bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Development of Environmental Guidelines and Standards for the Petroleum Industry in Nigeria: A Systematic Approach and Future Challenges
Authors: Agha G. U. , Irrechukwu D. O. , Zagi M. M.
Published: December 2007

As part of its statutory functions, the Department of Petroleum Resources is charged with the responsibility of ensuring safe and environmentally friendly oil and gas operations. In order to achieve this responsibility, the Department has been developing environmental guidelines and standards covering all aspects of Oil and Gas operations since 1981 when the first interim environmental guidelines were issued to the industry in form of administrative circular. In 1992, the Department of Petroleum Resources updated and issued the first ever compendium of environmental guidelines and standards to the industry in one volume. Though the document was meant for review after every 5 years as new knowledge becomes available, significant changes in the guidelines, standards and effluent limitations were communicated to companies via administrative circulars in-between the reviews. The review of the 1992 document began, in earnest, in 1996 through 1998 when the draft-revised version was issued to the industry. The draft version formed the benchmark and working document between DPR and Operators until a final document was issued in 2002. Following the issuance of the revised document and as is the case with every regulatory change(s), the Department of Petroleum Resources was and is still being inundated with a lot of requests for moratorium period from the operators within which to phase out the outlawed practices and retrofit facilities to meet the new regulations. The aim of this paper is to share with you the hybrid approaches adopted and the evolutionary trend in the development of environmental guidelines and standards for the petroleum industry in Nigeria. Attempts will also be made at highlighting the salient differences between the 1992 and 2002 versions of the document and the major challenges regarding the implementation of the revised document while speculating on the future trends in the environmental regulations for the Nigerian Oil Industry.
Oily Sludge Degradation Study Under Arid Conditions Using Landfarm and Bioreactor Technologies
Authors: Hejazi Ramzi F. , Husain Tahir
Published: December 2007

Saudi Arabia is a major oil exporting country in the world with average production of approximately eight million barrels of crude oil every day. As a result of its operation, Saudi Aramco generates more than 30,000 cubic meters of oily sludge every year. The main disposal method for oily sludge in the Kingdom is landfarming, which is an attractive method due to the hot arid climatic conditions.

Although landfarming technology was introduced to Saudi Arabia in 1982, the decision to use this technology was based on information obtained through studies conducted in other countries mainly in relatively cold climatic conditions. No scientific studies and/or research were conducted within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support this decision.

A field-scale study was conducted in the Juaymah area in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia to study the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons under natural and enhanced conditions using landfarm and bioreactor technologies. The results presented in this paper are based on a comprehensive field experiment conducted under Saudi Arabian environmental conditions. Details of experimental setup and conceptual framework of degradation process based on field observations are presented. The paper also addresses kinetics of oily sludge degradation in landfarm and bioreactor cells under natural and enhanced conditions in the presence of water, nutrients and tilling. The results of this study revealed that weathering (evaporation) and not biodegradation was the dominant degradation mechanism. The results also showed that tilling was the main operating parameter responsible for achieving the highest percentage of reduction (76%) in the O&G concentrations in landfarms. The analytical results also revealed that due to the method of air addition, the bioreactor system was not effective in achieving a high percentage of O&G reduction.
Field Trials for a Novel Water Deoiling Process for the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Le Foll Pierre , Khan Moin , Parent Jean-Pierre , Agrapart Frederic
Published: December 2007

In the upstream oil and gas industry, hydrocarbon well production is very often associated with significant fractions of water, whether from the reservoir or byproducts of the drilling and completion processes. Before discharge into the environment, or reinjection into the formation for pressure maintenance or disposal, this unwanted water must have an extremely low oil content to comply with statutory discharge requirements, or to ensure long-term injectivity.

Although many techniques have been used over the years for water deoiling – EARTH1 – gains could be achieved in the fields of operating expenditures, energy requirement, performance, and ultimately waste reduction.

This paper presents a novel water deoiling process that exceeds the foreseen statutory requirements. It is based on a combined coalescence and separation process. The process is able to deliver water down to 10 mg/L oil content, with a very low pressure drop, and without having to discard spent oil-absorbing material.
Bioaccumulation, Biomarker Responses, and Effects on Reproduction in Fish Exposed to a Mixture of PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) and to Dispersed Oil
Authors: Bechmann Renée Katrin , Taban Ingrid Christina , Jonsson Grete , Sanni Steinar , Reichert William L. , Plisson-Sauné Stéphan , Buffagni Melania
Published: December 2007

