Environment Protection in Oil and Gas Complex

The occurrence of low-depth free gas accumulation and migration channels in the bottom of the Northern Caspian is one of the most dangerous factors in the course of construction of offshore structures and exploratory top hole drilling. Throughout geotechnical operations, the geological hazards for jack-up rig installation and drilling are identified by means of dual-frequency seismic profiling and high-frequency seismic prospecting. The use of 3D seismic prospecting makes it possible to reduce the impacts on the environment and to increase the safety of jack-up rig installation on the drilling point, which also minimizes environmental risks in the course of drilling. The paper considers the opportunities of using 3D prospecting data to analyze the dangers and to assess the safety of prospecting wells drilling in the depth interval of 150...800 m.

Key words: the Caspian Sea; geological prospecting; 3D seismic prospecting; geological efficiency; environmental safety; environmental impact.

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UDC 504.062.2:504.064.36

IMPLEMENTATION OF OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

WHEN DEVELOPING OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS FIELDS (р. 13)

Natalia Viktorovna Popova, Cand. of biol. sci.

LLC «Caspian Oil Company»

10, Gubernator Anatoly Guzhvina prosp., 414014, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7 (8512) 39-56-16,

e-mail: popovaNN@caspoil.com

Sergey Konstantinovich Monakhov, Cand. of geograph. sci.

Caspian Marine Scientific and Research Center

14, Shiryaev str., 414045, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7(8512)30-34-70,

e-mail: kaspmniz@mail.ru

Alexey Alexandrovich Kurapov, Dr. of biol. sci.

LLC «Research Institute of the Southern Seas Environment»

45, Svobody square, 414024, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7 (8512) 49-23-00,

e-mail: ymeko@mail.ru

Stepan Alexeevich Zubanov, Cand. of techn. sci.

LLC «Research Institute of the Caspian Sea Problems»

12/10а, Kirov str., 414000, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7 (8512) 60-07-53,

e-mail: iprocam@mail.ru

The paper reviews the Russian legislation that regulates organization and implementation of operational environmental monitoring (OEM) when developing offshore oil and gas fields. The analysis reveals the fact that despite the sufficient improvement of the monitoring regulatory framework during recent years, it is still far from being perfect. One of the main drawbacks of the existing system is the lack of regulatory-bound determination of OEM objectives and tasks, dubious requirements to the types of monitoring and the list of the observed parameters stated in numerous regulatory documents. The vagueness of OEM objectives leads to the fact that regulatory acts are mostly focused not on the OEM results analysis, but on the submission format. As the main OEM result is the assessment of compliance with the environmental requirements and efficiency of environmental activities conducted by oil and gas companies when developing fields development, progressive strengthening of its control functions and introduction of OEM into corporate environmental control system being discussed nowadays by legislators is justified and highly advisable.

Key words: environment monitoring; marine oil and gas fields; Russian legislation.

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UDC 628.543.94:665.61

OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

OF ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON MARINE VESSELS EMPLOYED

IN EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS FIELDS

(р. 21)

Alexey Vladimirovich Kuzin, Cand. of geograph. sci.

LLC «LUKOIL–Nizhnevolzhskneft»

1/2, Admiralteyskaya str., 414000, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: (8512) 40-29-51,

e-mail: aleksej.kuzin@lukoil.com

Sergey Konstantinovich Monakhov, Cand. of geograph. sci.

Caspian Marine Scientific and Research Center

14, Shiryaev str., 414045, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7 (8512)30-34-70,

e-mail: kaspmniz@mail.ru

Alexey Alexandrovich Kurapov, Dr. of biol. sci.

LLC «Research Institute of the Southern Seas Environment»

45, Svoboda square, 414024, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7(8512) 49-23-00,

e-mail: ymeko@mail.ru

Stepan Alexeevich Zubanov, Cand. of techn. sci.

LLC «Research Institute of the Caspian Sea Problems»

12/10а, office 6, Kirov str., 414000, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7 (8512) 60-07-53,

e-mail: iprocam@mail.ru

In the course of offshore oil and gas fields development, much attention is paid to organization and conducting of operational environmental monitoring (OEM) of oil and gas facilities whereas little attention is given to support vessels (research, transport, rescue boats, etc.), although the sea pollution produced by the vessels can exceed the pollution from oil and gas facilities.

The objective of the research was to systematize legal and regulatory background and to develop a standard program of operational environmental control of adverse environmental impact, produced by support vessels. The subject matter of the Program is compliance with environmental requirements and implementation of nature-conservation activities; the main object is the approved, technical and reporting documents.

The Program determines the list of objects to be controlled and control periodicity for every type of control (control of atmospheric pollution, control of sea water pollution with sewage water, waste management, and harmful effect on the environment). The Program is implemented as inspections carried out by environment protection department of an oil and gas company.

