Page 104 - Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production Second Edition

Safety and the Environment 91

Project description: includes a clarification of the purpose and rationale of the
project.
EIA preparation: is the scientific and objective analysis of the scale, significance
and importance of impacts identified. Various methods have been developed,
in relation to baseline studies; impact identification; prediction; evaluation and
mitigation, to execute this task.
Public consultation and participation: aims to assure the quality, comprehensiveness
and effectiveness of the EIA, as well as to ensure that the public’s views are
adequately taken into consideration in the decision-making process.
EIS presentation: a vital step in the process, the documentation serves to
communicate the findings of the EIA process to interested parties.
Review: involves a systematic appraisal by a government agency or independent
review panel.
Decision-making on the project involves a consideration by the relevant authority
of the EIS (including consultation responses) together with any material
considerations.
Monitoring: is normally adopted as a mechanism to check that any conditions
imposed on the project are being enforced or to check the quality of the affected
environment.
Auditing: follows on from monitoring. Auditing is being developed to test the
scientific accuracy of impact predictions and as a check on environmental
management practices. It can involve comparing actual outcomes with predicted
outcomes, and can be used to assess the quality of predictions and the effectiveness
of mitigation. It provides vital feedback into the EIA process.

5.4. Current Environmental Concerns

The following section outlines some of the current environmental concerns
the oil and gas industry is facing.

5.4.1. Greenhouse emissions
Methane and carbon dioxide are two significant contributors to greenhouse gases
released into the atmosphere, in particular through the venting and burning of fossil
fuels. The CO 2 level in the atmosphere has increased from 280 ppm in the late 19th
century to 375 ppm today. This increase correlates with a rise in global temperature.
Concerns about this trend have resulted in a number of new realities such as

the Kyoto Protocol
creation of a ‘carbon credit’ trading scheme
the strong public and governmental scrutiny of oil and gas operations worldwide,
mentioned earlier.

These realities have to be accounted for when designing or operating oil and gas
assets, and are concerns of both petroleum and surface engineers.