Most oil and gas installations produce significant quantities of associated water which has to be disposed of. Offshore, produced water (PW) is often discharged in the sea, after treatment. Impact of such discharge on the marine environment is a concern in the North Sea, due in particular to the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the PW discharged. In order to assess the impact of PAHs on fish and fish eggs, a laboratory study encompassing various techniques – some of which are fairly new – has been recently performed, the results of which are presented in this paper. Fish were exposed to various concentrations of North Sea oil dispersed in water. Disturbed egg production of exposed fish and reduced hatching success due to maternal transfer were observed in fish exposed to oil concentrations in the range 0.4-0.7 mg/L. In particular no effect on egg production of fish was detected below 0.4 mg/L oil and no effect on hatching success due to maternal transfer was detected below 0.7 mg/L, although significant biomarker responses (PAHs metabolites and DNA adducts) were observed at 0.1 mg/L oil. Due to the relatively high concentrations tested in these experiments, it is unfortunately not yet possible to extrapolate the results to actual field concentrations (< 0.1 mg/L) and further studies at lower concentrations are needed.
Human Factors Engineering: An up Front Engineering "Level of Protection" Leading to Improved Human Efficiency, Better System Performance and Life Cycle Cost Reductions Part 1: The Development of a Human Factors Engineering Strategy in Petrochemical Engineering and Projects
Authors: Rensink Harrie J. T. , van Uden Martin E. J.
Published: December 2007

Although the human-machine interface in petrochemical manufacturing projects has always been considered to be an integral part of sound engineering design, many misfits in operability and maintainability have been experienced after implementation.

Based on that experience a vision and policy was developed by Technical and Occupational Health management at Shell Nederland Refinery Pernis and Shell Nederland Chemicals Moerdijk resulting in a human factors engineering strategy integrated in the early development phases of the business process project preparation and execution.

The benefits of this strategy are demonstrated both in business terms (economics) and in working conditions; e.g. improvement of Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) aspects. Based on historical data it is now clear that for a typical $ 400 million petrochemical project the strategy can result in a reduction of: 25 - 5 % of capital expenditure (CAPEX),1 - 10 % of engineering hours and3 - 6 % of life cycle costs of facilities (OPEX).

This paper consists of two parts. Part 1 describes the main drivers of the development of a human factors strategy within Shell Pernis and Moerdijk organisations.

Part 2 will give a detailed view on the actual management of human factors in petrochemical projects and will evaluate the costs and benefits based on the experience of implementation human factors engineering in smaller and larger petrochemical projects.
Environmental Baseline Monitoring in the South Caspian
Authors: Oliveira S. , Hayes A. , Askerov F.
Published: December 2007

Environmental monitoring is an integral component of oil exploration and production, and has acquired a progressively higher profile with developing public awareness and concern about environmental issues. BP and partners have been engaged since 1995 in exploration and production activities in the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli and Shah Deniz contract areas, in the Azerbaijan sector of the south Caspian Sea. During this time, the companies have invested substantial funding and resources in monitoring, and in developing within Azerbaijan the infrastructure to carry out this monitoring.

Environmental Monitoring in the Caspian has been conducted in accordance with the Annual monitoring Programmes approved by the PSA established Environmental Sub-Committee and Research and Monitoring Group, which is composed of key local authorities and institutions.

Monitoring results have been made publicly available through ESIAs, and shared with Caspian countries through the data sharing with the Caspian Environment program.
Reduction of Footprint and Restoration of Function: An Approach to Cumulative Effects Management
Authors: Creasey Roger , Fischer Lisa
Published: December 2007

The oil and gas industry tends to create numerous linear disturbances during the evolution of conventional field development. Access roads to wellsites, pipeline right-of-ways (ROWs), power lines, and seismic lines all contribute to other linear features created by forestry, mining, and public roads. Management of the resulting cumulative disturbance is difficult as there is usually a lack of land disturbance thresholds, holistic guidance from regulators, and individual companies can only manage their own operations and project design.

Shell Canada is addressing its responsibility to control the contribution to this type of cumulative effect. This is being accomplished through improvements in the integration of project planning, reduction of the physical and effective ecological footprint of facilities, collaboration with other industries, and restoring the effectiveness of wildlife habitat. Where possible, an internal corporate policy of "no net increase" in linear developments is adopted.

This paper will describe situations where Shell Canada is implementing practices to reduce the regional cumulative effects by managing its incremental disturbances on the land.
Health, Safety and Environment Management Assessment Tool: Application in the Brazilian Oil Industry
Authors: Amaral S. P. , Rodrigues E. C. , Filho A. F. Carvalho
Published: December 2007

Petrobras has a Health, Safety and Environment Policy, which was revised recently in 2003, in order to align with other policies included in its strategic planning. Additionally, Petrobras in 2001 prepared a set of 15 Corporate Guidelines on HSE, which were sub-divided into 79 requirements.