The practical recommendations on the organization and implementation of the Program suggested in the paper are aimed at improving the environmental safety of the offshore oil and gas complex.

Key words: operational environmental control (OEC); offshore oil and gas fields; impact on the environment; pollution from ships.

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UDC 504.062:502.2

ZONING OF THE NORTHERN CASPIAN SEA BASED ON ORGANIC MATTER

ACCUMULATION IN ITS BOTTOM SEDIMENTS (р. 26)

Alexey Alexandrovich Kurapov, Dr. of biol. sci.

LLC «Research Institute of the Southern Seas Environment»

45, Svobody square, 414024, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7 (8512) 49-23-00,

e-mail: ymeko@mail.ru

Larisa Vyacheslavovna Degtyareva

«Caspian Research Institute of Fishery»

1, Savushkin str., 414056, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7 (8512) 25-76-46,

e-mail: dlgru@mail.ru

The paper presents zoning of the Northern Caspian by organic matter sources and distribution in its bottom sediments. Three zones were identified. The first one is the northern part of Volga-river estuarine seaside with depth of more than 5 m in its western part and of more than 4 m in its eastern part, where allochthonous organic matter predominates. Deep water area located behind the isobath of 8 m in the west and 5 m in the east refers to the zones, where organics accumulation mainly depends on autochthonous organic matter entry. The third zone with depth of 5...8 m in its western part and 4...5 m in its eastern part the sediments of which are characterized by mixed feeding is located between the two above-said ones. As migration routs of many contaminants, including hydrocarbons, are as a rule associated with organic matter such zoning is of some special interest from the point of view of planning environmental protection measures when conducting oil and gas production activities in the Northern Caspian.

Key words: organic matter; organic carbon; the Northern Caspian; bottom sediments; zoning.

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UDC 504.062; 504.054

HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION OF THE WATER OF THE RUSSIAN SECTOR

OF THE ASSETS USE IN THE CASPIAN SEA (р. 30)

Elena Vasilievna Ostrovskaya, Cand. of geograph. sci.,

Maria Vladimirovna Voinova, Cand. of biol. sci.

Caspian Marine Scientific and Research Center

14, Shiryaev str., 414045, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7 (8512) 30-34-70,

e-mail: eostrovskaya@mail.ru, kaspmniz@mail.ru

An assessment of the current level of heavy metal (HM) contamination of the marine environment of the Russian sector of the assets use (RSAU) in the Caspian Sea is presented in the paper. The analysis of the data for the period of 2012–2014, obtained through performing «the Program of monitoring of trans-boundary water bodies of the Caspian Sea for the period of 2012–2014» developed by the Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring is carried out. The monitoring data prove the fact that the waters of the area under study contain concentrations of heavy metals exceeding maximum allowable ones such as Fe (up to 5,4 times), Cu (up to 6,24 times), Ni (up to 9,5 times), Zn (up to 1.9 times) and Pb (up to 2,7 times). Concentrations of Mn, Cd and Hg in 2012–2014 were less than national water quality standards. Metal pollution index (MPI) refers the water of the area under study mainly to «slightly polluted».

Correlation analysis also revealed the statistically significant links between Cu and Hg content in the water bottom layer. The correlation dependences among other metals were not found out. This most probably reflects the fact that heavy metals are coming from multiple sources into the water area of the Russian sector of assets use and that they are involved in different biogeochemical processes in the marine environment. The data obtained can serve as a baseline while assessing the impacts of oil and gas development in the area on the marine environment.

Key words: Caspian Sea; heavy metals; metal contamination; metal pollution index; marine environment.

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UDC 504.06

HYDROCARBONS IN SUSPENDED MATTER AND BOTTOM SEDIMENTS

IN THE NORTH-WESTERN PART OF THE CASPIAN SEA (р. 34)

Elena Vasilievna Ostrovskaya, Cand. of geograph. sci.

Caspian Marine Scientific and Research Center

14, Shiryaev str., 414045, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7 (8512) 30-34-70,

e-mail: eostrovskaya@mail.ru

Inna Abramovna Nemirovskaya, Dr. of chem. sci.,

Nina Vladimirovna Kozina, Cand. of geol.-mineral sci.

P.P. Shirshov Insitute for Oceanology, RAS

36, Nakhimovsky prosp., 117997, Moscow, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7 (495) 380-41-50,

e-mail: nemir@ocean.ru

The paper presents the results of the analysis of hydrocarbons content in the suspended matter and bottom sediments. The samples were collected in the north-western part of the Caspian Sea in 2014 and 2015. The study objective was to determine the sources of hydrocarbons in the area and to estimate the anthropogenic input against the overall hydrocarbon background. In the area of the suspected «gryphon formation» near Dagestan coast the sediments differed by low concentrations of organic compounds. The abnormal composition of poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) with naphtalene domination can prove hydrocarbons petrogenic origin in the region. High concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons in the surface water suspended matter and their lateral changeability can also prove the fact of their petrogenic origin, most often due to pollution. Concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons in bottom sediments correspond to the environment level. However, their rather high content in the eastern part of the region and in the deep water sediments can be justified by the impact of fluid flows from the sedimentary stratum on their concentrations and composition formation.

