The 10 licences were issued in 2016 to explore the barents sea above. The prospects and challenges for arctic oil development. Shell has prepared plans to resume drilling in arctic waters off. A history of oil in the arctic today in alaska, the vast majority of oil from the states arctic region comes from onshore drilling wells.
October 2014 the prospects and challenges for arctic oil development 2 between arctic states will be prerequisites for success. Arctic marine sustainability arctic maritime businesses and the. Jun 21, 2017 norway has infuriated environmental groups by opening up a record number of blocks in the arctic for oil exploration. The issuing of oil exploration licences breached a constitutional right to a healthy environment, the groups said. The dangers of arctic oil greenpeace international. Norway has awarded 24 oil and gas exploration licenses, most located in the arctic barents sea, as it tries to encourage development of oil reserves in its northern regions, however analysts are. A history of oil in the arctic climate interpreter. Why environmentalists should support oil exploration in. The three factors that would make the exploration of arctic reserves attractive to oil and gas companies are high commodity prices and technological feasibility, coupled with favorable. Environmental damage, abandoned treaties, and fossilfuel. As royal dutch shell and other oil companies prepare to drill offshore in the alaskan outer continental shelf ocs, a new report commissioned by the washington, dcbased pew environment group concludes current response capabilities arent adequate to contain and clean up a major spill in the area. Cameron on august 28, 2015 leave a comment in july 2015 the obama administration has given royal dutch shell plc approval to begin with limited.
Proposed oil and gas exploration within the coastal plain of. For the sake of the people and animals that call the arctic homenot to mention the global climatewe must keep offshore oil in the ground for good. Oil exploration in the alaska national wildlife refuge. This book explores issues such as oil vulnerability of marine birds, black carbon emissions from vessels, resilience of marine ecosystems to climate change impacts. Big oil may finally get to drill in the arctic, but is it.
The nearest response stations to arctic drilling sites are located thousands of miles away. Places resource use conflict in an arctic context fishing vs. Exxon mobil, bp suspend canadian arctic exploratory. Norway has infuriated environmental groups by opening up a record number of blocks in the arctic for oil exploration. Oil exploration in norwegian arctic faces sea of opposition. Amerasian basin, arctic alaska basin, east barents basin, east greenland rift basin, west greenlandeast canada basin, west siberian basin, and the yenisey. These arctic explorers and their books are the real northpolar stars, according to john r. Until about the 1970s or 1980s, most oil wells were vertical, but reservoirs of underground crude oil, called hydrocarbons, tend to be horizontal. Although we are all aware of the effects of oil on seabirds, oil is also extremely toxic to marine life see pew trusts the future of oil and water. Drilling in the arctic what is the environmental impact. At the same time, environmental risks and popular opposition to oil and gas. Oct 02, 20 oil magazine, an energy industry quarterly, devoted the whole of its march 20 issue to arctic energy exploration. As a result, the region has received significant interest from the petroleum industry. In overcoming the technical challenges of oil production in the arctic, are we making the most of a strategic resource or heading for an environmental and political minefield.
The 10 licences were issued in 2016 to explore the barents sea above the arctic. The arctics extreme weather and freezing temperatures, its remote location and the presence of moving sea ice severely increase the risks of oil drilling, complicate logistics and present unparalleled. The reason for this is that the arctic is estimated to have % of the worlds unproven reserves but just produces roughly 1% of. Oil companies say falling production costs will help.
Oil magazine, an energy industry quarterly, devoted the whole of its march 20 issue to arctic energy exploration. The technology and the alaskan oil context, otae394 washington, dc. Environmental damage, abandoned treaties, and fossilfuel dependence. Norway court backs arctic oil exploration bbc news. The natural history of an arctic oil field 1st edition elsevier. Dec 30, 2014 the three factors that would make the exploration of arctic reserves attractive to oil and gas companies are high commodity prices and technological feasibility, coupled with favorable environmental conditions. Sovacool, benjamin k 2007 environmental damage, abandoned treaties, and fossilfuel dependence. Offshore oil and gas development in the arctic under international. Ice roads and an ice airstrip have to be constructed. The period of arctic exploration covers almost 2500 years, starting with the greek, pytheas of massalia marseilles in 320 b. Polar exploration in the arctic and antarctic by guest blogger joann wasik at recently, i read a harrowing account of a doomed 1912 arctic expedition, where a ship seeking new hunting. Arctic oil represents a growing portion of the worlds oil usage. Aug 29, 2014 shell submits a plan for new exploration of alaskan arctic oil shells arctic challenger at the port of bellingham in washington. Polar exploration in the arctic and antarctic weareteachers.