The objective of the implementation of these guidelines is to turn Petrobras into a reference for excellence in Health, Safety and Environment Management, seeking to improve its results in these areas. The HSE Management Evaluation Process (PAG-SMS - Processo de Avaliação de Gestão de SMS), is the tool for the evaluation of the implementation of the Health, Safety and Environment Corporate Guidelines at Petrobras and its Subsidiaries, including its own Business Areas, Transpetro and BR Distribuidora.

PAG-SMS allows grading, as well as identifying Strong Points, Improvement Opportunities, Observations and, above all, Practices of Excellence. One of the principal purposes of PAG-SMS is the dissemination and implementation of the Practices of Excellence identified during the evaluations, throughout the Petrobras System.
Enhanced Environmental Management for Land Based Seismic Acquisition using a Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental Management System
Authors: Gibson David W.
Published: December 2007

Environmental management is often presented as separate from safety management. This paper will show how a robust quality, health, safety, and environment management system (QHSE MS) can adequately address environmental issues for land-based seismic acquisition.

Environmental issues have become a large part of land seismic acquisition activities. Many stakeholders, including government and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and local communities provide standards or guidelines in the form of environmental impact statements or environmental assessments (EIS/EA). These documents are often written to address the larger field development process (wellsites, roads, pipelines, and other infrastructure).

Conflicting views among stakeholders are common, and the document development and approval process can be lengthy. Project timing can be adversely affected. A land seismic acquisition crew must have clear and unambiguous objectives to avoid conflict with stakeholders.

Once standards and objectives are defined, the challenge comes in implementing the standard and subsequent monitoring to ensure compliance. By using an existing management system model from the safety industry, based on the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP) (formerly E&P Forum), guidelines, environmental issues, and requirements can be managed as part of an integrated program. This integration simplifies the in-field application of requirements and provides simplified measurements of compliance.
Factors Affecting Waste Management of Produced Water in the Petroleum Industry of Trinidad & Tobago
Authors: Maharaj Priya Shivani , Ramnath Kelvin
Published: December 2007

Trinidad and Tobago is considered a small island, with continental scaled industries, and correspondingly sized environmental issues. Environmental management within the petroleum industry in this country has therefore effectively evolved into a series of strategies for salvaging environmental assets of this twin island republic where the environmental sustainability is continuously challenged by the gargantuan waste streams from these operations. With growing public awareness and governmental intervention, greater attention is being focused on individual activities and waste streams that constitute to environmental degradation, and in particular produced water from the upstream petroleum industry.

The legislative framework of this country represents a centralized policy approach of pollution control for industry, which acts to ‘coerce’ producers of this waste stream to develop and implement pollution control mechanisms, thus implying a seemingly command and control approach to pollution management. This policy system aims at achieving the desired standards for contaminant levels in the upstream petroleum industry, with the relevant enforcement agencies being adequately prepared to monitor and measure the quality of discharge. This is current the economic tool for attaining a controlled pollution levels, with the implementation of penalties for levels beyond that which is permissible.

Even with effluent standards and pollution fines, the pollution levels associated with petroleum industry operations have not significantly decreased. It is therefore mandatory that newer and more efficient technologies be introduced for waste management to ensure that the effluent standards in this command and control approach are met. In this light, the economic tool of technology standards should be implemented, such that petroleum industry waste can meet the targets set by effluent standards. With the aid of governmental subsidies, grants or even soft loans on such a framework, such economic factors can ensure success to reduce contaminant levels, using optimal technology.
Environmental Fate And Effect Of Contaminants In Produced Water
Authors: Johnsen Ståle , Røe Utvik Toril Inga , Garland Emmanuel , de Vals Bruno , Campbell John
Published: December 2007

In 1994, the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP) issued a report on the fate and effects of constituents produced water in the marine environment, based on information from member companies and the literature (1). The report, which focused on the North Sea, was reviewed and updated in 1998, and is currently subject to a further revision.

This new report addresses discharge, fate and potential environmental impact of produced water to the marine environment from a wider, global perspective. The focus of the review is primarily on produced water impact, and takes into account a number of comprehensive studies that have been completed during the past 5 years. In addition, information and data on environmental effects of naturally-occurring, ‘non-oil’, constituents forms an important contribution to the report.

