Environmental Vulnerability in Pre-Salt Oil and Gas Operations

The objective of this work is to analyze disturbances in the environment caused by anthropic activities in the oil and gas extraction sector. Methodologically, focusing on environmental vulnerability (EV), hydrocarbons (oil and gas) are considered through a qualitative and quantitative analysis of e...

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Published inEnergies (Basel) Vol. 14; no. 3; p. 732
Main Authors Mein, Tatiana Farane, Gimenes, André Luiz Veiga, Dias, Eduardo Mario, Rebello Pinho Dias Scoton, Maria Lídia, Udaeta, Miguel Edgar Morales
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.02.2021
Subjects
Disturbances
Environmental impact
Environmental impact statements
Environmental studies
environmental vulnerability
Gases
Hydrocarbons
hydrocarbons extraction
Natural gas
Natural resources
Offshore drilling
Oil and gas operations
Oil and gas production
Qualitative analysis
Salts
Sustainable development
Brazil
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Summary:The objective of this work is to analyze disturbances in the environment caused by anthropic activities in the oil and gas extraction sector. Methodologically, focusing on environmental vulnerability (EV), hydrocarbons (oil and gas) are considered through a qualitative and quantitative analysis of environmental impacts, including the research of Environmental Impact Studies and procedures like EIA/RIMA (institutional Environmental Impact Reports in Brazil). This study focuses on the operation and demobilization of the offshore drilling activity and the installation and operation of the Santos Basin pre-salt oil and gas production (Stages 1, 2, and 3). The criteria addressed in the EIA/RIMAs are used, focusing on those that correlate with EV and oil and gas extraction. Impacts for long-term, permanent, partially reversible, or irreversible disturbances are filtered, totaling 53 impacts (31 effective/21 potential). We concluded that the criteria and methodologies of EIAs vary between stages. At times, the variation is so drastic that the same impact can have a completely different rating from one stage to another, despite referring to the same area. This condition makes it impossible to define a single vulnerability index for the pre-salt venture. This work does not offer a concrete resolution, but exposes the EV issue and its inconsistencies.
ISSN:1996-1073
1996-1073
DOI:10.3390/en14030732