Conventional methods of drilling oil are known to increase the likelihood of the wastes contaminating the environment. The essay discusses the effects of conventional methods that have been used in the past applications. Further, Remote Manifold Platform is concluded as the best option for such areas as Pantanal. Despite it being safer, there is no perfectly harmless method. The various methods of cleaning up an area after an oil spill are discussed in the second part of the essay.
Horizontal wells
This is a new trenchless technology that was adopted as a result of increased environmental damage from conventional methods. According to Barlas (1999), the technology is more versatile, although it starts from a vertical pilot hole used in conventional wells. However, the pilot hole used in this method is narrower, at between 4"and 12"in diameter. Helmes (nd) noted that this method involves use of less density mud, reduced surface "footprint" and improves rate of oil production, hence improving oil recovery. A relatively narrow drilling pilot hole reduces impact on the land, which is advantageous to the natural resources. According to Hillstrom and Hillstrom (2003) protects wildlife habitat and releases less toxic wastes. The two also noted increase oil recovery from this method.
The economic activities that are likely to be affected by the practice include fishing, tourism and cattle ranching as a result of contamination from waste disposals (Seidl, Silva &Moraes, 2000). Cattle ranch business that is the main stay of the region's economy also stands to lose if conventional methods are used. The ranch would be heavily impacted by the oil drilling process using the conventional methods by directly contaminating feeding material from the drilling wastes. Alemagi (2007) gave an in depth account of potential effects oil exploration is likely to have to the environment due to principally oil spillage accidents, wastes from refineries and release of toxic wastes. There is evidence of the remains from these discharges that include heavy metals such as cadmium to have long-term health effects to the surrounding communities in Pantanal (Martnez et al 2007). In another research by Kisic et al (2009)that analysed the effects total hydrocarbons (TPH) on plants and soil, they concluded on the potential of these discharges on both plant and animal life. According to them, crude oil affected chemical composition and density of the plants. At the same time, drilling fluids were found to influence the chemical composition of soil and plant life. This is through variation of soil pH and its organic matter contents.
It is possible for the affected plants to have an impact on animal health and survival due to existence of food webs in the rich ecological region of Pantanal. According to Onwurah et al. (2007), the bioaccumulation of aromatic hydrocarbons is possible due to extraction on crude oil in the area. The authors noted that these have an effect directly on animals such as mutagenesis, marring reproduction capacity of animals and sometimes causing hemorrhage of animals. The disruption of food chains is usually due to death of animals and plants and eventual instability in the whole ecological region. Pantanal risks losing its plant and animal resources that hugely support their livelihood, if the conventional method of oil extraction is used. The impact is long term, especially from the drilling mud and cuttings that tend to stay in the region for a long time. Bakhsian et al (2009) found out that these materials pollute underground water. This pollution was evaluated to be 0.5m3 of every one meter of drilled oil. Although the mud is usually useful for lubrication of the machines that are used, the remaining material that is disposed of after user remains underground to damage underground sources of water.
Oil drilling also leads to atmospheric air pollution due to escape of gases and other chemicals from the drilling process. Ugochukwu and J?rgen (2008) while working on Niger Delta documented empirical evidence on the impact that such activities can have on biodiversity if safer methods are not adapted. This calls for concerted efforts to clean-up the area or adoption of modern and generally safer drilling methods such as Remote Manifold Platform. With this approach, there is less production of drilling waste such as mud, reduced fuel consumption of the drilling machines and general reduction of soil contamination that is inextricably attached to plant and animal life on the drilling site. However, there is no method that is absolutely harmless to the environment; but rather, the options adopted tend to be relatively less impactful.
Remediation techniques
There is much improvement in the approach to oil drilling in the modern times. After the Buncefield disaster and oil spillage in Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico, several improvement shave been made to reduce potential effect of such disasters on environment. However, there is no procedure of oil extraction that is fail-safe. Oil spillages do occur, albeit at minimum levels. Even with the clean-up methods, there is considerable pollution of oil to the environment, hence the need to prevent oil spillage from occurring in the first place.
According to UK Parliamentary House of Commons (2010), there is a requirement for use of computer models relating to the effects of oil drilling to the environment and the likely consequence of oil spillage to the marine life and other areas, should it occur. When it occurs, OPEP advice on the use of chemical dispersants in addition to other physical methods of containing oil and oil recovery.
Application of dispersant is dependent on the extent of oil spillage; an aircraft is often used in case of massive oil spillages. Miller and Spoolman (2009) support these methods where cleaning is done mechanically using "floating booms, skimmer boats and absorbent methods"(p. 551). In addition to these, fire and other chemicals are used to increase decomposition of oil, although recovery is rarely above 15% of spilt oil.
Bioremediation is an approach that is popular today although itwas discovered as a valuable method three decades ago (International Marine Organisation, 2004). The method involves conversion of spilt oil to carbon dioxide and water. It however depends on temperature, nutrients, oxygen and the pH to enhance bioremediation process. The method improves the environment where oil was spilt by allowing for restoration of the area. Xhu (2004) adds other methods that include low-pressure flushing and cutting vegetation on where oil sticks on them. Stripping is done in areas that are considered extremely affected by oil spillage because of its damning effects of killing vegetation and even hampering future regeneration (Xhu, 2004).
Oil extraction is an essential venture that supports most economies of the world. Although the product is useful in a number of ways, the procedure of obtaining is not without harmful effects to the environment. There has been an increase in safety measures in the process of oil extraction, especially after the recent accidents that affected the ecological stability and economic livelihoods of adjacent communities. Pantanal is one of such regions that is widely known for its ecological resources. Using Remote Manifold Platform to extract oil in the region will reduce the impact of the process to the plant and animal life in the region.
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Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/impact-of-conventional-oil-extraction-methods-305107
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