EH243 6B

(TUTORIAL 2)
TASK 1
There are likely to be interactions between climate change and environmental
impacts by oil and gas activities, such as exploration, production, transportation, and
consumption. For example, oil and gas extraction, drilling and refining tend to produce
a disproportionately large amount of hazardous and toxic wastes and already have
caused serious air and water pollution. Besides, offshore exploration, production, and
distribution facilities of oil and natural gas would be influenced by sea-level rise and
extreme weather events such as cyclonic storms. Last but not least, accumulation of
refinery air emissions in the atmosphere also contributes to acid rain.




EH243 6B
(TUTORIAL 2)
TASK 2
June 2012 (Q1)

a) The impact of the disaster in the aspect of technical challenges, economic
impact and environment concerns

a. Technical challenges
i. Oil spilled need to cleanup using various of method
ii. Cleanup process is complex and takes a long time
iii. Advanced machine and technology are used which is required
high cost

b. Economic Impacts
i. Impact on fisheries activities (fish and other marine life died)
ii. Impact on tourism (the famous beach/sea affected by the spill)
iii. Impact on Real Estate Price (the real estate price decrease due to
oil spillage)

c. Environmental concern
i. Wildlife at risk (the sea was covered with oil)
ii. Harmful chemical affects corals
iii. Microbes which consume oil reduce marine oxygen level

b) The evaluation of environmental, health and cultural impacts from exploration,
drilling and extraction activities

a. Environmental impacts
i. Drilling discharge (mud, cutting) cause chemical contaminant on
land and sea, affecting seabirds and mammal population.
ii. The produced water contained hazardous and toxic which are
harmful to the marine life

b. Health impacts
i. Noise pollution
ii. Air pollution
iii. Exposure to Naturally Occuring Radioactive Material (NORM)

c. Cultural impacts
i. Migration of oil crew to new reserves presents social, economic
and human rights concern
EH243 6B
(TUTORIAL 2)
c) Responses taken by the government in tackling the environmental concern arise
from the oil production activities and emission from anthropogenic sources
a. Car fuel quality
b. Support the use of hybrid car
c. Oil production Policy
d. Oil Pollution Act 1990
e. Adoption of Kyoto Protocol