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HSE
Marine Hazard Assessment of Petroleum Activities in Arctic Environments
a report by
Gro Harlaug Olsen, Iris Jæger, Lionel Camus, Jani Honkanen and JoLynn Carroll
Akvaplan-niva, Polar Environmental Centre, Tromsø, Norway
The Barents Sea is poised to become one of the main oil and gas Figure 1: Fieldwork in Svalbard Waters
suppliers in the years to come and there is therefore a need to
calculate risk associated with petroleum activities in the region. The
risk assessment tools used by the petroleum industry were originally
developed for temperate areas, but recent studies have shown that
Arctic and temperate organisms may respond differently to oil-related
compounds (presented in the previous edition of Exploration &
Production – The Oil & Gas Review). Modifying risk assessment tools
for the Arctic is therefore a priority for the industry. However, current
information on the responses of Arctic and temperate organisms is
based on a limited number of species, and therefore there are not
enough data to use these results in risk calculations for the Arctic.
In Akvaplan-niva, Tromsø, two projects financed by the Norwegian
VISTA foundation of StatoilHydro are under way to study the
Photo: Tim Smith.
vulnerability of Arctic ecosystems to oil-related compounds. These
Figure 2: Test Species Margarites helicina
research projects will compare the vulnerability of Arctic and
temperate ecosystems using test species from different taxonomic
groups. One of the tasks is to study special physiological and
behavioural characteristics of organisms that may influence the
pollutant responses of test species. Species sensitivity distribution
(SSD) curves will be developed to assess the relative sensitivity of
Arctic and temperate organisms. The results can then be applied to
estimating risks associated with petroleum activities in Arctic
regions. This research is in accordance with the objective of the new
chemical policy of the EU: to generate the necessary data for a
proper assessment of potential risks to the environment.
Species Sensitivity Curves and Risk Assessment
Photo: Jani Honkanen.
Acute toxicity values (e.g. LC
50
, EC
50
) of single chemical compounds
have been widely used to perform risk calculations of petroleum requirements for developing SSD curves. These include scallops,
activities. LC
50
is the concentration of a chemical that kills 50% of a sculpins, amphipods, barnacles, sea urchins and decapods (crabs and
test population, and EC
50
is the concentration of a test compound shrimps) (see Figure 2). As test compounds we are using polycyclic
that has an effect on 50% of a test population. aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) since these compounds are present in
crude oil as well as in produced water. The potential toxicity of PAHs
Traditionally, the tests have been performed on species considered in aquatic organisms is well-known and therefore they are commonly
to be most sensitive to chemical exposure. SSD curves were used as model compounds in method development and toxicity testing.
developed to achieve a more ecologically relevant method. In this
approach, sensitivity is calculated using LC
50
values derived for a Outcome
number of species (at least eight) from various taxonomic and One of the main outcomes of this research will be to generate more
functional groups. In the North Sea, SSD curves have already been toxicity data on species from Arctic areas. The data will thus serve as a
developed and are used in the calculation of risk; however, curves first step towards identifying sensitive species and acute toxicities for key
for Arctic organisms are still lacking. With financing from the pollutants. The SSD curve generated through these research projects will
Norwegian VISTA foundation, a similar approach can be applied in be available for use in the environmental impact factor (EIF) model,
risk assessment of petroleum activities in cold water regions. which is the main model used by the Norwegian petroleum industry to
identify activities that may exceed a pre-determined risk criterion. Much
Experiments more work on Arctic organisms is still needed; however, these two
Research cruises in Svalbard waters (see Figure 1) are under way to VISTA research projects are a step forwards towards adapting current
collect species from different functional groups to meet the risk assessment procedures for Arctic areas. ■
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© TOUCH BRIEFINGS 2008
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