It is clear that produced water, in general, poses a limited threat to marine ecosystems. Local effects have been observed in shallow waters. Regulation and legislation practices on produced water vary significantly on a global scale, but in many areas are still based principally on concentration standards of oil in water. In some areas, in addition to performance standards, there is also a requirement for biological testing and discharge modelling studies. Environmental risk and impact assessments have, during the past decade, found broader application in areas such as the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico. The paper will present the results of the review and will serve as a basis for further discussion on produced water environmental management in the industry and in the regulatory and scientific and wider stakeholder communities.
Onshore Drilling Waste Management: Beneficial Reuse of Cuttings
Authors: Susich Mark L. , Schwenne Max W.
Published: December 2007

Marathon Oil Company, in collaboration with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), successfully implemented an Exploration and Production (E&P) Drilling Waste Beneficial Reuse Management Plan (Plan) in its Cook Inlet, Alaska operations in 2001. Since that time, all drill well oversize cuttings associated with E&P activities have been beneficially reused within Marathon's existing infrastructure.

The overall objectives of the Plan are to ensure that drill cuttings do not pose a threat to the environment, to treat and beneficially reuse the oversize fraction of sand and gravel associated with E&P drill wells, and to reduce the disposal volume of cuttings and associated costs. The two products of treatment are cutting fines which are slurrified and injected into a disposal well and clean sand and gravel that can be used for the maintenance and/or construction of roads and berm. The following paper presents Marathon's approach to managing these wastes.
A Multimedia Approach to Incident Dissemination
Authors: Eslinger Keith
Published: December 2007

On Wednesday March 12, 2003 Shell Canada Limited's Caroline Complex experienced an emergency incident due to a release of gas containing hydrogen sulphide. Because of the large area affected – more than 400 km2 and 790 residents, Shell needed a tool to disseminate the cause, the actions taken, and the barriers / recoveries in place. Communicating these issues in an easy to understand manner was key to regaining trust with the public and regulatory bodies.

The Multimedia presentation was selected, and initially presented at a workshop attended by residents, other companies, and local regulators. The video was also formatted and distributed to all interested stakeholders, including other Shell operations.

This paper deals with the creation of, and response to, the multimedia presentation. As a pilot project for Shell Caroline, the presentation has been very successful, and the technology will be used in future to disseminate incidents internally and externally, as well as for public consultation of new projects.
Derivation, Application, and Evaluation of the KUBO-TEPA Matrix for Generating Corrective Actions
Authors: Veley Carl , Ritchie Norman
Published: December 2007

Proposal

Recently, it has become possible to realistically forecast future safety performance using a systematic classification of corrective actions given on accident reports. This new method redefines standards for "good" reports, but it also changes the root cause assessments. Fortunately, this is a good change, reducing accident causes from 227, on a commonly used list, to a mere four. It also greatly simplifies the analysis process, eliminates the need for investigations by specialists in routine cases, and produces more effective corrective actions in nearly all cases.

The new analysis process begins with the assumptions that all accidents are a result of acts of people, and therefore are correctible by changing acts of people. Because an accident, by definition, is an event that nobody tries to make happen, it follows that all accidents occur because someone, somewhere, didn't Know, Understand, Believe, or Observe (KUBO). Correcting these four basic causes can always be reduced to some provision to Teach, Educate, Persuade, or Assign (TEPA). These theories are the origin of the KUBO-TEPA accident analysis guide that is rapidly gaining acceptance in the Gulf of Mexico petroleum industry.

Combining this guide with the new standards for corrective actions produces a three by four matrix of clues to corrective actions that apply to all accidents. A brief training program has proved to be enough to teach frontline supervisors how to use this matrix to devise effective corrective actions with minimal outside assistance. The bottom line is greatly improved accident prevention initiated at the lowest operational levels and easily evaluated by upper management.
Avoiding a Major Accident Event
Authors: Craddock Richard J.
Published: December 2007

Although it is 16 years since the Piper Alpha disaster, and despite the subsequent implementation of the Safety Case risk-based objective-setting regulatory regime, the petroleum industry continues to have Major Accident Events (MAEs).

Despite the progress made in safety management in our industry under the safety case, companies and regulators still continue to cite Lost Time Injury Frequency Rates (LTIFR) as the main Key Performance Indicator of industry safety performance. Medical Treatment Injury rates or Total Injury Frequency Rates (TIFR) are also used. One major disadvantage with LTIFR (and TIFR) is that it is a Lag Indicator reporting the current status of injury rates, rather than a Lead Indicator–indicating the relative potential for an incident to occur in the future.

Another disadvantage is that LTIFR and TIFR are mostly measurements of slips, trips and falls type incidents, and are not indicative of the potential for an MAE. Several facilities that have had MAEs have had very low injury frequency rates. It is proposed that more suitable Lead Indicators that can be useful in preventing an MAE are available and should be tried by companies that are serious about avoiding MAEs.

