Environmental costs of oil exploration in the arctic book

The debate over oil and gas development in the arctic national wildlife refuge is part of a larger push to develop energy resources throughout the arctic circle. The group has been lobbying for all oil drilling and exploration in the arctic to stop. Even with the incredible technology used by the oil industry today, oil exploration remains a lotterya lesson shell learned the hard way. The dangers of arctic oil greenpeace international. May 25, 20 natural resources are extremely abundant in the arctic, but they have remained largely untapped. This species was one of the subjects of the research program on dispersant effects in the arctic.

As a result, the region has received significant interest from the petroleum industry. In the last alaskan barrel, the author analyzes whether arctic alaskan north slope oil was. Arctic oil is usually defined as oil reserves found in arcticlike conditions, characterized by ice, permafrost, and extreme temperatures. For the sake of the people and animals that call the arctic homenot to mention the global climatewe must keep offshore oil in the ground for good. Offshore drillings environmental impacts, from the gulf of. The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the governing board of the national research council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the national academy of sciences, the national academy of engineering, and the institute of medicine. Cameron on august 28, 2015 leave a comment in july 2015 the obama administration has given royal dutch shell plc approval to begin with limited exploratory oil drilling off alaskas northwest coast, in the chukchi sea. Analysis of projected crude oil production in the arctic. This volume explores the physics, chemistry, subsurface oil deposition and environmental impacts of deep oil spills. Unep has responded by reinforcing its contacts with industry associations to undertake joint publication and training projects.

According to arctic power, an organization devoted to oil exploration in the arctic national wildlife refuge, horizontal drilling techniques have revolutionized the drilling process in the region. My own view is that the environmental impact needs to be juxtaposed. Oil companies cool to drilling off alaskas arctic shores. Despite industry optimism, arctic drilling remains controversial in norway, a country of 5. All the information we have is that an arctic oil spill. Sponsored by the united nations environmental programme, this website compiles graphics, maps, and case studies describing the arctic, its peoples, and threats to the regions well. Arctic is estimated to have 48 billion barrels of oil or oil equivalent of offshore undiscovered conventional resource potential, with. An arctic cod, a key part of the arctic food web, rests in an icecovered space in alaskas beaufort sea, north of point barrow. The exploration for oil in the arctic over the past 30 years has had profound effects on the plants and. If shell finds oil, it and other oil companies will return to the arctic for additional exploration in the future.

Environmentalists lose arctic exploration case bbc. Less than 1,200 miles from the north pole, barrow is also known. The impact of offshore oil drilling in the arctic peace. Royal dutch shell wants to look for oil in the most. However, major spills have been fairly uncommon in alaska. Pdf declining arctic ocean oil and gas developments. Identify economic problems, alternatives, benefits, and costs. As of 2017, republicans have attempted to allow drilling in anwr almost fifty times, finally being successful with the passage of the tax cuts and jobs act of 2017. Dec 03, 2015 another major consequence of oil drilling is the potential of a major spill. The allocation of blocks of the north sea for oil exploration and extraction requires formal organization. Heres what oil drilling looks like in the arctic refuge. But because of warming waters and the melting ice pack, the situation is rapidly changing. Wwf works to prevent and reduce the negative impact of oil, gas and mining on the arctic environment by pushing companies to strengthen environmental responsibility and by improving the regulatory framework. High commodity prices is of course met due to the rise of crude oil prices and continued investment in drilling technologies.

Deep oil spills facts, fate, and effects steven murawski springer. While most people would not argue about oils importance, whether or not we should access and extract oil from below the earths surface is a subject of frequent debate. Offshore oil and gas development in the arctic under international. The gwichin people, most of whom live south of the brooks range and therefore dont work in the oil fields or get oil royalties, and who still depend on caribou for much of their diet, oppose drilling. Barrow, the most northerly city in the us, is ground zero for the worlds most controversial oil drilling campaign. Jan 04, 2018 the issuing of oil exploration licences breached a constitutional right to a healthy environment, the groups said. Overview offshore exploration in the arctic region began in the mid 1970s in state waters of the beaufort commercial oil activities in the arctic date backsea, prior to this, the only significant activity in to a state lease sale in december 1964 onshore inthe alaskan offshore was outside the arctic in cook the prudhoe bay area. The demand for oil and gas has brought exploration and production to unprecedented depths. Burning the arctic oceans oil could release an additional 15. Oct 02, 20 oil magazine, an energy industry quarterly, devoted the whole of its march 20 issue to arctic energy exploration. Exploration costs are usually incurred for an extended period of up to five years before production. Arctic drilling is not commercially viable at this time, and is not expected to be in the near future. The real reason arctic drilling is faltering right now. What would be the impact of a catastrophic oil spill.

