Oil exploration and exploitation

30 octobre 2008

Oil and gas in the St. Lawrence: Magdalen Islands residents are concerned

The Parti Québécois has made the exploration for oil and gas a key issue, particularly on the St. Lawrence Gulf and Estuary seafloor. A project launched in 2002 raised a great deal of controversy, was the object of public consultations in 2004 and has been on hold ever since due to a dispute between Québec City and Ottawa over who owns the seafloor. Pauline Marois, head of the Parti Québécois, re-launched the debate during a press conference in the spring, followed by a summer fact-finding mission in Norway, where this type of activity is well developed.

While the head of the Parti Québécois repeatedly states that oil and gas drilling must be undertaken with proper respect for the environment, numerous questions and recommendations raised during public consultations remain unanswered. This is what bothers the group known as “Madelinots en alerte” that organized a walk at Cap-aux-Meules on October 11.

During the demonstration that attracted over one hundred participants, the spokesperson made a connection with the catastrophe of the sinking of the Irving Whale 38 years ago. The barge in question contained PCB-laden oil. The raising of the Irving Whale took place in 1996, however some five tonnes of PCBs were unaccounted for. Every year, bags containing contaminated matter become exposed on Magdalen Island sand dunes.

According to the group, these two threats are disturbing and will affect public health and the socio-economic future of not only the archipelago, but of the entire province. Madelinots en alerte requests that the public and government representatives be on the alert and accountable. [The group “Madelinots en alerte”, Parti Québéc ois]

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17 avril 2008

Ships slow down when they hear whales

A network of ten acoustic buoys has been deployed in the shipping lanes that pass through the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary in Massachusetts Bay, U.S.A. Ships heading to Boston and Gloucester use the shipping lane, which crosses through the right whale summer range. The goal of this enterprise is the peaceful coexistence of right whales and ships by reducing ship strikes. Along with accidental entanglement in fishing gear, collisions are responsible for a large number of right whale deaths. The buoys send a signal to ships that are then required to slow down to 10 nautical miles per hour and post a lookout to search for whales in order to avoid them. Hopefully this system will reduce loss of life. The North Atlantic right whale population has been reduced to about 400 individuals; the death of just one gestating female could significantly increase the risk of extinction.

Applied science

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) developed the network of automated recording buoys. The ship strike avoidance process consists of five steps: detection of right whale calls by the auto-detection buoys, automatic transmission to Cornell Laboratory, sound analysis and validation by qualified technicians, notification of ships of the presence of whales and, finally, avoidance of cetaceans. The buoys, which are placed at five nautical mile intervals, operate on a permanent basis. Each buoy can detect sound from a distance of five nautical miles and at a depth of 20 to 40 metres.

Funding from a shipping company

The costs of the entire project over the expected 40-year operation are estimated at about $47 million. Liquefied natural gas importer Excelerate Energy has picked up the tab. This company has recently completed the construction of a deepwater liquefied natural gas terminal 13 nautical miles south east of Gloucester and 2.5 nautical miles from the western boundary of the Sanctuary. This same company is planning on building a second port nearby that will also participate in project funding. Three other automated recording buoys have been installed south of the shipping lanes, in Cape Cod Bay.

Research fallout

Cornell University researcher Chris Clark and his team will use these recordings to gain a better understanding of the vocal behaviour of right whales in Cape Cod Bay, which has become increasingly noisy due to human activities such as shipping and port and pipeline construction. Recordings are already showing that whales are more frequently in commercial shipping lanes than was previously thought. These recordings will also allow researchers to monitor noise levels during the construction of the future port. [The Oregonian, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Excelerate Energy]

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On The Oregonian site:

5 avril 2007

A British study reveals the effects of seismic surveying on cetaceans

This study, aimed at understanding the effects of compressed air guns on cetaceans, has just appeared in the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management (C.J. Stone et M.L. Tasker-The effects of seismic airguns on cetaceans in UK waters). These guns are mainly used for oil and gas exploration of the ocean floor. They emit powerful detonations every 10 seconds, 24 hours per day, for weeks and sometimes months at a time. These detonations essentially produce low frequency sounds that invade the underwater environment, extending over great distances. The resulting noise pollution is cause for concern for bioacoustitians, such as Chris Clark, director of bioacoustic research programmes at Cornell University in the United States, who considers that, with the exception of military acoustics, seismic surveying is the worst form of noise pollution.

