Offshore Operations: Risks, Safety, and Environmental Protection
10 min read
Extracting oil or gas from under the sea is possible... but it comes with risks. Since the 1950s, this activity has caused serious accidents, such as the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Today, technology and strict regulations seek to limit these dangers.
© PASCAL LAURENT - TotalEnergies - Deep offshore operations require the use of sophisticated robots. Here, an ROV (remotely operated vehicle) is being deployed.
Marine Pollution: Monitoring of Water and Gas Discharges
Marine pollution is the primary risk considered in exploration.
Before beginning to extract hydrocarbons (oil or gas), an “inventory” of the area is carried out: water quality is measured and the animals present are observed. This serves as a reference for later verification of whether the activity has had an impact.
This assessment is carried out by specialized companies, which compile an inventory of the fauna (birds, marine mammals, corals, fish, etc.) present in the area concerned, analyze the water and sediments in the same area, etc. This assessment will serve as a reference for subsequent measurements that will be carried out during the life of the project.
On board an oceanographic vessel, a multidisciplinary team will work for several weeks to collect all the information needed to establish this baseline. This information will then be summarized in a document sent to the industrial operator and the relevant authorities.
In order to verify compliance with the criteria established by the administration in the permit to exploit the hydrocarbon , checks are carried out on the various types of discharges into the environment, i.e. into the air, into the water, and those relating to the treatment of industrial waste such as cuttings.
With regard to production water, i.e., water extracted from deposits and therefore loaded with hydrocarbons, among other things, the rule is to reinject it in order to avoid any type of discharge into the environment. If this is not possible, it is treated before being discharged into the sea. This is done to reduce its hydrocarbon content below very strict standards and regulations, generally to less than 30 milligrams/liter, or even much lower for certain industrial facilities (between 10 and 15 milligrams/liter).
The gases associated with hydrocarbon extraction are either reinjected, which helps maintain pressure in the reservoirs, or exported to natural gas storage and/or sites. This gas is then distributed through the natural gas network to domestic households.
Methane, a particularly powerful greenhouse gas (GHG), represents a major challenge for the energy industry. Reducing methane emissions requires systematic leak detection using advanced technologies (sensors, drones, infrared imaging) and preventive maintenance of facilities. Responsible practices also include recovering and utilizing gas rather than burning it, as well as ensuring transparency of emissions data to enable accurate estimates of the quantities of greenhouse gases emitted each year. These measures are essential to limit the climate impact of operations and meet international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The management of waste from offshore operations is essential to prevent soil and water contamination. It must be based on a strategy that prioritizes reduction at source, selective sorting, and material recovery whenever possible. Hazardous waste, such as or chemical residues, requires specialized treatment and strict traceability to prevent uncontrolled discharge. This waste is treated in specialized facilities. The integration of circular solutions and the establishment of local channels help to limit the environmental footprint of exploration and production activities.
Monitoring of The Seabed and Offshore Equipment
These requirements have given a strong impetus to research into robotic surveillance and data collection devices. Remote-controlled or autonomous vehicles equipped with cameras, sensors, and measuring devices can remain at the bottom of the ocean for months, with a range of tens of kilometers. They collect all kinds of information:
• monitoring “geological hazards” (faults, landslides, etc.);
• monitoring underwater pipelines, wellheads, and platform structures;
• monitoring the hulls of floating units used in very deep water fields (less than 1,500 meters).
Major Accidents: What Preventive Measures Can Be Taken?
The risk of major industrial accidents is greater on the platforms themselves than under the sea. These risks have existed since the beginning of offshore operations.
On July 6, 1988, an explosion followed by a fire on Occidental Petroleum's Piper Alpha platform off the coast of Scotland killed 167 people and caused financial losses exceeding $3 billion (at the time).
On April 20, 2010, the explosion and subsequent fire on the Deepwater Horizon platform in the Gulf of Mexico claimed the lives of 11 people before triggering the longest oil spill in history, causing considerable environmental damage. In addition to the human consequences, such accidents are ecological and financial disasters, with BP facing fines totaling $56 billion.
Gas leaks, such as the one on Total's Elgin platform in the North Sea on March 25, 2012, have less , but required highly complex operations to stop them. The leak did not cause any injuries, but it took nearly two months to control it after heavy mud was injected into the well.
Controlling these accidents requires improving technologies, continuous monitoring of facilities, evolving standards and practices, and developing response tools.
Sensitive Areas: Why Limit Exploitation?
The financial cost of the Deepwater Horizon accident and the potential damage to their image have led several international companies to scale back their projects in areas that are “sensitive” to human activity. Some companies avoid exploring or operating in these areas, such as the Arctic. If they do decide to launch projects in areas with high stakes, for example, they incorporate strict principles of prevention, reduction, and compensation for impacts from the design phase of these projects. The “avoid, reduce, compensate” (ARC) sequence aims to avoid damage to the environment, reduce damage that could not be sufficiently avoided and, if possible, compensate for significant effects that could not be avoided or sufficiently reduced.
This involves a thorough environmental assessment prior to any activity, including habitat mapping, identification of protected species, and analysis of ecosystem risks. The ARC sequence is now considered an international standard: avoid areas of high ecological value, reduce disturbances through less invasive technologies, and compensate for residual impacts through habitat restoration or creation.
This may interest you
See all
