Evaluation of Environmental Impacts of Oil Exploration and Production - Research Proposal Example

Evaluation of Environmental Impacts of Oil Exploration and Production in Iraq after Iraqi Freedom Operation In 2003 Introduction In the past, the processes of oil drilling in Iraq were mainly conducted in the southern part of the country in Basra, and in Kirkuk, which is located in northern Iraq. By 2009, it was estimated that Iraq had the fourth largest oil reserves, after nations like Saudi Arabia and the United Sates. Today, however, other areas have been drilled and now regularly provide oil supplies for the country and its trading partners. Today, there are four refineries for oil in Iraq. These are positioned in Basrah, Baiji, Erbil, and Daura (Williams 2009). There are also smaller distillation outlets that are sometimes used to refine oil. The Iraqi government has recently revealed its plans to construct additional refineries by 2017. By October 2010, Iraq was drilling for oil in more than 80 oil fields across the Mesopotamian and Zagros basins (Williams 2009). This surge in oil production is thought to have been the result of the recent re-structuring of existing fields and the increased production of oil in Kurdistan. While it would seem that increased production is beneficial to the country because it will further develop the living standards of Iraqi citizens, the reality of increased oil production is that it will only further damage the environment while increasing the riches of a select few in the national government. Iraq does not yet have the necessary structures to ensure that its citizens benefit from the national resources in the nation. This means that the only effect of exercises like oil drilling is the further destruction of an already damaged environment. Aims and Objectives Objective 1-The objective of this study is to portray, by use of actual data, how oil drilling since 2003 has continued to further degrade Iraq’s environment, and therefore, the communities and animals that live there. It also aims support calls for Iraq’s government to create more effective or practical programs that would contribute towards the prevention of the continued pollution of Iraq’s land, atmosphere, and water sources by oil products. Objective 2- To provide actual statistics on Iraqi citizens whose health has been affected by oil pollution in their communities. Objective 3 – To uncover the impact of oil based pollutants on Iraq’s fragile environment and describe the characteristics of contaminated soil and water supplies. Objective 4 – To identify critical hazards such as structural failures of refinery machinery, oil smuggling operations, and tanker collisions which have, in the recent past, resulted in the large scale pollution of Iraq’s terrain and water sources. Research Questions (a) Even though Iraqi citizens have an increased awareness of environmental matters such as the pollution of the environment that is caused by oil products, why is oil pollution still on the increase? (b) Iraq has numerous laws that aim to preserve the environment and protect it. Why is the national government unable to use these laws to penalize the multinational corporations that drill for oil and then process it using methods that further destroy the environment? Significance of the Study This study will contribute towards public awareness of the way in which oil production in Iraq is further degrading the already damaged environment. It is not enough to assert that oil drilling practices result in polluted air land. Providing actual facts and data on the places that have been affected and going into details about how they have been degraded due to oil production will be more effective in convincing the public of the danger of oil production in Iraq. Hypothesis Hypothesis One - Oil production will further exacerbate the environmental degradation of any surviving ecosystems that have withstood Iraq’s numerous recent wars. Hypothesis Two – Continued oil drilling will soon become a bigger cause of death among Iraqi civilians than the insurgency now being experienced. Methodology Of all the substances that can be considered as hazardous chemicals, petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC) are of the most importance. The extensive use of PHC in various industries in Iraq has resulted in the spillage of these petroleum based substances into the environment via long-term leakage in faulty pipes, accidental spills, and operational failures. Consequently, many water sources as well as vast areas of terrain have been contaminated with PHC. Both quantitative as well as qualitative methods will be used in this study. There will be an evaluation of fifteen soil samples from the areas in and around Basra, Kirkuk, Baghdad, and the mountainous areas where black oil supposedly started being dumped seven years ago. There will also be a qualitative evaluation of technological methods of establishing potential environmental risk, as well as an investigation of equipment used in oil production and refinery in Iraq that might possibly be causing pollution. The process flow of oil production and refinery will also be scrutinized and possible causes of pollution in these procedures, identified. Given that Iraq’s environment as well as atmosphere is saturated with dangerous chemicals that are the legacy of its past and present conflicts, as well as oil pollutants, a COSHH form will be used to evaluate substances that can negatively impact on human health. Ethical Issues All participants in the research will be informed of their rights prior to the start of the research. Moreover, conducting research in Iraq will bring its own complications, the least of which is not security concerns. The research will seek to protect all participants from any risk of harm that may be the result taking part in the research. Moreover, in Iraq, even when anonymity and confidentiality is assured, there is still some level of fear experienced by