Because mysticete whales mainly use low frequency sounds, while small odontocetes (toothed whales such as dolphins and porpoises) tend to use high frequency sound, biologists are especially concerned about the former group of whales. Numerous studies conducted to investigate the risks to these animals have documented behavioural changes that could potentially affect the survival or reproductive success of cetaceans. The effects can be as serious as loss of auditory sensitivity, injury and even death.

The British study, based on four years of data, is intended to extend knowledge about the effects of seismic surveying on cetaceans, small odontocetes in particular. Results demonstrate that cetaceans were disturbed by seismic exploration and displayed divergent reactions depending on species. When the air guns were active, small odontocetes swam away from the zone; mysticetes and killer whales that were en route to the exploration boat changed direction and distanced themselves from it, without leaving the zone; pilot whales changed direction. Statistically, no significant effect was noted for sperm whales. Odontocetes swam faster while mysticetes increased their dive times.

The authors specify that this study was only concerned with the short-term effects of seismic surveying on cetaceans and that other, long-term studies conducted over greater areas should be carried out. If an animal does not react specifically at the moment of a detonation, this does not mean that it will not be affected over the long term, notably by the masking of its vocalizations or through the loss of auditory sensitivity. Furthermore, the biological importance of documented short-term changes is not known; they could have long-term repercussions on the ability of marine mammals to carry out essential activities such as feeding, reproduction, care of their young and migration, to name a few.

Finally, the authors emphasise the importance of adhering to the precautionary principle. This is in line with GREMM recommendations concerning oil and gas exploration in the St. Lawrence Gulf and Estuary. The effects documented in the British study suggest the possibility of similar effects on the threatened resident St. Lawrence beluga whales population. Offshore oil production is such a touchy enterprise that several countries have adopted bans or special laws, judging that the risks are far too heavy when weighed against the potential benefits (Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park, United States, Costa Rica, Denmark, Australia). [Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, Whales Online]

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On Whales Online:

9 novembre 2006

A new scientific panel to monitor the situation of grey whales and the Sakhalin oil development project

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has named a panel of 10 scientists from Canada, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States to monitor impacts of the development of phase II of the Sakhalin Project, a controversial oil and gas development project off Sakhalin Island in the Okhotsk Sea, Eastern Russia. This project threatens a sub-population of critically endangered grey whales that includes a mere 20 to 25 reproductively active females. The northeast coast of Sakhalin Island is the only known feeding ground for this population that is critically threatened with extinction.

The creation of a panel—which will be in place for a period of five years—is in response to recommendations put forward in a report published in 2005 by another group of scientists designated by the IUCN. The report presented potential impacts of the second phase of the Sakhalin Project on grey whales. Among other things, it highlighted a lack of scientific data and a need to monitor this population that is threatened by oil and gas development. The new panel of independent scientists is therefore a means to acquire scientific data and publish recommendations for the protection of the grey whales with the goal of inciting the Sakhalin Energy Investment Company to develop the best industrial practices available in the future.

The panel of scientists will hold its first meeting in Switzerland from November 9 to 11, 2006. [IUCN, Vancouver Aquarium]

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On the IUCN site:

8 September 2005

Oil and gas exploration and production workshop: environmental groups excluded

A workshop dealing with the effects of sounds related to oil and gas exploration and production on marine life was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada) on Thursday, September 1. The workshop, organised by the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers, brought together 70 experts from several countries, by invitation only. The Save our Seas and Shore—a coalition of Canadian environmentalists, private citizens and fishing industry, tourism and First Nations representatives— and the Sierra Club of Canada have complained that, despite being stakeholders highly interested in petroleum development in Canada, they were excluded from discussions.

The purpose of the conference was to identify information gaps on the effects of sounds emitted during oil and gas exploration and production on marine life. According to Bruno Marcocchio, Atlantic Campaign Director for the Sierra Club of Canada, the aim of the workshop was to give the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers a green image. Fred Kennedy, a representative of the Snow Crab Association, adds that without the participation of marine environment stakeholders their interests will not be taken into consideration.