MAEs result from a combination of factors usually resulting from the breakdown or failure of a number of Control/Barriers that have been put in place to prevent an MAE. Currently the rates of injuries (TIFR and LTIFR) are interpreted as indicative of the potential for rarer serious injury and fatality events (higher in the Injury Pyramid). What are the lower level events indicative of the potential for an MAE? In this paper it is proposed that for MAEs the higher frequency lower level events that can be monitored (and are indicative of the MAE potential) are the failures of the individual control barriers that have been implemented to avoid the MAE. The incident rates for the failures of these controls (and the time to implement corrective actions) are not usually monitored by operators. It is proposed that these can provide a very necessary Lead Indicator of the potential for an MAE.
IVMS – Behind the Scenes, Making It Work
Authors: O'Regan Derry , Ikerodah Nicholas A.
Published: December 2007

This is the story behind the in-vehicle monitoring system (IVMS) deployment in Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC).

The IVMS as used in SPDC is a Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) system, which records certain parameters of trip information and driving style. The recorded information is used to give feedback to drivers on driving style and observance of limits. The purpose of the feedback is to encourage drivers to maintain limits set by SPDC and to instil safe attitudes and behaviours in drivers.

Departments that regularly use decoded IVMS printouts have been able to progressively improve drivers' driving behaviours and the maintenance of company set limits and thereby, better manage transport safety. While the IVMS provides certain information to support investigations and the application of sanctions and rewards, its prime role is as a tool for awareness building and education. To achieve this, the "journey" of IVMS consists of 2 steps: get the hardware and software into the vehicles and working, and deploy a framework to use the information.

This presentation highlights the numerous milestones of change management over five years from 1998, to adequately cover the 2 steps. Potential users of IVMS can underestimate both the importance of the second step and the many mini-milestones, which each step comprises. In addition, the many hurdles that were overcome along the road to deployment of IVMS will be presented.
Motor Vehicle Safety: A Comprehensive Approach to a Complex Problem
Authors: Baltz John J. , Hanrahan Fiona
Published: December 2007

Motor vehicle crashes are the largest contributor to fatalities and serious injuries in the oil and gas industry. This paper describes the steps taken by a large multi-national energy Company to create, deploy, and implement an approach to improve motor vehicle safety (MVS).

As Company operations extend across 180 countries, the acceptance and success of the approach required solutions that were both targeted yet flexible enough to be adaptable for a host of different business environments and operational challenges.

The approach was developed by a multi-disciplined Project Team. The team sought input from a wide range of stakeholders within the Company, developed an understanding and response to cultural boundaries and benchmarked best practices worldwide. All of this input was leveraged to develop an approach compatible with the Company's culture and help to ensure its success.

Specific key areas designed to improve MVS and necessary for the success included: Setting clear expectations: MVS-specific expectations have been established in the Company's safety management system.Providing tools and resources: multiple tools were created to assist line operating units in developing their own customized programs. These tools include a comprehensive guidance document, an assessment tool, an audit tool, and a process and tools to assist organizations in creating a concrete action plan to improve MVS. Additionally, web-based resources have been established to link line units with tools and information.Engaging the workforce: a comprehensive deployment process was developed that line units can use to engage their workers in MVS improvement.Sustaining the effort through knowledge management: a Company-wide network of subject matter experts with expertise and/or responsibility for MVS has been established.Increasing leader's participation: specific elements of the Company's approach have been designed to increase the role of leaders to emphasize the priority for MVS.

Improving MVS is complex and requires a comprehensive approach with customizable solutions.
Improving Safety Leadership in Drilling and Completion Operations
Authors: Karish John , Siokos George
Published: December 2007

Since conducting a global review of drilling safety in 2001, BP has been focusing on methods of improving the HSE leadership competencies of its wellsite and other operational leaders. BP has started working with Enterprise Development Network (edn) to achieve that goal. Edn's generic methodology focuses on developing a greater understanding of the organization's safety vision and values, exploring and experiencing leadership, team behaviours and skills necessary to achieve safe work outcomes and having participants develop an action plan that is revisited shortly after workshop attendance. BP has taken that a step further and jointly developed (with edn) an HSE Leadership Development Center that includes BP specific context to assist operational leaders in really understanding what it means to be a leader in HSE in BP. It also provides specific, focused feedback for each participant. Two programs have been conducted as of November 2003. Initial feedback from participants is very positive.
EnvironmentWeb. National Repository for Emission and Discharge from Norwegian Continental Shelf
Authors: Jarandsen Bente , Knudsen Kjell Reidar , Natvig Henning , Langeland Thore
Published: December 2007

