Abstract
TOTAL ABK is a responsible operator that strives to minimize its environmental impacts in all phases of its operations. As such, regular assessments are undertaken to monitor these impacts and considerable efforts are deployed to their minimization. Committed to continuous improvement in environmental protection, we present a status report of various marine ecological impacts associated with our drilling activities.
Using latest and innovative technology, a full evaluation was done using a tailor made software for modeling drilling discharges. Two parts are critical to this environmental assessment: the impact of liquid releases associated with key mud chemicals and the impact of drill cuttings discharge on the seabed.
Current thinking usually considers drill cuttings discharge to have a limited and local impact, but this work demonstrates otherwise. Indeed, results of the liquid discharge indicate that the vertical and horizontal dispersion of chemicals can be quite extensive and not only within the vicinity of the discharge point. This is also verified with the outcome of the drilling discharge. Several scenarios were done including some with period up to 10 years in order to clarify the remediation time of the sediment and the potential impact on the local macro fauna decolonization.
By developing news tools able to monitor its environmental impacts, TOTAL ABK significantly contributes to widening scientific knowledge and demonstrates deep commitment towards UAE marine environmental protection.