Key words: Caspian Sea; aliphatic hydrocarbons; poly-aromatic hydrocarbons; suspended matter; bottom sediments.

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UDC 504.054; 504.453

SURFACE WATER QUALITY OF THE VOLGA-AKHTUBA FLOODPLAIN WATER

BODIES LOCATED WITHIN THE BORDERS OF CENTRAL-ASTRAKHAN GAS

CONDENSATE FIELD (Р. 40)

Sergey Nikolaevich Kolokoltsev

LLC «LUKOIL–Primorieneftegas»

1/2, Admiraltejskaya str., 414000, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7 (8512) 40-23-96,

e-mail: Sergey.Kolokoltsev@lukoil.com

Elena Vasilievna Ostrovskaya, Cand. of geograph. sci.

Caspian Marine Scientific and Research Center

14, Shiryaev str., 414045, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7 (8512) 30-34-70,

e-mail: eostrovskaya@mail.ru

Evgeny Valerievich Kolmykov, Cand. of biol. sci.

LLC «LUKOIL–Nizhnevolzhskneft»

1/2, Admiralteyskaya str., 414000, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: (8512) 40-29-51,

e-mail: Evgeny.Kolmykov@lukoil.com

The paper presents some data on the state and level of water bodies pollution located within the borders of Central-Astrakhan gas condensate field which belongs to «Pojmenny» license site of LLC «LUKOIL–Primorieneftegas» prior to operational activities. The data of industrial environmental monitoring carried out at the site in 2015 were analyzed. As no works at the site were done that year, the data reflect the pollution level of water bodies non-associated with the field developments. In the period under study, the least pollution according to the majority of the analyzed showings was observed in the Volga River waters, the high level of pollution was characteristic for the waters and bottom sediments of Churakovsky and Samartsev low-flowing shallow waters. Summing-up, surface water quality of the bodies under study was within the long-term average annual limits that were usual for water areas in the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain and the Volga delta in the last decade.

Key words: the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain; industrial environmental monitoring; water quality; contamination of sediments; heavy metals; petroleum products; detergents; phenols.

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UDC 504.064

OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING CARRIED OUT

IN THE TERRITORY OF YU. KORCHAGIN FIELD IN 2014 (р. 49)

Alexey Vladimirovich Kuzin, Cand. of geograph. sci.,

Olga Ivanovna Bakun, Cand. of biol. sci.

LLC «LUKOIL–Nizhnevolzhskneft»

1/2, Admiralteyskaya str., 414000, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: (8512) 40-29-51,

e-mail: aleksej.kuzin@lukoil.com, Olga.Zornikova@lukoil.com

Vladimir Borisovich Ushivtsev, Cand. of biol. sci.

«P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology», RAS, Caspian branch

6, Savushkin str., 414056, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: 8 (8512) 54-45-59,

e-mail: caspy@bk.ru

Galina Anatolievna Monakhova, Cand. of biol. sci.

Caspian Marine Scientific and Research Center

14, Shiryaeva str., 414045, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7(8512)30-34-70,

e-mail: kaspmniz@mail.ru

Roza Ivanovna Umerbaeva, Cand. of biol. sci.,

Leonid Fiodorovich Nepomenko

LLC «Research Institute of the Southern Seas Environment»

45, Svoboda square, 414024, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7 (8512) 49-23-00,

e-mail: ymeko@mail.ru

The paper discusses the results of the operational environmental monitoring conducted in Yu. Korchagin oil field, developed by JSC NL «LUKOIL», in 2014. The research focuses on the identification and assessment of anthropogenic impacts on the environment based on the mathematical-statistical and graph-analytical methods used to analyze the spatial distribution of hydro-chemical and lithological parameters. The assessment criterion of the impact was assumed as the significance and validity of differences (aberrations) between the centre and the periphery of the impact polygons of marine environmental status and pollution. The researches revealed the following factors: presence of parameters aberrations not affected by the anthropogenic impact (e. g., sea water temperature and salinity); increased number of aberrations of physical-chemical parameters not related to chemical pollution (e. g. biogenic elements); multidirectional of pollutants aberrations witnessing not only the probable pollution but also probable purification of the marine environment near the oilfield facilities; low importance of the identified deviations which in any cases were assessed as poor. Thus, the impact of Yu. Korchagin oil field facilities on the marine environment should be assessed as low, unstable, local and not affecting the marine environmental quality for biota. This fact is confirmed by the data of hydro-biological observations and the results of toxicological tests of the marine environment.