The Norwegian Oil Industry Association (OLF) has together with the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) and the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT) developed detailed regulations on reporting emissions to air and discharges to sea from the petroleum activities in Norway. Both NPD and SFT use such data for environmental control and internal analyses. Comprehensive efforts are made both by the oil companies and in the governmental agencies to quality control and compile the environmental data. In 2002 OLF took the initiative to develop a national repository, EnvironmentWeb (EW), together with SFT and NPD, with the aim to simplifying reporting and ensuring that all discharge data is kept in one place. This will ensure that the data used for analyses are up-to-date for all parties involved, and that consistency is maintained in relation to other data reported from oil companies to the Authorities. Quality in data is improved and the avoidance of duplication reduces the workload caused by double data entry at different locations. Electronic transfer and automatic uploading of discharge data to the database will be possible. Most of the content of the database will be public on the Internet, but all communication related to uploading and quality control will use the Secure Oil Information Link (SOIL) network. EW will, among other things, allow analyses and reporting of data (time series, tables, curves, etc.) with a consistent basis and offer faster and better availability of information both to public and Authorities.
Evaluating Environmental Performance Indicators with Fuzzy Sets
Authors: Agbon I. S.
Published: December 2007

Environmental Indicators include Environmental Condition Indicators and Environmental Performance Indicators. The Environmental Performance Indicators are made up of the Management Performance Indicators and the Operational Performance Indicators (OPI). Many oil and gas companies have identified major OPI which are measured periodically. OPI data of the same type, but from different sources, are often aggregated. However, it has not been possible to aggregate OPI data of different types, units and sources into a unified measurement that can be used for environmental performance evaluation and monitoring. It has been difficult to decide if the environmental performance is better with a reduction of greenhouse gasses emissions or an increase in water quality.

This paper develops a fuzzy model that captures the total impact of different OPI with different units and from different sources. OPI such as Carbon Dioxide Emissions per Capita, Arable Land Area, BOD in Water, Concentration of Faecal Coliforms, the Nickel Vanadium Ratio and the Generation of Industrial/Municipal Waste are used as input variables into the fuzzy model. Membership functions are derived for these input variables and fuzzy rules are used to generate an output variable. The output variable is a General Environmental Operational Performance Index (GEOPI). The GEOPI allows the overall environmental performance to be measured and monitored. Finally, it allows the total impact of alternative targets, remedial actions and programs to be optimized in the face of limited funds and budgetary constraints
Applications of Satellite Images in the Environmental Evaluation of Gas Pipeline Project
Authors: Osejo J. , Morante G. , Gamarra L. , Gomez-Barrios M.
Published: December 2007

The use of high resolution satellite images (on the order of 1 m per pixel or less as the smallest identifiable spatial unit), has become generalized throughout the world. Large and small projects, whether located in urban or rural areas, can benefit from applications of this technology, greatly assisting project proponents achieve their project objectives.

Modern high resolution images show details that are difficult to see on medium resolution satellite images in use on development projects up until the last decade and that are still frequently used. Often, certain key elements of a project cannot be seen properly even during field work, as the interaction of project objectives do not always account for events that occur in a project over time. For example: The presence of small dams or topographic obstacles, depressions, small wetlands, etc.

Traditional remote sensing makes use of photo-interpretation and indirect analysis to identify project elements and the relationship between them. This requires considerable training and experience in earth sciences, planning and engineering, which are not always well covered in every project. In order to see detailed elements directly, projects or activities have historically made use of low-level aerial photography to show project elements recognizable to the naked eye, but this practice is not always feasible due to cost or weather considerations.
Key questions in managing social issues in oil and gas projects
Authors: Snethkamp Pandora , Macklin Stephen
Published: December 2007

Over the last decade oil and gas companies have placed increasing emphasis on building partnerships and integrating stakeholder concerns into the overall project management cycle. Also, international lenders now place greater emphasis on social impact planning and mitigation of potentially adverse effects as conditions for project funding. Social Performance is increasingly on the agenda in Oil/Gas companies and has a strong business case for action. Activities of the Oil and Gas industry gives rise to impacts that change the social environment including affecting the economies in which they are conducted. We need to understand social issues relevant to the industry and know how to address them in an efficient, timely and pro-active manner.

In 1997, OGP published a report entitled "Principles for Impact Assessment: The Environmental and Social Dimension". This report set out principles for the environmental and social dimension of impact assessment for exploration and production projects, emphasizing integration of social assessment. It was intended for oil and gas companies and their contractors, and it highlights to them the importance of social and environmental assessment in all aspects of project planning and implementation. The document was subsequently endorsed by IPIECA. The document was also viewed as a stepping-stone to a more comprehensive guidance document for industry practitioners.

