[Environmental Monitoring Policies in the Offshore Oil Industry]

by

Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible (AURIS, 1995).

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University (AURIS, 1995).

Signed __________________ Date _________________

Abstract

The aim of this assessment is to critically assess the mechanisms for monitoring (compliance and biological) the effectiveness of the environmental policy. Methodolog; : The methodology of study is based on the following approaches; 1.Reviewing the literature; the study is desk-based to consider all possible sources of data and information available on relevant offshore environmental monitoring policy include unpublished and published papers, 2. Reviewing selected country based on mitigation measures central to the various laws, regulations, guideline documents, in order to identify the similarities, differences and deficiencies within them. Specific deficiencies are highlighted. Considered here are guidelines and regulations from the UK (North Sea), USA (Gulf of Mexico - GoM ), Australia and Brazil. Particular, interest in critical mechanisms of monitoring compliance and biological tools. The costs of each scenario, when compared with the reference scenario, give an implicit valuation of the non-financial outcomes (e.g. environmental improvements), should that scenario be adopted by society. The paper concludes that it is not clear that the removal of the topsides and jackets of large steel structures to shore, as currently required by regulations, is environmentally justified; that concrete structures should certainly be left in place; and that leaving footings, cuttings and pipelines in place, with subsequent monitoring, would also be justified unless very large values were placed by society on a clear seabed and trawling access.

Table of Contents

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTIONVII

Backgroundx

Exploration surveyingxii

Exploration drillingxiii

Appraisalxvi

Research Questionsxvi

Objective of the studyxvi

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEWXVII

Development and productionxviii

Implementation on sitexviii

Oil spill contingency planningxx

Decommissioning and rehabilitationxxii

Potential environmental impactsxxiii

Regulatory framework, institutional factors and infrastructurexxiv

Policy and strategic objectivesxxvi

Evaluation and risk managementxxvi

Implementation and monitoringxxvii

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGYXXIX

The Research Designxxix

Case study approachxxx

Data collectionxxxi

Primary dataxxxi

Proceduresxxxiii

Data analysisxxxiii

Case Study Evaluation Criteriaxxxiv

Critical Appraisal of the Adopted Methodologyxxxiv

CHAPTER 4: CASE STUDY ANALYSISXXXIX

UK (North Sea)xxxix

North Seaxl

Challengesxl

Government Initiativesxl

Pilot Approachxli

Pilot Agendaxli

Outlookxlii

Australian Casexlii

Policy Failuresxliii

Brazilian Casexliv

The Emergence of Brazilian Fuel Ethanolxlv

Brazilian Biodiesel Policyxlvii

Substantive Effectivenessxlvii

CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSIONLII

Environmental Monitoringliii

Applications To Global Changeliv

Policy and Assessmentlv

CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSIONLVII

Recommendation & Future Workslx

REFERENCESLXII

Chapter 1. Introduction

Environmental monitoring refers to the set of activities that provide chemical, physical, geological, biological and environmental, social, or health data required by environmental managers. Environmental monitoring involves the systematic collection of data to determine: 1) the actual environmental effects of a project; 2) the compliance of the project with regulatory standards; or 3) the degree of implementation of environmental protection measures and success of the environmental protection measures. When successfully integrated with the environmental management system for the project, environmental monitoring can provide valuable feedback about the effectiveness of environment protection measures and in turn monitoring may be related to ...