participants, particularly if the research is a publicly known fact. The promise of anonymity is a better guarantee of confidentiality, but, in this case, would be harder to accomplish as the participants who will give evidence that they or their family members have suffered as a result of the pollution of their environment would also have to take part in a pre-post study. Oil is big business in Iraq. Any research participant would feel somewhat fearful about giving information about the misdeeds of the government ministry in charge of the environment. Research participants would also be reluctant to be critical of oil smuggling operations and the functions of government recognized multinational corporations involved in oil drilling, even if they were assured of anonymity. The researchers will also be careful when interviewing the victims of pollution from oil-based products. Interviewing such vulnerable people can put them at risk for more discrimination and stigmatization and expose them to the risk of being attacked. With oil-drilling corporations holding so much power in Iraq, it might even be necessary for researchers to meet secretly with research participants who wish to speak on oil-smuggling factions, or the pollution being caused by the multi-national corporations that are working in concert with the national government. Another ethical issue has to do with the authenticity of information provided. When government officials are asked to provide statistics on oil pollution, the officials may choose to go by a “when in doubt do not disclose” guideline. Or they may decide to embellish the truth in an effort to provide a better view of the present national government’s efforts to root out corruption in a positive light. On the rare occasion when government officials choose to convey sensitive information to researches, they may ask not to be cited. This leaves the researcher with a dilemma because all the ‘good’ information cannot be revealed. Research Timeline Figure 1: Dissertation Proposal Gantt chart Literature Review The oil industry is well known to be a major contributor to environmental pollution all over the world. In all almost all nations where oil drilling is conducted, there have been complaints of the gradual degradation of the surrounding environment, as well as the negative effect on the health of local community members. This is because the by-products of oil excavation affect the surrounding water, air, living creatures, and soil. Pollution is linked to almost all activities in the different phases of oil production, from exploratory operations, to refining of crude oil. Gas emissions, solid waste and the waste water produced in the course of drilling and refining are the more destructive processes that result in excessive pollution. Other environmental effects of oil production include the incidence of acid rain, increase of the greenhouse effect, and groundwater contamination. Oil production can also result in the loss of biodiversity and the devastation of exotic ecosystems. Iraq is a nation that has astounding levels of pollution as a result of a series of conflicts that have caused the destruction of its infrastructure through successive generations. The Iran-Iraq war in the 1970s resulted in pollution due to the use of weapons as well as oil spills. The Gulf war in the early 90s further damaged an environment that had not even been given time to recover from the previous conflict (Williams 2009). The more recent altercation with the world’s remaining superpower, which saw the downfall of Iraq’s dictator, has resulted in environmental destruction that might take decades to recover from. Oil drilling after 2003 can only continue the process of the destruction of Iraq’s already compromised environment, even if a lot of care is taken to avoid excessive pollution (Williams 2009). Most environmental effects of oil production are well known. After being extracted from the ground and transported to refineries, crude oil has to be transformed into goods that have commercial value. Oil refineries use a lot of water and energy, thus generating a lot of wastewater as well as hazardous gases into the already polluted Iraqi atmosphere. Oil refineries also produce solid wastes that are not easily recycled or disposed of. Many organisations involved in the oil business in Iraq have not adopted pollution prevention functions. Their environmental strategies are oriented towards the observance of rules created by environmental institutions which favor being reactive and not proactive where environmental issues are concerned, and espousing an ‘End of Line’ organisational culture (Williams 2009). In Iraq, these corporations cause even more destruction to the environment because most of Iraq’s infrastructure, including machinery that would ensure safe drilling and refining procedures has been compromised by the succession of wars that the country has undergone. One of the most significant environmental concerns in Iraq has to do with its marshland drainage problem. Iraq has the biggest marshlands in the Gulf region. According to the United Nations Environmental Program, the devastation of these marshlands has even resulted in problems in far-off nations- such as the decrease in bird population in regions like the Caucasus and Ukraine. The destruction of the marshlands has also resulted in the extinction of numerous natural animal and plant species that were known to exist in the marshlands. The marshes have also been afflicted with soil affinity. This has left Iraq without vital agricultural land, thus resulting in periodic food shortages and the rise in food prices in different regions. It has also led to the loss of functions such as fishing, dairy production, and rice farming in all areas bordering the marshes. It is estimated that oil pollution in the marshes is responsible for the desertification of 7,500 square miles (Middle East Online 2003). The salt water of the marshes has affected the Shatt-al-Arab