This book provides an overview of the many issues relevant to offshore oil and gas development in the arctic. However, recent technological developments, as well as relatively high oil prices, have allowed for exploration. Offshore hydrocarbon resources in the arctic february 2016 6. Dec 30, 2014 the three factors that would make the exploration of arctic reserves attractive to oil and gas companies are high commodity prices and technological feasibility, coupled with favorable environmental conditions. Just think back to the explosion of bps deepwater horizon rig in the gulf of mexico in 2010.

Shell to cease oil exploration in alaskan arctic energy. The nearest response stations to arctic drilling sites are located thousands of miles away. Amerasian basin, arctic alaska basin, east barents basin, east greenland rift basin, west greenlandeast canada basin, west siberian basin, and the yenisey. Where the arctic oil industry is booming bloomberg. Jul 18, 2012 unsurprisingly, a group of environmental activists have brought suit against shell based on the companys planned drilling in arctic waters off of alaska. Environmental groups continue attempts to thwart arctic oil. But the environmental impact of any widespread drilling in the region is a key worry for green. The prirazlomnaya offshore iceresistant oilproducing platform is seen in the pechora sea, russia, on may 8, 2016. Understand public policy decisions relating to the environment to include management of renewable resources and management of nonrenewable resources.

Jun 05, 20 energy companies around the world have eyes set on the arctic. Protests begin in seattle to block shell offshore drilling rigs that are planning to head to alaska. The impact of offshore oil drilling in the arctic peace palace library. Environmental protection agency eppr emergency, prevention, preparedness, and.

Disappearing arctic sea ice is seen as a huge opportunity for an energy industry. In 2015, obama blocked oil exploration on some 22 million acres of alaskan land and. Oil companies first attempted to drill in the canadian portion of the arctic in the 1970s and 80s, but found the terrain difficult and the supply of oil insufficient to justify the risks and costs. The trump administration has approved an oil companys request to explore for oil in the arctic ocean. An illustration of an oil platform in the arctic ocean. Chevron halts exploration of canadian arctic offshore oil exploration. When i started research on the eskimo and the oil man a book following the battle over offshore oil in the rapidly opening u. Compare benefits of drilling with costs of drilling on both local i. All we need to do is look at bps response to the gulf of mexico oil spill to realise how challenging arctic drilling could be. The report called for a moratorium on arctic oil and gas drilling, and challenged. May 30, 2012 when i started research on the eskimo and the oil man a book following the battle over offshore oil in the rapidly opening u. Oil companies abandon arctic drilling rights thehill. The vast arctic region is probably the last remaining unexplored source of hydrocarbons on the planet.

Jul 07, 2016 these rules require oil companies to ensure proper internal controls and planning for oil spill prevention, containment and responses all issues identified by previous interior reports regarding shells 2012 exploration activities in the arctic. Earthjustice has led the fight to protect the region from this risky and rushed push to drill. As a result, the region has received significant interest from the petroleum industry since the onset of the 2010s oil glut in 2014, the commercial interest in arctic exploration has. The chukchi sea is one of the worlds most dangerous places to drill for oil. This book analyzes the expanding oil and gas activities in the arctic from the perspective of sustainable development sd and corporate social responsibility csr. The high price of environmental regulations hoover. The exploration of the arctic for petroleum is considered to be extremely technically challenging. Ft business book of the year a lockdown reading list.

Chinas arctic ambitions and what they mean for canada. The united states geological survey estimates that over 87% of the arctic s oil and natural gas resource about 360 billion barrels oil equivalent is located in seven arctic basin provinces. The arctic s extreme weather and freezing temperatures, its remote location and the presence of moving sea ice severely increase the risks of oil drilling, complicate logistics and present unparalleled difficulties for any cleanup operation. Environmental, cost concerns drive arctic oil exploration reticence. Environmental benefits of advanced oil and gas exploration. The question of whether to drill for oil in the arctic national wildlife refuge anwr has been an ongoing political controversy in the united states since 1977. Sep 07, 2017 oil companies say falling production costs will help. This is a clearly disappointing exploration outcome for this part of the. Denmark through greenland has not been a major player in hydrocarbon development. Trump administration approves arctic ocean oil exploration. Ultimate resources are estimated at 114 billion barrels of undiscovered oil and 2000 trillion cubic feet of natural.

The pros and cons of arctic oil drilling and why we should. Oil magazine, an energy industry quarterly, devoted the whole of its march 20 issue to arctic energy exploration. Legal consequences of failures to protect the environment. The results of the drilling, whether it revealed the presence of significant oil or not, have not been made public. The impact of offshore oil drilling in the arctic by e. Us puts a plug on arctic oil exploration financial times. This new plan would reverse former president obamas ban on drilling on the atlantic coast and in the arctic. Arctic oil can be found both on and offshore but the vast majority an estimated 84% is offshore, in the arctics shallow shelf seas 1 u. Executives book examines alaska oil costs and benefits. Environmental and geopolitical issues in the arctic explore. Challenges and opportunities of oil and gas investment in the arctic. Environmental, cost concerns drive arctic oil exploration.

