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Collaborating Authors
Results
Efficiency of Remote Sensing for the Environmental Management of Seismic Surveys in Desert Exploration Areas
Xavier, Jerome (TTI Production) | Camps, Roger (Total E&P USA, Inc.) | Setier, Jean-Claude (TOTAL S.A.) | Philippe, Jean (Sogreah Magelis) | Jousseaune, Jean-Louis (TOTAL E&P Algeria) | Letondot, Guillaume (TOTAL E&P Algeria) | Charpentier, Francois (TTI Production)
Abstract Onshore seismic surveys may have visible impacts on the environment, especially in desert regions. In these areas, existing maps are often out-of-date, unavailable or inappropriate. The performance of remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is such that these tools are increasingly useful in the planning of environmental baseline surveys, reporting of environmental data and monitoring of environmental impacts. TOTAL has developed and tested state-of-the-art remote sensing and GIS technologies through the performance of several environmental baseline surveys for projects in North Africa. Very high resolution satellite data with a ground resolution of up to sixty centimeters was used. The trials indicate that the use of remote sensing and GIS is an efficient way to characterize environmental baseline conditions in remote areas when a limited timeframe is available.. Geospatial imagery is a cost-effective way to produce detailed baseline maps of sensitive areas highlighting wadis, cliffs, agriculture, foggaras, wetlands, tracks, towns and socio-economic activities. Accurate geospatial information helps to reduce costs by optimizing the time spent in the field and enhances the efficiency and quality of environmental studies. In addition, field photographs, observations, investigations and measurements can be directly integrated into GIS geodatabases. State-of-the-art methodologies and solutions for multi-date analysis enabling any change in the environment to be detected have been developed and tested; and now routine advanced remote sensing can accurately characterize the impacts of seismic surveys in arid and semi-arid environments. Objectives Geospatial imagery and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has many applications in the petroleum industry. The technologies for the observation of the earth from space and for digital mapping have evolved very quickly and new solutions that were previously expensive and complex to use are now used in a routine manner. The usefulness of geospatial imagery and GIS in the performance of environmental impact assessments in different environments and for all phases of exploration and production is already recognized. This paper presents how the use of satellite images can improve the efficiency of the performance of environmental impact assessments in desert regions, in particular in a context of seismic surveys. The example project presented in this paper is the post-seismic survey environmental impact audit carried out over 900 km of desert near the city of Timimoun. The audit was performed by a multidisciplinary team comprising experts from TOTAL, TTI Production and Sogreah Magelis. Work Area TOTAL has performed a number of seismic surveys in North Africa over the last few years. The satellite imagery acquired as part of these previous surveys provided important information which was used to plan the post-seismic survey environmental impact assessment and to identify possible environmental constraints to be considered in the planning of the field work.
- Reservoir Description and Dynamics > Reservoir Characterization > Seismic processing and interpretation (1.00)
- Health, Safety, Environment & Sustainability > Sustainability/Social Responsibility > Environmental and social impact assessments (1.00)
- Health, Safety, Environment & Sustainability > Environment (1.00)
Abstract Throughout the world, the oil industry generates polluted soils contaminated with crude oil or petroleum residues. Dealing with these contaminated materials has become an increasing concern and requires innovative technologies able to remove the pollution but offering as well guaranties on the efficiency and safety of the treated material. This paper proposes the assessment of a bioremediation process of polluted soils contaminated by oil. In partnership with scientists from INPL/INRA (French National Research Institute for Agronomy) and CNRS (French National Scientific Research Center) specialized in organic pollutants chemistry, agronomy and pedology, TOTAL E&P carried an experimental on a biopile process over 15 months. Thirty cubic meter of polluted soil (24 tons) were engineered on three concrete basement plots (3.2 x3 m) covered by a black tent to avoid meteoric water infiltration. In order to optimize bioremediation effects, fertilization was carried out, consisting of supplying agricultural fertilizers to reach a C/N/P ratio of 100/9/1. The soil was mixed with straw (15% v/v) to increase air diffusion, stimulate micro-organisms growth and improve the soil structure. Moreover water was periodically added to keep moisture content between 80 to 100 % of the water holding capacity of the soil. The treatment was assessed not only on the base of the total contaminant concentration but also on a fine chemical characterization and on an ecotoxicological point of view. The evolution of the composition of the pollutants was assessed through the 15 months of the experiment and completed with toxicity measurements on both leachates (Microtox®) and soil (plant germination and growth tests). Results showed that the total contaminant concentration was decreased by 72%. The main outcome of this experiment is to determine the ratio between the biodegradation rate of low molecular weight organic molecules and the one of macromolecules, which are significantly more difficult to biodegrade. The experiment also aimed at generating 30m3 of partially treated soil to evaluate its impact on the environment. The final objective is optimal re-use of soils polluted by hydrocarbons after treatment, in view of sustainable management of the soil resource. Introduction Nowadays treatment of oil contaminated soil is a common issue and efficient processes requiring minimal intervention and infrastructure such as bioremediation processes (biopile, land-farming) can be efficiently used (1). These usually comply with local regulations to leave clean sites. However, the treated material is often considered as waste with no valuable use. This paper proposes an innovative soil treatment management strategy in which the treated soil is considered as a resource. The methodology gives tools to make a diagnosis for the treatment considering not only the pollution removal achievement but also the potentiality for re-uses and re-cycling of the treated soil. This is achieved with a double diagnosis: material state and potentiality couples with fertility. This approach includes the life cycle analysis of the treatment in which not only the environmental impact of the pollution is considered but also the environmental impact and re-use of the treated material. This approach deals with a sustainable management of the soil resource, in which the optimal re-use of the soil after treatment is needed. This integrated approach includes complementary methodologies using chemical and biological characterization tools. The treatment is seen as the first step in a global soil pollution management chain. The approach then includes risk assessment and post-treatment re-use from the start at the treatment level. The objective is to go beyond the existing regulation to introduce the future land-use and post-treatment valorisation of the soil.
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Materials > Chemicals > Commodity Chemicals > Petrochemicals (0.70)