The plans for nominating so many arctic exploration blocks come as greenpeace is suing norway over the previous, 23rd, licensing round, for oil companies to drill in the arctic barents sea. The exploration for oil in the arctic over the past 30 years has had profound effects. Where the arctic oil industry is booming bloomberg. The environmental damage and the harm to the local economy caused by the recent deepwater horizon spill in the gulf of mexico illustrate the environmental and economic risks of offshore oil drilling. The united states geological survey estimates that over 87% of the arctics oil and natural gas resource about 360 billion barrels oil equivalent is located in seven. Cumulative environmental effects of oil and gas activities on. Topics covered in this book include a brief historical background of arctic oil and gas development. Proposed oil and gas exploration within the coastal plain of the arctic national wildlife refuge, alaska.
When i started research on the eskimo and the oil man a book following the battle over offshore oil in the rapidly opening u. Download a pdf of cumulative environmental effects of oil and gas activities. In this blog i will give a summary of the history of arctic drilling and i will also discuss. Trans alaska pipeline, once the symbol of energy independence for an oilstrapped nation, is now on the verge of obsolescence. Most of the oil comes from the north slope, referring to the land adjacent to the chukchi and beaufort seas down to the brooks mountain range the area of land depicted on the map above. Most experts believe that copious amounts of oil and natural gas lie deep below the arctic. Offshore hydrocarbon resources in the arctic february 2016 6. The impact of offshore oil drilling in the arctic by e. The coming costs of oilandgas exploration in the 1002 area of the arctic national wildlife refuge. The vast arctic region is probably the last remaining unexplored source of hydrocarbons on the planet. Shell submits a plan for new exploration of alaskan arctic oil shells arctic challenger at the port of bellingham in washington.
Elizabeth tedsen, researcher, attended the visionary arctic 2012 conference in kirkenes norway, where she presented on the environmental and social risks. An overview of issues and management approaches oil industry international exploration and production forum unepearthprint, 1997 environmental management 68 pages. The oil ministry is offering 93 blocks in the barents sea, entirely in the. According to arctic power, an organization devoted to oil exploration in the arctic national wildlife refuge, horizontal drilling techniques have revolutionized the drilling process in the region. However, recent technological developments, as well as relatively high oil prices, have allowed for exploration. An oil industry consortium including exxon and bp has suspended its canadian arctic exploration program in the beaufort sea, citing insufficient time to begin test drilling before its lease. The arctic s extreme weather and freezing temperatures, its remote location and the presence of moving sea ice severely increase the risks of oil drilling, complicate logistics and present unparalleled difficulties for any cleanup operation. Most of the oil comes from the north slope, referring to the land adjacent. At the same time, environmental risks and popular opposition to oil and gas activity in the arctic are factors that could undermine. The earliest references to arctic exploration are shrouded in obscurity as a result both of inaccurate ideas of the shape of the earth and of primitive navigation techniques, which make it difficult to interpret early maps and accounts of voyages. An overview of issues and management approaches oil industry international exploration and production forum unepearthprint.
Oil and natural gas resources map of the arctic ocean. Despite this, tullow oil accepted to buy a 40% stake in an exploration block in the. The earliest references to arctic exploration are shrouded in obscurity as a result both of inaccurate ideas of the shape of the earth and of primitive navigation. On one hand are high costs, questions over technology, competition from other. Additionally, the impacts of hydrocarbon releases in the marine environment. The book makes recommendations for further environmental research related to. Topics covered in this book include a brief historical background of arctic oil and gas. This book provides an overview of the many issues relevant to offshore oil and gas development in the arctic.