The bureau of safety and environmental enforcement bsee on. In this blog i will give a summary of the history of arctic drilling and i will also discuss shortly the environmental concerns and technological and. Since the onset of the 2010s oil glut in 2014, the commercial interest in arctic exploration has declined. For norway, natural gas exploration in the barents sea is crucial to maintain current levels of production in the future. Purchase the natural history of an arctic oil field 1st edition. An arctic spill could be even more disastrous than the deepwater horizon disaster in 2010. Shell lease blocks exploration drilling program block. Drilling for oil, both on land and at sea, can have a. The natural history of an arctic oil field 1st edition elsevier. Arctic oil drilling plans raise environmental health concerns. Chapter 3 technologies for arctic and deepwater areas. The geology above the arctic circlethat is, everything above latitude 66.

Alaskan oil production began in 1977 after an estimated 9. The united states geological survey estimates that over 87% of the arctics oil and natural gas resource about 360 billion barrels oil equivalent is located in seven arctic basin provinces. In recent studies, kotchen and burger 2007 investigated that there has been a total of three major spills in the history of the transalaska pipeline system. The arctic climate impact assessment acia, 2005, a major multinational compilation of information, concluded that reduced seaice extent will pose new challenges for the arctic environment because increased human presence in the arctic ocean is highly likely. Offshore oil and gas development in the arctic under international law. As royal dutch shell and other oil companies prepare to drill offshore in the alaskan outer continental shelf ocs, a new report commissioned by the washington, dcbased pew environment group concludes current response capabilities arent adequate to contain and clean up a major spill in the area.

Norway opens up record 93 blocks for arctic oil exploration. Amerasian basin, arctic alaska basin, east barents basin, east greenland rift basin, west greenlandeast canada basin, west siberian basin, and the. Arctic oil boom sparks the next great political and. Sep 28, 2015 the oil giant had pushed ahead with the program despite falling oil prices and opposition from environmental groups. Proposed revising regulations on offshore oil and gas exploration by floating vessels in the arctic that were developed after a 20 accident.

Costs of mining, oil and gas drilling in the far north are still very high, and there are considerable risks of major disasters. On the heels of renewed interest in the arctic region, leaders of russia, norway, and finland are negotiating the creation of a wealth fund devoted to oil and gas production in the arctic barents region. May 15, 2015 and when talking about offshore arctic drilling, theres one thing oil companies and environmental groups agree on. Offshore drillings environmental impacts, from the gulf. Mar 12, 2014 all things considered, the complications have caused some to question whether the investment is actually worth the costs, whether they be financial or environmental. Topics covered in this book include a brief historical background of arctic oil and gas development. Arctic national wildlife refuge has lots of animals, less oil. Environmental management in oil and gas exploration and. Oil exploration in norwegian arctic faces sea of opposition. The focus is on the territories of the arctic rim where the current and future oil.

How would chemical dispersants work on an arctic oil spill. High investment costs, risk of wildcat and investment timing substantial investment costs at exploration phase constitute another characteristic in the petroleum industry. It also is because of the environmental risks of oil and gas drilling in the fragile far north risks accented by the. Aug 09, 2019 big oil spills are known killers of wildlife. In overcoming the technical challenges of oil production in the arctic, are we making the most of a strategic resource or heading for an environmental and political minefield. It would also specifically allow oil exploration on the coastal plain of the arctic reserve in the north of alaska. This paper i compares cycles of arctic hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation.

Its fragile ecosystem is particularly vulnerable to an oil spill and the consequences of an accident would have a profound effect on the environment and. The 10 licences were issued in 2016 to explore the barents sea above the arctic. Why environmentalists should support oil exploration in. Front matter cumulative environmental effects of oil and. Oil and natural gas resources map of the arctic ocean. From the exploration phase, with its seismic and land costs, right to the extraction phase, with rig costs and labor costs, there are only a few ways to control costs for the oil industry. Impacts of oil drilling in the arctic national wildlife refuge. The resulting spill covered 68,000 square miles of sea surface and killed approximately 1 million coastal and offshore seabirds, 5,000 marine mammals and 1,000 sea turtles. Since then, the price of oil has plunged, sending a shock wave across the oil industry and deepsixing all sorts of prospective plans planetwide to drill in arctic waters.

Within ten years, we could see the beginning of oil production that could last. The company needed over 6,000 ships, more than 50,000 people and a massive cheque book to cap its leaking well, and even then it didnt manage it for months, causing the biggest environmental disaster in us history. Jan 04, 2018 this new plan would reverse former president obamas ban on drilling on the atlantic coast and in the arctic. Arctic national wildlife refuge the environmental literacy. A year ago this september, royal dutch shell plc began the first new oil drilling in u.