Narctic oil exploration pdf files

With current oil reserves coping with increased pressure from emerging markets in china and india, the arctic and its seas are seen as being of crucial importance. The arctic science portal is a library of links to websites containing scientific information about the arctic. September 2009 geofile online 604 alison rae high tech. That company consolidated the interests of 75 companies and individuals with arctic islands land holdings plus the federal government as the major shareholder. Protecting americas arctic on the beaufort and chukchi seas on alaskas arctic coast, sea ice meets the northern edge of the continent and animals. Introduction this study documents two events in the last six decades that have dramatically altered the rate of change of arctic alaska landscapes. Arctic drilling is not commercially viable at this time, and is not expected to be in. Challenges and opportunities of oil and gas investment in the arctic.

Oil exploration and sea ice projections in the arctic. Arctic exploration wells by country and time period. Us oil giant exxon mobil, which this week signed a multibillion dollar deal with rosneft to explore the russian arctic. However, recent technological developments, as well as relatively high oil prices, have allowed for exploration. The vast arctic region is probably the last remaining unexplored source of hydrocarbons on the planet. As bernadette demientieff, executive protecting this place. Arctic council offshore oil and gas guidelines the arctic councils arctic offshore oil and gas guidelines aoogg recommend regulatory and industry best practices and policies. Wildlife and offshore drilling defenders of wildlife. And oil spills, which already occur on the north slope, would harm fish and wildlife. Rapid oil and gas exploration and development accelerated climate change. Less than 1,200 miles from the north pole, barrow is also known. Arctic drilling enhances the risk of potential oil spills. For other than authorized activities, usarc does not exercise any editorial control over the information you.

Of the 86 blocks on offer, 72 were in the barents sea, north. Arctic is estimated to hold large reserves of oil and gas. In june 2012, norways ministry of petroleum and energy announced its most recent licensing round for oil and gas exploration blocks. Well name stirrup 1 well type exploration location horseshoe block, alaska north slope spud date 27 january 2020 alaska time rig doyon arctic fox objective target cretaceous brookian sandstone nanushuk e. Significant oil reserves lie offshore, in the arctic s shallow and biologically productive shelf seas. Bsee fact sheet arctic exploratory drilling regulations. Greenland caves in to drilling, shrugging off oil spill. On state and native lands, and in state waters, drilling and production of oil and gas and the underground disposal of oilfield waste are overseen by the alaska oil. Arctic oil spill response technology joint industry program.

Oil and gas exploration and development in the arctic is extensively regulated. The gulf oil disaster and the future of offshore drilling 2011, by united states national commission on the bp deepwater horizon oil spill and offshore drilling pdf with commentary at govinfo. Drilling an offshore exploration well in the arctic currently requires permitting from at least 12 principal state and federal agencies. As a result, the region has received significant interest from the petroleum industry since the onset of the 2010s oil glut in 2014, the commercial interest in arctic exploration has. And the governments own analysis of potential oil drilling in the chukchi sea estimated a 33 percent to 51 percent chance for a. The industries which have the most conflict with cetaceans in the arctic include shipping, oil exploration, and commercial fisheries. For example, the final rule ensures operators will. In 2014 russia became the worlds first producer of arctic oil or arco. While these activities may seem like new developments, arctic oil exploration and in some cases production has been taking place for many years in these regions. Oil and gas activities to the present arctic portal library. Energy security initiative at br oo ki ng s offshore oil and gas governance in the arctic a leadership role for the u. Greenpeaces assertion that the drilling industry is unprepared, in fact unable, to clean up a major arctic oil spill is resoundingly seconded by scientists. Since 1991, when the national energy board took over the regulations of oil and gas exploration and production activities in this area, the only offshore well that has been drilled in canadas arctic is the devon paktoa c60 exploration. Therefore uk regulation of the oil and gas industry outlined on the.

The prospects and challenges for arctic oil development. Oil spills from blowouts, pipeline leaks or shipping accidents pose a tremendous risk to arctic ecosystems. A group of 16 democratic senators, including two presidential candidates, sent a letter to 11 major u. A history of oil in the arctic climate interpreter. President obama protects 125 million acres of the arctic ocean today, president obama designated portions of the united states arctic ocean as indefinitely off limits for future oil and gas leasing. Finally, the exploration and extraction of oil in the arctic also implies substantial local environmental ris ks as the activity itself. Offshore oil and gas governance in the arctic brookings institution. Exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in greenland. Panarctic oils was formed in 1968 as a result of the canadian governments eagerness to encourage exploration of the canadian arctic islands and to assert canadian sovereignty in the region. Bp, the company responsible for the deepwater horizon oil spill, has won permission to drill in eastern greenland. How drilling for oil in the arctic national wildlife. Oil and gas development on federal land is regulated by the u. The cleanup efforts surrounding the deepwater horizon accident demonstrated the oil industry struggled to contain and remove an offshore oil spill. Oil search january drilling report 6 february 2020.