Key words: North Caspian; licensed site; operational environmental monitoring; marine pollution; identification and assessment of anthropogenic impacts.

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UDC 504.064.2; 504.746

METHODICAL ASPECTS OF FAUNA PROTECTION

WHEN DEVELOPING OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS FIELDS (р. 55)

Evgeny Valerievich Kolmykov, Cand. of biol. sci.

LLC «LUKOIL–Nizhnevolzhskneft»

1/2, Admiralteyskaya str., 414000, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: (8512) 40-29-51,

e-mail: Evgeny.Kolmykov@lukoil.com

Tatyana Viktorovna Vasilieva, Cand. of biol. sci.,

Dmitry Vladimirovich Kashin

«Caspian Research Institute of Fishery»

1, Savushkin str., 414056, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7 (8512) 25-86-36,

e-mail: kaspnirh@mail.ru

Galina Anatolievna Monakhova, Cand. of biol. sci.,

Karina Ibragimovna Asaeva

Caspian Marine Scientific and Research Center

14, Shiryaeva str., 414045, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7 (8512) 30-34-70,

e-mail: kaspmniz@mail.ru

A new technique of spatial analysis of hydrocoles distribution based on probabilistic-statistical method is suggested to solve the tasks of fauna protection when developing offshore oil and gas fields, such as the assessment of marine biota vulnerability to the impact of oil and gas production and the assessment of possible damage resulting from emergency oil spills. The research was based on the data on zooplankton biomass in the western part of the Northern Caspian in the period of 1961–2012 (May–June). Using these data, the researchers compiled the maps of spatial distribution of not only the mean values of plankton biomass in the western part of the Northern Caspian but also of its biomass of different occurrence (1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 75, 100 %). The comparative analysis of cartographic materials by GIS technologies there determined some specific features regularities of spatial distribution at different levels of zooplankton abundance for all the period under study and some periods corresponding to different states of the sea hydrological regime. The research results can be used not only to solve the tasks of nature protection, but also to assess biological productivity and fishery significance of the water area under study.

Key words: Northern Caspian; offshore oil and gas fields; spatial distribution; hydrocoles; zooplankton; marine biota vulnerability; damage assessment; probabilistic-statistical method; hydrological regime.

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UDC 574.5; 504.746; 502.2.05

THE STATE OF BIOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES IN THE AREA

OF «RAKUSHECHNOE» DEPOSIT IN THE NORTHERN CASPIAN (р. 61)

Roza Ivanovna Umerbaeva, Cand. of biol. sci.

LLC «Research Institute of the Southern Seas Environment»

56, office 6, Sverdlova str., 414000, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: +7 (8512) 49-22-12,

e-mail: ymeko@mail.ru

Evgeny Valerievich Kolmykov, Cand. of biol. sci.

LLC «LUKOIL–Nizhnevolzhskneft»

1/2, Admiralteyskaya str., 414000, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: (8512) 40-29-51,

e-mail: Evgeny.Kolmykov@lukoil.com

Nikita Borisovich Vodovskiy

«P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology», RAS, Caspian branch

6, Savushkin str., 414056, Astrakhan, Russian Federation,

tel.: 8 (8512) 54-45-59,

e-mail: caspy@bk.ru

The article presents the analysis of species composition and quantity structure of phytoneuston, phytoplankton, zooplankton and zoobenthos in the area of «Rakushechnoye» deposit when conducting exploration operations in 2010–2015. The abundance of phytoneuston varied from 60,9 thousand to 7,3 million individuals per m³; its biomass ranged from 0,17 to 30,96 mg/m³. The total number of phytoplankton varied from 237,6 to 1320,1 million individuals per m³; its biomass ranged from 0,3 to 3,9 g/m³. Phytoneuston biomass grew on average by 1,8 times from summer to autumn. The total number and biomass of zooplankton in the period under study ranged from 2,61 to 58,19 thousand of individual per m³ and from 5,29 to 467,16 mg/m³ respectively. Summer concentrations of plankton invertebrates exceeded those in the autumn: the number – on average by 3,6 times, the biomass – by 4,9 times. The number of bottom invertebrates in 2010–2015 amounted to 0,53...8,19 thousand individuals per m², their biomass was estimated at 4,5...48,5 g/m². The number of zoobenthos in summer significantly exceeded the autumn figures (on average by 2,6 times). The survey results revealed the rich species biodiversity of water plants and invertebrates; however no more than 2 dozens of species are significant in terms of their abundance. The high variability of number of phyto- and zoocoenoses noted throughout the surveys in the water area under study was within the range of long-term values. The monitoring revealed no adverse impact of exploration activities on hydrocoles.

Key words: Northern Caspian; oil deposit; phytoneuston; phytoplankton; zooplankton; zoobenthos; species diversity; number; biomass.

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