The Association of Oil and Gas Producers affirms that only a limited number of experts can participate in discussions for the workshop to be efficient. It also states that the workshop will examine the subject globally rather than locally and that this justifies the “exclusion” of local organizations. Finally, without giving the names of participants, it claims that representatives of all activity sectors were invited, including a member of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and at least one expert from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Environmentalists, fishermen and members of Canada's tourism industry are concerned about the eventual expansion of the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In December of 2003 seismic exploration for oil and gas was authorized by the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board in the heart of marine mammal and fish migration routes. Furthermore, a study conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada has demonstrated that seismic surveying can damage the ovaries and pancreas of snow crabs as well as changing their behaviour. Elizabeth May, Director of the Sierra Club of Canada, estimates that the oil and gas industry should implement seasonal and regional prohibitions for seismic work in order to protect species that are listed under Canada's Species at Risk Act (SARA). This recommendation is in line with the conclusions of the BAPE commission—in a report made public in October 2004—on the stakes involved in seismic surveying in the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf. The Quebec government has yet to respond to this report. [Sierra Club of Canada]

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On Sierra Club of Canada site:

11 August 2005

The United States to ban oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes

The United States government has adopted a provision that will prevent the issuing of permits for oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes. The measure is included in the new energy bill that should obtain final approval by the U.S. Congress by the end of the week.

A ban on oil and gas drilling, set by the U.S. Congress in 2001, was imposed on the eight Great Lakes states. This moratorium is set to expire in 2007. Furthermore, five of the eight Great Lakes states, Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio have drilling bans in place, while the three others, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Minnesota do not. This new measure will stop both federal and state governments from delivering new drilling permits.

Several environmental groups applaud this decision. According to Cam Davis, director of the Alliance for the Great Lakes, the amount of oil and gas available under the Great Lakes is so small that it is not worth the risk. Accidents associated with oil production, from the construction of platforms to the extraction of gas or oil, can prove disastrous for the environment. Some 30 million people depend on the Great Lakes for their drinking water and the five Great Lakes make up for 20 percent of the world's fresh water.

In Canada, Ontario authorizes gas drilling but not oil drilling in each of the four lakes that border the province. The Quebec provincial government and Hydro-Québec are still considering the possibility of exploring the St. Lawrence seabed for oil and gas production, despite an unfavourable warning from public consultations on the environment (BAPE). [LSJ, BusinessNorth.com, Detroit Free Press]

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On Lansing State Journal site:

24 February 2005

The Sakhalin oil project once again threatens grey whales

Six years after the first controversial oil development project in crucial habitat for a small population of grey whales off Sakhalin Island in the Okhotsk Sea east of Russia, a group of IUCN (World Conservation Union) scientists has been called on to evaluate the potential impact of the second phase of the project, set to begin in November 2007. This evaluation was requisitioned by the very oil company promoting the project, RussiaÕs Sakhalin Energy Investment Company (SEIC). A scant one hundred grey whales inhabit the Northwest Pacific Ocean. Only 23 of them are adult females capable of reproducing. The northeast coast of Sakhalin Island is the only known feeding ground for this critically endangered population.

In their report, the scientists estimate that the most prudent approach would be to suspend all operations related to oil development and delay all development projects in the Sakhalin Island area. According to their models, this population of grey whales presently faces a high risk of extinction, a risk that would increase with impacts attributable to phase 2 of the Sakhalin II project. Furthermore, according to the scientists, the precarious situation of this population is so critical that all preventative measures must be taken even before it can be determined if potential risks will really have an impact on the whales.

Phase 2 includes the construction of two new drilling platforms connected to land by pipelines. The main difference between phase 1 and phase 2 is that natural gas is to be transported from the drilling platform to land by way of pipelines instead of oil tankers. Although this method of transport considerably reduces certain tanker-related risks, scientists have identified four other risks related to the pipelines. These are an increase in disturbance by noise pollution and potential for ship strikes during pipeline construction, habitat destruction and exposure to potential leaks. The company has already planned mitigation measures to lower threats associated with the project. Scientists have judged several of these measures to be either insufficient or inadequate. They have also brought to light major gaps in SEIC information related to the biology of grey whales, their habitat, their prey and the decisional processes of the company itself. This has prevented scientists from making a full evaluation of certain risks and some SEIC mitigation measures.

The scientists also stress the importance of including all threats to this population in the evaluation of such a development project; although the impacts of one project may appear to be limited and acceptable, the cumulative impacts of several projects could compromise the recovery of this population of grey whales. They also recommend increased research and monitoring efforts to detect any demographic changes.

