In recent years, there has been rapid growth in the exploration and development of the vast oil and gas resources off the East Coast of Brazil. Recently, the Brazilian government invited participation by the major international oil companies in this development. This has necessitated the development of a uniform code of environmental regulations and practices to protect the marine environment and manage response to possible accidents. The Brazilian National Oil Company (PETROBRAS) and several international oil companies are collaborating with the Brazilian environmental agency (IBAMA) to develop environmental regulations that are protective of human health and the marine environment and at the same time are technically and financially feasible.

Battelle has been working closely with PETROBRAS and the international oil companies to develop offshore environmental regulations and monitoring strategies. Dr. Jerry Neff is assisting in the design and technical oversight of an industry-sponsored environmental monitoring program being performed at the request of IBAMA by Brazilian university scientists in deep offshore waters of the Campos Basin. Dr. Neff also collaborated with PETROBRAS marine scientists to prepare a guidance document on “Use of Biological Tests to Evaluate the Impact of Marine and Freshwater Oil Spills.”

At the request of PETROBRAS, Battelle recently prepared and presented a five-day workshop on “Offshore Environmental Regulations and Monitoring Strategies” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The workshop team included Dr. Jerry Neff, Dr. Paul Boehm, and Mr. Michael Blanton from Battelle, as well as Dr. John Veil from the U.S. Dept. of Energy, Argonne National Laboratory. Battelle is now offering this workshop to interested parties.

Offshore Environmental Regulations and Monitoring Strategies Workshop Discussion Topics: U.S. and North Sea offshore environmental regulations and monitoring methods for exploration and production activities and oil spills; Analytical chemical methods for identifying the sources of petroleum in the environment, its weathering properties, and environmental fates; Toxicity test methods required in different regulations for drilling fluids, produced water, and spilled oil; Toxicity testing and effects monitoring of chemical dispersants and dispersed oil; and Monitoring methods to document impacts of permitted discharges and accidental releases on commercial fisheries resources and marine ecosystems. For further information, please contact Dr. Jerry Neff, (781) 952-5229, neffjm@battelle.org or Dr. Paul Boehm, (781) 895-4862, boehmp@battelle.org

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