A joint OGP-IPIECA Social and Environment task force developed and published in October 2002 a document entitled ‘Key questions in managing social issues in oil and gas projects’. This joint OGP and IPIECA report was the next step in the process to a comprehensive guidance document. The report is not designed as a manual for conducting Social Impact Assessment, nor is it strictly a guideline. We hope that by using the document, member companies will identify the benefits and shortcomings of the approach and will make these known to OGP and IPIECA.

The paper provides a context to the list of questions, describes external interactions related to management of social issues, describes the social issues relevant to project stages and components, and summaries the scope of the lists of questions.
Corporate Social Responsibility - Capturing the Value
Authors: Overton Cindy
Published: December 2007

This paper will provide an update on current Corporate Social Responsibility practices among energy companies, discuss internal and external drivers and underscore how these initiatives bring value to the bottom line. Experiences of Suncor Energy and Talisman Energy are presented to demonstrate the different challenges companies encounter and to share their lessons learned.
Web-Based Solutions for Hazardous Work Management: A Case Study
Authors: Neill Mike
Published: December 2007

Maintaining and improving safety in the worksite and reducing costs of operating plants in hazardous industries are often seen as objectives at odds with each other. This paper outlines where a new approach to managing workplaces in hazardous industries can provide the win - win situation, which yields benefits in both safety improvement and cost reduction. It first of all explores some of the challenges workplace management or site management pose and looks at some of the faults with the current methods being employed. The basis of a new solution is revealed and illustrated with a real case study that demonstrates the viability of the approach.
HSE Knowledge Management
Authors: Twilhaar Dick Nijen , de Gier Wouter , Heckman John R.
Published: December 2007

Shell International Exploration and Production (Shell E&P) has an innovative solution to a recurring question with the implementation of Health Safety & Environment Management Systems (HSE-MS): How does an organization keep its HSE-MS up-to-date and aligned with actual business processes or "real" HSE issues in the field? The solution, called CheckMate, involves the development and introduction of a database-driven web based HSE-MS application that enhances the ability to use, maintain and evaluate the HSE critical information more effectively, disseminate it more efficiently, and integrates with several other HSE processes.

CheckMate contains dynamic HSE activity and hazard information that was previously documented in static HSE-MS documentation. CheckMate integrates this HSE critical information with the incident reporting and HSE alerts dissemination systems enabling the presentation of HSE information that is specifically relevant to the current individual user. Such integration makes it possible "operationalize" the HSE-MS, enabling it to serve as a dynamic up-to-date HSE corporate memory.

The shift from "managing documents" to "managing information" provides a number of additional opportunities. For example, CheckMate offers the ability to identify "hot-spots" of frequently failing (or less effective) barriers within the HSE-MS through the link with incidents and HSE alerts.
Deriving Value from Enterprise Wide HSE Data
Authors: DeVol Edward C.
Published: December 2007

Until recently, companies had no choice but to rely on either custom-built data systems or use a system of e-mails and spreadsheets or simple stand-alone database applications for Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) incident reporting and information management. Incorporating injury, environmental, property/equipment damage, and vehicle incident reporting with medical case management, industrial hygiene monitoring, auditing and inspections, investigation results with corrective actions and insurance claims management into a single integrated system was not possible or worth the investment to build. Some of these individual processes may have been enabled by specific and separate software packages, but the economy of scale and ability to learn from the total picture of HSE related events wasn't possible until the creation of a broad and integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) application.
HIV Impact Assessment Tools for Large Oil and Gas Projects: What Are They and Do They Work?
Authors: Krieger Gary R. , Balge Marci Z.
Published: December 2007

Increasingly, large oil and gas projects are planned and executed in those areas of the world that have been most affected by the HIV epidemic. Both the UN Development Programme and the World Bank have recognized that a large infrastructure project has the potential to dramatically impact the shape and speed of the underlying disease epidemic curve. As a result of this concern, specific analytic analysis tools have been developed. HIV Impact Assessment (HIA) has now become a required element for all World Bank environmental impact assessments (EIAs). The underlying rational for the HIA is that development projects often do not recognize the potential consequences of substantial population movements and interactions on the overall shape of a country-specific epidemic curve. The intermixing of groups of people with inherently different HIV risk profiles and prevalence rates can create and amplify an environment for high-risk behavior. There are a variety of published and proprietary analytical models that are available to assess the potential social and economic impacts and costs related to HIV prior to the implementation of development projects. The result of the HIA directly leads to an analysis of possible alternatives and mitigation measures, including preventive medicine strategies and community outreach programs. We have compared several of the available HIA models in a series of simulations for prototypical oil and gas projects, e.g., pipeline construction, oil field development, etc. The models vary dramatically in their ease of use, data input requirements and inherent uncertainty that produces a wide range of potential outcomes and significant impacts. Given the public scrutiny of oil and gas projects and their impacts, the industry should consider developing or agreeing on a scientifically based common platform for performing an HIA.
The Pitfalls and Challenges of Establishing an in-House HIV/AIDS Treatment for Company Employees and their Dependants
Authors: Vaughan J. M. M.
Published: December 2007

