Posted: February 7th, 2015

Impacts of Petroleum Exploration, Extraction and Transport

Impacts of Petroleum Exploration, Extraction and Transport

Return of Coursework
When marked, coursework will be available online through the module web.
7.
Feedback on Coursework
Feedback will be given via annotation on the script and written on the online
assessment sheet. A representative selection of coursework from the group will
be moderated for Quality Assurance purposes.
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8.
Student Hours
The suggested time to complete this coursework is 30 hr.
9.
Aim and Objectives
To assess the likely environmental impacts associated with oil and gas exploration
and production.
10.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this item of coursework you should be able to:
1. Evaluate spheres of the environment that may be impacted and manage the
interaction of project actions on key environmental receptors;
2. Apply the operating principles of EIA to critically evaluate the broad
environmental and social impacts of petroleum extraction, processing and
transportation;
3. Assess the link between environmental management plans (EMP) and
environmental management systems (EMS) in the oil and gas industry.
11.
Procedure
Background Information
As of January 2014, Peru in South America had 633 million barrels of proven
oil reserves, according to the US Energy Information Administration, and
majority of these are located onshore. In Central and South America, Peru is
also the third largest holder of natural gas reserves (about 15.4 trillion cubic
feet as of 2014). The San Martín reservoir situated within the Amazon
Rainforest (Fig. 1) has been a prolific producer of natural gas since the 1980s.
Figure 1: Map of Peru showing the San Martin area, the Amazon and other river network
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The government of Peru is planning a future project expansion in the Camisea
gas field of the San Martín reservoir to extract and transport natural gas from
the Urubamba River area (Fig. 2) to major markets around the Americas. The
project is expected to supply natural gas to southern Peru (Fig. 1) where
copper mining is a major earner. However, local communities around the
Camisea field have complained over the years about the negative impacts of
current projects in the Camisea field and the San Martín area in general. The
preservation of natural ecosystem services that have been enjoyed by the
people prior to the 1980s remain a source of concern and it is now difficult to
convince the people that the planned natural gas extension project in the
Camisea area will have minimal negative impact. In addition, Frankenberg et
al. (2005) and Nisbet et al. (2014) have argued that the tropical region, where
Peru belongs, holds unexpectedly high methane concentrations. Table 1
shows the details of the segments, facilities and equipment expected for the
planned expansion project.
Figure 2: Map showing the Urubamba River and the existing gas projects in the Camisea field of Peru
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Table 1: Oil and natural gas systems likely to be installed as a result of the planned project
expansion in the Camisea gas field of the San Martín reservoir, Peru.
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Segment
Production
Facility
Wells, central gathering
facilities
2
Processing
Gas plants
3
Transportation and
storage
Transportation pipeline
networks, compressor
stations, meter and pressureregulating stations,
underground injection/
withdrawal facilities, liquefied
natural gas (LNG) facilities
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Distribution
Main and service pipeline
networks, meter and pressure
regulating stations
Source: adapted from US EPA (2013)
Equipment at the facility
Separators, pneumatic devices,
chemical injection pumps, dehydrators,
compressors, heaters, meters,
pipelines, liquid storage tanks
Vessels, dehydrators, compressors,
acid gas removal (AGR) units, heaters,
pneumatic devices
Vessels, compressors, pipelines,
meters/pressure regulators, pneumatic
devices, dehydrators, heaters
Pipelines, meters, pressure regulators,
pneumatic devices, customer meters
Your tasks
Write a report to cover the following major tasks:
1. Tabulate and briefly explain four types of environmental impacts (namely:
irreversible, synergistic, cumulative and positive impacts) that may occur on
each of the following environmental receptors if this gas expansion project
proceeds:
a.) Biosphere (e.g. human and other living things);
b.) Hydrosphere (e.g. surface and ground water systems);
c.) Lithosphere (e.g. agricultural space/practices);
d.) Atmosphere
2. Using the data provided in the background information above, you are required
to critically analyse/evaluate the environmental impacts associated with
production; processing; transportation and storage; and distribution based on
Table 1 for the proposed gas expansion project in the Camisea area of Peru.
The impact evaluation should be illustrated using the following EIA operating
principles: (i.) Scoping; (ii.) Alternatives; (iii.) Impact analysis; (iv) Mitigation
3. Based on tasks 1 and 2 above, develop a tabulated Environmental
Management Plan linked to an Environmental Management System on the post
project monitoring and appraisal of the project.
NB: your answers for tasks 1 to 3 must be supported with peer-reviewed
evidence.
12.
Marking Scheme
The marking criteria for this assignment are given on the ‘Marking Sheet’ on page
5. The criteria used are based on standard University ‘Criteria’ for assessments.
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13.
PLAGIARISM WARNING
This assessment must be all your own work. Assignments should not be copied
in part or in whole from any other source, except for any marked up quotations,
that clearly distinguish what has been quoted from your own work. All references
used must be given, and the specific page number used should also be given for
any direct quotations, which should be in quotation marks. Students found
copying from the internet or other sources will get zero marks and may be
excluded from the university.
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IMPACTS OF PETROLEUM EXPLORATION, EXTRACTION & TRANSPORT
M54GED – Coursework Report Assessment
Name of Student:
Date:
Coursework Marking scheme:
Criteria
Requirements
(circled comments indicate problems in these areas)
Presentation,
Structure and
Coherence
The report should be well-structured and have an
appropriate introduction and conclusion. The
information should be presented in a logical and coherent
order. Avoid convoluted sentences but be precise and
concise**. All the materials included must be relevant to
the subject and repetition avoided.
Max.
Mark (%)
15
The report should be well-presented, have good English
grammar and be spell-checked (using the UK-English
spell-checker). The CU Harvard referencing system
should be used for citing and listing references. All
references cited in the text and sources of figures must be
included in the reference list and vice versa.
Content for tasks 1
and 3
The Report should answer tasks 1 and 3 directly in a
suitable tabular format with appropriate evidence.
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Use of literature
An appropriate and suitably extensive selection of
reference material should be consulted to justify
arguments put forward throughout the report. Suitable
examples and specific data from the literature should be
included where appropriate.
10
Analysis,
Evaluation &
Discussion of
Information (e.g.
Task 2)
Report should demonstrate an understanding as well as
application of the operating principles of EIA especially for
task 2.
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The material included should be discussed, compared and
contrasted, and critically evaluated throughout the report,
for example, the use of data provided in the background
information is highly encouraged especially for task 2.
Judgement should be exercised as to the relevance and
importance of the material included.
Total Mark
**Excessive length may be penalized (up to 10% mark deduction)

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