sakhalin project management should invest in the security of the of the sea vessels. Emergency towage for salvaging the marine vessels that got accidents along the sea is tremendously significant. This reduces the increasing of the effects of the oil spillage. International community and corporations involved in the project should facilitate the helping of the maintenance, upstaging the pollution response, search and rescue practices, and surveillance process (Fingas & Charles, 2010).

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

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