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria runs two 50 bedded hospitals and a 14 bed clinic for its staff and their dependants; some 20,000 in all. This paper does not propose to be medically technical nor does it represent a Shell Nigeria view of in-house HIV/AIDS treatment. It intends to promote debate by highlighting some of the issues which need to be considered before an in-house HIV treatment programme can be implemented. Many companies are now developing HIV/AIDS policies and guidelines in which company sponsored comprehensive highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) for HIV/AIDS is considered. The HAART option needs to sit unobtrusively as part of the overall company HIV/AIDS strategy that may include building partnerships with government and using the company infrastructure to increase awareness in the local population. An HAART programme needs to be continuously evaluated not only by the Company Medical Department but also by Management. HIV/AIDS is increasingly seen as a critical business issue and has to be managed as such with clearly defined roles and responsibilities, targets and systematic reviews.
Specialized Driver Training: Elevating Defensive Driving from a Simple Awareness to a Proactive, Crash-Free Reality
Authors: Meade D. , Tate D.
Published: December 2007

Driving is the highest-risk activity employees undertake in the service end of the Oil and Gas industry. Knowing this, Schlumberger has initiated an aggressive campaign to address the specialized training needs of its drivers in Canada. The program is designed to enhance a driver's ability to recognize and respond early to changing conditions and to deal with emergency situations. A driver's attitude is key to the success of the program. The training is successful when drivers leave with a firm commitment: "I will not have a crash, I will not cause a crash, I will not be a victim."

To be successful, training for this environment requires both comprehensive theory and intensive, hands-on training. Classroom sessions, including journey and fatigue management, are interspersed with practical sessions. The training is delivered at a 32 hectare (80 acre) extreme driving maneuvers facility, complete with state-of-the-art innovative training equipment and time-proven training programs. Practical exercises include in-vehicle distractions, wheel-drop response, serpentine maneuvering, animal avoidance, single and complex evasive maneuvers, and backing skills. A remote-controlled vehicle "pop-up" prop is used to simulate a head-on collision, and a remote signaling device is used to reinforce trained eye lead-time, reaction time and vehicle handling. Rear, front, and all-wheel lock-ups are recreated; four-wheel steering vehicles are used to simulate acceleration and deceleration (compression) skids.

A driver's competency is then assessed during a series of lengthy, hands-on rural and urban driving tests. This allows the qualified instructor to make a comprehensive evaluation of the driver's ability to implement their training in a proactive manner - to be crash-free while driving in the sometimes extreme driving conditions found in the Canadian operating environment.
Driver Monitors: Improving Transportation Safety and Enhancing Performance Through Behavioral Change
Authors: Ballard T. , Melton A. , Sealy I.
Published: December 2007

Proposal

Driving presents the greatest risk to human life in the oil and gas industry. While short-term changes in driving habits may be hard to achieve, they can be modified or improved with regular, positive influence.

In 1997, Schlumberger adopted a plan to monitor, evaluate, and improve driver behavior and performance using vehicle-data monitoring systems. When compiled in a database, vehicle monitor information enables an objective evaluation of the operator's driving habits. The intent is to use data to identify unsafe behaviors, and subsequently train, coach, and mentor individuals to reduce or eliminate these behaviors. Emphasis is placed on identifying habits or tendencies known to be high-risk factors. As an operator's performance is evaluated on an ongoing basis, their performance improves through positive reinforcement.

Previously published papers have described the concept of this behavior modification approach to driver performance improvement. In this paper, we present the results of 3 years of data collected from a fleet of more than 2,000 vehicles that drove more than 50 million miles a year in the continental U.S.A.

Following complete system implementation and vehicle hardware installation, from 2000 to 2003 we have seen a more than 50% reduction in automotive incidents (per million miles driven), and a more than 70% reduction in high-potential automotive incidents, per year. This paper includes details of the driver performance report evaluation process, and describes how data are used in the coaching and remedial process. Examples of using monitor data in an incident investigation and analysis are also provided. We also demonstrate how the program has helped improve regulatory compliance, and has increased regulatory report preparation efficiency.