From exploratory stages using seismic surveying techniques to the production stages of an oil deposit, every phase of offshore oil and gas production involves risks for marine and coastal habitats. From the Gulf of Alaska to AustraliaÕs Great Barrier Reef, from the St. Lawrence to the Sea of Okhotsk, oil development projects are arousing the increasing concern of environmental groups, the scientific community, the fishing industry and the tourism industry. Many believe that these projects are too risky to be developed in the critical habitats of endangered or commercially important species. [IUCN]

This just in! (4 April)

Following the recommendations of a group of specialists designated by the IUCN, Sakhalin Energy has opted for a less disruptive option for grey whales by locating its pipelines 20 km further south than originally planned, thus avoiding a key grey whale feeding area. This option will limit noise disturbance, potential collisions and the destruction of critical habitat during construction, as well as potential exposure to oil spills. However, the location of the platform, that environmentalists believe is too close to grey whale habitat, remains unchanged. [ENS]

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On the World Conservation Union (IUCN) site:

13 March 2003

Pressure increases for offshore oil development in Canada

From sea to sea, pressure is mounting to open new marine areas to oil development. However, all activities associated with this industry, be they linked to seismic exploration, exploratory drilling, production, transportation or the dismantling of infrastructures, pose serious risks to marine life and the industries that depend on it. This explains why oil development in the marine environment encounters so much opposition in Canada not only from environmental groups, but also from those who depend on marine resources, such as people working in the fishing industry and in tourism.

Despite arguments and the well-orchestrated work of environmental groups, fishermen and people working in tourism, the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board has just lifted the ban and authorized seismic exploration off Cape Breton, less than 10 km from the coast. Cape Breton Island has thus joined the rare and dubious company of the southern United States and several Third World countries that allow oil exploration close to shore.

The Gully, situated some 200 km south-east of Halifax, is soon to be listed as a Marine Protected Area. This underwater canyon is home to numerous marine species, including an endangered population of northern bottlenose whales. Despite this, Marathon Canada Ltd. is about to obtain the right to proceed with seismic exploration mere kilometres from the zone to be protected.

On the West Coast, federal and provincial bans on oil development have preserved British Columbia’s coasts and their rich ecosystems for 25 years. But now there is strong pressure to lift the bans coming mainly from the federal Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal. Federal Environment Minister David Anderson is opposed to the idea, but he expects the bans will one day be lifted.

Closer to home, in the province of Quebec, the St. Lawrence is being considered for oil exploration projects, not only in the Gulf, but also in the Estuary. While some of these projects have undergone environmental impact studies, to date there is no study that examines all of these projects together to evaluate their cumulative effects with regards to social, economic and environmental considerations. However, these projects will likely have major effects on marine life, which is the lifeblood of industries bordering the St. Lawrence.

For now, it appears that the evolution of most of these cases leans in favour of groups lobbying for oil development at any price. Do Canada and its provinces have the necessary tools to supervise and regulate this type of development while at the same time protecting their marine environments? Seeing as how there has yet to be a global evaluation of these projects, we are still waiting for an answer to this question. This explains why the objections of the various groups opposed to oil development across Canada are so similar: let’s put a moratorium in place and then develop the tools necessary for a cautious and enlightened evaluation of these cases.

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Toronto Star:

30 January 2003

Sakhalin Island petroleum exploration projects threaten grey whales

Oil and gas development projects off Sakhalin Island in the Sea of Okhotsk (Eastern Russia) have been raising controversy for some time now. Recently, 50 environmental groups have sent letters to Shell and Exxon-Mobil, the companies responsible for these projects. Among their demands are that Shell and Exxon-Mobil at least respect Russian environmental laws and the environmental standards that apply elsewhere in the world. The demand was also sent to government agencies. The Russian government was criticized for its inaction with regards to this situation.

According to scientific studies, the exploration phase of the projects has already harmed the Western Pacific grey whale population. There are only an estimated 100 whales left in this population, of which around 20 are reproductive females. The whales spend nearly six months of the year in the area around Sakhalin Island. Scientists observed changes following seismic testing that took place in the middle of the feeding grounds. The whales moved south and a large proportion of them are now very skinny.

Along with seismic exploration, there is concern about commercialization (drilling platforms, pipeline construction, etc.) and hydrocarbon pollution that will follow.

The fisheries are also threatened by this project. Two thirds of all fish caught in Russia come from the Sea of Okhotsk.[Pacific Environment]

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