Collaboration Impacts Environmental Monitoring in the North Sea

For years, oil companies operating in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea were required to adhere to environmental regulations that were based on limitations on concentrations of certain chemicals in the discharge. However, because this regulatory approach does not adequately consider the local environmental conditions and the volume and environmental fates of the discharges, the oil industry has been working to develop a new regulatory strategy to protect the North Sea marine environment.

More than 10 years ago, a group of oil companies developed a unique concept for a regulatory strategy based on science-based prediction of the potential ecological effects of discharges of oil and gas well produced water and drilling mud (the two major wastes associated with offshore development). The new strategy focuses on a coupled environmental fates/biological effects model system that provides essential input to a comprehensive environmental management system for platform wastes. Statoil, Norsk Hydro, ENI AGIP, Total, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips have collaborated to develop the model (known as the Environmental Risk-based Model System or ERMS) and management tools for produced water and drilling muds.

Battelle has been collaborating with the oil industry partners and other contractors to develop the environmental science-based components of the comprehensive management approach. Battelle has conducted several studies of the fate and effects of produced water discharges to ocean waters in several offshore Norwegian oil fields. Specialized sampling and analytical techniques are being used to measure contaminants in the sea at different distances from discharges, and to determine their potential ecological risks. Contaminant concentrations and potential effects also are being determined with dispersion and risk modeling, using discharge data and site-specific environmental information. The results of these approaches have been used to validate and refine the model and field assessment techniques.

Current work with the ERMS involves extending it from the original produced water impact assessment to include impact assessment of drilling discharges. The model is also being used to calculate the Environmental Impact Factor (EIF) for each discharge; the EIF is a risk-based tool used to assess the area of elevated ecological risk due to discharges and is becoming an essential tool in managing offshore oil and gas discharges in Norway.

For additional information, contact Mr. Greg Durell at (781) 952-5233, durell@battelle.org.