The question of cost is also a big one not least because the logistics of installing an oil well in freezing conditions are incredibly challenging. For norway, natural gas exploration in the barents sea is crucial to maintain current levels of production in the future. Issn 87585x full text not available from this repository. Norway opens up record 93 blocks for arctic oil exploration. Shell plans to drill for oil just off the north coast of alaska, pulling the detonator on a carbon bomb. Arctic offshore exploration is a priority for shell. May 30, 2012 when i started research on the eskimo and the oil man a book following the battle over offshore oil in the rapidly opening u. May 18, 2015 arctic oil represents a growing portion of the worlds oil usage. Disappearing arctic sea ice is seen as a huge opportunity for an energy industry. The city of barow, the most northerly city in the us, is ground zero for the world. Environmental management in oil and gas exploration and. Jan 20, 2017 trans alaska pipeline, once the symbol of energy independence for an oil strapped nation, is now on the verge of obsolescence. Cameron on august 28, 2015 leave a comment in july 2015 the obama administration has given royal dutch shell plc approval to begin with limited exploratory oil drilling off alaskas northwest coast, in the chukchi sea.
Since the onset of the 2010s oil glut in 2014, the commercial interest in arctic exploration has declined. Despite industry optimism, arctic drilling remains controversial in norway, a country of 5. Its fragile ecosystem is particularly vulnerable to an oil spill and the consequences of an accident would have a profound effect on the environment and. The impact of offshore oil drilling in the arctic peace palace library. Denmark through greenland has not been a major player in hydrocarbon development. The arcticenvironmental protection strategy aeps, a soft law framework for.
The coming costs of oilandgas exploration in the 1002 area of the arctic national wildlife refuge authors benjamin k. Unfortunately, his writings have been lost and there is much speculation as to whether pytheas voyaged to iceland, the shetlands, or possibly. Environmental management in oil and gas exploration and production. Proposed oil and gas exploration within the coastal plain. A 2008 united states geological survey estimates that areas north of the arctic circle have 90 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and 44 billion barrels of natural gas liquids in 25 geologically defined areas thought to have potential for petroleum.
May 03, 2017 despite industry optimism, arctic drilling remains controversial in norway, a country of 5. This is likely to be prohibitive for most companies in the current climate, with some analysts predicting that the price of crude could drop in the medium term. Norway plans record number of arctic oil exploration blocks. High investment costs, risk of wildcat and investment timing substantial investment costs at exploration phase constitute another characteristic in the petroleum industry. The report called for a moratorium on arctic oil and gas drilling, and. The bureau of safety and environmental enforcement bsee and the bureau of. Oil production in the arctic national wildlife refuge.
High commodity prices is of course met due to the rise of crude oil prices and continued investment in drilling technologies. Why environmentalists should support oil exploration. This represents % of the undiscovered oil in the world. What are the challenges of drilling for oil in the arctic. Denmark through greenland has not been a major player in. The exploration of the arctic for petroleum is considered to be extremely technically challenging.
Jan 04, 2018 the issuing of oil exploration licences breached a constitutional right to a healthy environment, the groups said. Exploration costs are usually incurred for an extended period of up to five years before production. Theres no climatesafe future that involves drilling in the arctic ocean. Offshore oil and gas development in the arctic under international law. According to arctic power, an organization devoted to oil. A significant incentive for oil exploration, albeit on less favourable terms since 20. Sep 07, 2017 oil companies say falling production costs will help. The 800mile system links northern alaska to the rest of the world. Opponents of offshore oil drilling claim that one oil rig can dump more than 90,000 metric tons of drilling fluid and metal cuttings into the ocean over its lifetime data from culture change.
Arctic oil drilling plans raise environmental health concerns. The environmental impacts of offshore oil drilling soapboxie. The impact of offshore oil drilling in the arctic peace. Exxon mobil, bp suspend canadian arctic exploratory drilling. Environmentalists lose arctic exploration case bbc. Congress, office of technology assessment,oil production in the arctic national wildlife refuge. The united states geological survey estimates that over 87% of the arctic s oil and natural gas resource about 360 billion barrels oil equivalent is located in seven arctic basin provinces. Shell submits a plan for new exploration of alaskan arctic oil.
Arctic oil the cost is just too high seeking alpha. However, recent technological developments, as well as relatively high oil prices, have allowed for. Disappearing arctic sea ice is seen as a huge opportunity for an energy. Being the top oil consuming country in the world, the u. Probably the first to approach the arctic regions was a greek, pytheas, who in the 4th century bce made a.
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