October 2014 the prospects and challenges for arctic oil development 2 between arctic states will be prerequisites for success. The majority of oil and gas exploration and development on alaskas north slope occurs during winter, supported by ice and snow road networks. The aim of this study is to investigate how reduction in the sea ice cover may affect oil activity in the arctic during the next 30 years. The prirazlomnaya platform on the russian shelf above the arctic circle, operates round the clock to extract the oil. At the same time, environmental risks and popular opposition to oil and gas activity in the arctic are factors that could undermine.

Activities in the early decades of arctic oil and gas exploration. 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. The arctic offshore oil and gas guidelines was originally written in. 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. Key messages one page summary oil was found in canadas arctic as early as 1789. Introduction lessons from the gulf the bp deepwater horizon oil spill raises urgent and troubling questions about the ability both to prevent a major offshore oil spill and to respond effectively when one occurs. Recent years have seen increasing interest in offshore oil exploration in the arctic and other frontier regions.

Pointing to the problems of other arctic oil drilling operations where drilling crews dumped garbage, sewage, and toxic drilling waste into surface pits, environmentalists predict disaster if drilling is allowed in the refuge. The arctic supports an extraordinary diversity of species and a vibrant subsistence culture, but new offshore drilling prospects in the arctic ocean bring the threat of a devastating oil spill. Secondly, the race for oil has made the arctic hot from a geopolitical perspective see, for instance, reporting by the guardian, 2011, and the telegraph, 2009. Ultimate resources are estimated at 114 billion barrels of undiscovered oil and 2000 trillion cubic feet of natural. In summary, we strongly urge banks and oil and gas companies to honor their fiduciary duty to investors and refuse to engage in drilling in the arctic. This report is also published as electronic documents, available from the amap website at.

Environmental risks with proposed offshore oil and gas. Drilling in the arctic what is the environmental impact. Overview arctic oil exploration requires safe transportation of heavy equipment over icecovered areas. The aoogg cover all stages of offshore oil and gas activity planning, exploration, development, production and decommissioning except for transportation. The arctic rule was implemented in response to a number of offshore drilling accidents, including the 2010 deepwater horizon oil spill and several incidents and close calls during shells initial arctic exploration attempts. The usgs believes there may be 23 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil and 108 trillion cubic feet of natural gas offshore alone on the outer continental shelf ocs in the beaufort and chukchi seas. Democratic senators ask major banks to stop funding arctic. Exploration interest in the arctic offshore has increased in recent years. One of the most pernicious rules imposed by the obama maladministration was the requirement for offshore arctic operators to contract a second drilling rig or drill ship. Areas at risk from an arctic oil spill include the coastline. Npc regulatory malfeasance is the primary reason the u. Arctic oil and gas 5 the quest for arctic oil and gas resources is not for the faint of heart, nor for those with lessthandeep pockets. Rather, arctic resource development is both highcost and highrisk.

Companies such as exxonmobil, chevron, husky energy, cairn energy, encana, dong energy and pa resources are planning to invest billions in the development of greenlands oil. 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. With average recovery rates around 35% there is a huge bonanza awaiting companies that can unlock the secret of lowcost. Whales also are highly sensitive to noise, such as that which. Submit oil spill response plans tailored to arctic conditions. Offshore oil exploration and development in the arctic ocean.

The exploration of the arctic for petroleum is considered to be extremely technically challenging. The arctic national wildlife refuge is americas largest and wildest piece of publicly owned land. Barrow, the most northerly city in the us, is ground zero for the worlds most controversial oil drilling campaign. Bureau of safety and environmental enforcement, 30 cfr. Global interests in developing arctic hydrocarbon resources have been growing. The fate of the arctic from offshore oil blowouts \ pdf \. Since oil trapped under ice in the fall or winter can be released with the spring melt, an arctic oil spill can affect. Offshore oil well drilling government policy united states.