Operational environmental control of adverse environmental impact on marine vessels employed in exploration and development of offshore oil and gas fields
In the course of offshore oil and gas fields development, much attention is paid to organization and conducting of operational environmental monitoring (OEM) of oil and gas facilities whereas little attention is given to support vessels (research, transport, rescue boats, etc.), although the sea pollution produced by the vessels can exceed the pollution from oil and gas facilities. The objective of the research was to systematize legal and regulatory background and to develop a standard program of operational environmental control of adverse environmental impact, produced by support vessels. The subject matter of the Program is compliance with environmental requirements and implementation of nature-conservation activities; the main object is the approved, technical and reporting documents. The Program determines the list of objects to be controlled and control periodicity for every type of control (control of atmospheric pollution, control of sea water pollution with sewage water, waste management, and harmful effect on the environment). The Program is implemented as inspections carried out by environment protection department of an oil and gas company. The practical recommendations on the organization and implementation of the Program suggested in the paper are aimed at improving the environmental safety of the offshore oil and gas complex.