waterway, resulting in the damage of assorted Persian Gulf fisheries. Another environmental problem is caused by the smuggling of oil using methods that are destructive to the environment. The lawless environment in Iraq that is the legacy of destabilization caused by its most recent clash with the United States has made it possible for large amounts of oil to be smuggled into neighbouring nations. Oil smuggling is not a new pre-occupation with the largely unemployed Iraqi population; it existed even when Sadaam Hussein was president. In the 1990s, the United Nations imposed sanctions on Iraq for its unprovoked invasion of Kuwait and its amassing of weapons (Williams 2009). The easiest way to continue with exporting oil was by hiring smugglers to transport it to neighbouring countries. This quickly became the easiest way to earn a lot of money in a short period of time for many jobless adults. Moreover, the scale of oil smuggling was not as huge as it is today. With the collapse of the Iraqi government, the country disintegrated into separatism; with the Shia Muslims battling Sunni Muslims for power over the country (Jeffrey 2008). Indeed, many oil smugglers have observed to foreign correspondents that, instead of destroying the oil smuggling business, this only resulted in Shia militias taking over the leadership of smuggling routes and not Baathists, who ruled over them when Sadaam Hussein was president (Jeffrey 2008). Smuggled oil is often pilfered from warehouses with the collusion of influential government authorities. It is also stolen from sabotaged oil pipelines. The oil pipelines that are compromised in this way are the ones that cause the most damage to the environment because the militias will not agree for them to be well restored or welded after they have stolen oil from them. This means that they are covered up in ways that do not ensure that oil does not leak at all (Jeffrey 2008). In addition, smuggled oil is not transported safely in conventional ways such as pipelines. This means that there are more chances of spillage occurring, or blow ups when the smugglers are not careful in ensuring that their product is not put near any flammable products. As stated by Frank, Jeffrey and Punch (2007), Klaus Toepfor, the Director of UNEP, Iraq has more than 300 sites that can be said to be polluted to various levels by oil products pollutants. According to Lintott, Jeff and Anthony (2003) Baghdad Province’s environmental expert, Kamel al-Saadi, further stated that the extent of oil contamination in the Tigris River has surpassed one billion cubic meters will probably continue to increase. He also stated that approximately 40% of the petroleum products produced in Iraqs dented and outdated oil refineries is disposed of as black oil. This is a viscous and dense substance that was formerly exported for more elaborate refining processes in the more modern foreign refinement facilities in neighbouring Gulf neighbours. However, Iraq’s present insurgency has slowed down all exporting processes because militias that are loyal to different factions have taken control of the nation’s highways and sabotaged all neighbouring pipelines to force oil carriers to pay bribes to them when using the roads to transport oil by-products. In 2006, it was reported that millions of drums holding black oil were being channelled into open Iraqi leaky reservoirs adjacent to the Tigris River and mountain valleys and then ignited (Jiyad 2010). This resulted in episodes of extensive air pollution where black smoke covered every surface for days, and literarily blocked the sun’s rays (Jiyad 2010). The black bogs that were caused by these activities also threatened the water sources nearby that are used by the local population. The refinery at Beiji, which is not fully efficient and thus produces dangerous gases due to its sabotage during Iraq’s wars, also generates overpowering plumes of smoke that are often transported to areas such as Tikrit on windy days (Jiyad 2010). The deposition of black oil in the mountain ranges resulted in the creation of a black swampland as well as large stagnant pools of oil in different mountain basins. The local populations complained that clouds of smoke caused by the burning of these bogs were so dense that they obstructed visibility as well as normal breathing In addition, these oil wastes there are impossible to recycle and untreatable since the terrain is stony and has numerous caves that facilitate the seeping of these wastes into the groundwater, which the base from which the local wells get their water. Another cause of oil pollution in Iraq is accidents (Jiyad 2010). Due to the legal oil refining processes as well as illegal oil smuggling operations, there are always many tankers on Iraq’s roads carrying oil products. Sometimes, these tankers are involved in accidents which result in large swathes of land being drenched in oil. The very process of drilling is hazardous to the environment. During the drilling process, a solution of chemicals is channelled into the drill pipe and into the gap at high speed. This solution is often a blend of clay, a weighting substance like barite, water, and other assorted chemicals. It is quite easy for these dangerous chemicals to seep into nearby groundwater carriers. The water is then consumed by the unsuspecting local population. It is not surprising that incidents of chemical induced allergies, respiratory problems, severe headaches, skin lesions, and nausea are some of the most common symptoms reported in clinics situated in communities living near refineries in Iraq today (Jiyad 2010). Iraqs foremost scientist and environmental biologist, Dr Huda Ammash, recently confirmed that there has also been an increase of cancer cases as well as birth deformations in communities living adjacent to the oil refineries or in areas that have been affected by oil spillage or the burning of black oil. At a recent meeting held to discuss the acceleration of oil production, it was agreed that this would result in bigger problems for Iraq’s environment (Jaccard 2006: 37). Al Basra is an example of a community that has been adversely affected by faulty oil refining procedures (Environment News Service 2003). It has been observed by communities living in Basra that there is salinity in the water and the destruction of the local vegetation has been unsurpassed by past incidences. In the face of all these evident problems caused by oil production, Iraq is still seen as the last remaining bastion with unlimited oil reserves; as was evident in the recent bidding conference where multinational corporations from different nations vied for the chance to drill in Iraq (Al-Zubaidi 2009). It would seem that environmental protection practices may yet again lose out to capitalism. Limitations The best results would be achieved only by a prolonged study of soil and water samples, as well as the observation of the incidences of oil pollution. This may not be possible to implement in the current study. The incidence of violence in Iraq has also decreased the number of researches conducted on oil pollution which often serve as secondary sources in prospective studies. This means that there may be areas with even worse or possibly less rates of pollution which cannot be accessed by researchers. Conclusion Akpojivi and Akumagba (2005) stated that Iraq is faced with the conflict on whether to invest in the economical development of the nation by acquiescing to oil drilling procedures or investing in the protection of its thrice-destroyed environment. Some states around the world have successfully chosen to stand up to the pressure to drill and instead preserve their environments even though they have established that they have oil reserves. However, Iraq is in a particularly painful dilemma. Years of fighting with different opponents have reduced its infrastructure to being worse than the majority of those found in third world nations. The Iraqi government is understandably eager to rebuild the nation and restore the glory of pre-conflict days (Revenue Watch 2005). This can only be done by allowing its oil to be excavated at the cost of maintaining its ecological environment. References Akpojivi, R., and Akumagba, P.E. (2005) ‘Impact of gas flaring on soil fertility’. SPE Middle East Oil and Gas Show and Conference- Kingdom of Bahrain. Al-Zubaidi, W. (2009) ‘Controversy over the Iraq oil contracts’, Al Jazeera [online]. Available from www.internationallawoffice.com/newsletters/detail.aspx?g=695e6436-3165-4646-8304-94095a09ab29&redir=1 [4 august 2013]. Environment News Service (2003) Environmental cleanup: a humanitarian need in Iraq- United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) [online] available on http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2003/2003-04-24-01.asp [4 august 2013]. Jaccard, M. (2006) Sustainable Fossil Fuels. New York: Cambridge University Press. Jiyad, A. M. (2010) ‘The legality of Iraqi oil contracts remains questionable’. Middle East Economic Survey 52 (2). Lintott, D., Jeff, R., and Anthony, N. (2003) Environmental impact of potassium sulphate-based drilling mud systems: development of criteria for waste disposal in terrestrial ecosystem. ‘AADE-03-NTCE-13.National Technology Conference’. Baghdad: College of Science, University of Baghdad. Frank, J., Jeffrey, S., and Punch, C. (2007) Ecological warfare: Iraq’s environmental crisis [online] available on http://www.stwr.org/middle-east/ecological-warfare-iraqs-environmental-crisis.html [4 august 2013]. Jeffrey, S. (2008) Nature & politics: Iraq’s environmental crisis [online] available on http://eatthestate.org/12-12/NATUREPOLITICSIraqs.htm [4 august 2013]. Middle East Online (2003) Environmental crisis worsening in Iraq [online] available on http://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/167/35483.html [4 august 2013]. Revenue Watch (2005) Protecting the future: constitutional safeguards for Iraq’s oil revenues, [online] available on www.iraqrevenuewatch.org/reports/052605.pdf [4 august 2013]. University of Kent (2005) Managing a Research Project [online] available on www.kent.ac.uk/learning/resources/.../managingaresearchproject1.docx‎ [4 august 2013] Williams, T. (2009) ‘U.N. report lays out options for an oil-rich Iraqi region’. New York Times [online] 4 august. available from www.nytimes.com/2009/04/23/world/middleeast/23iraq.html?_r=1 [4 august 2013]. APPENDIX ONE COSHH 1 ‑ DETAILS OF SUBSTANCES USED OR STORED Name of Manager: ………………………………………………………………………………… Name of Department/Area;……………………………………………………………………….. SUBSTANCE DETAILS 1. Information from the label Trade name:…………………………………………………………………………………… Manufacturers name:……………………………………………………………………….. Names of any chemical constituents listed:………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………. Hazard marking ‑ whether corrosive, irritant, harmful, toxic, very toxic…………………. ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. RISKS Phrases noted on label (e.g. Harmful in contact with skin) …………………………………………..................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................................... Safety Phrases noted on labels (e.g. avoid contact with skin) …………………………………………………………………………………………………........ ............................................................................................................................................... PRECAUTIONS noted on label (e.g. Use in well ventilated area)……………………… ....…………………………………………………………………………………………….... …………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2. Have you got a Health & Safety Data Sheet for this product? YES/NO DETAILS OF USE 3. What it is used for?............................................................................................................. …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4. By whom?............................................................................................................................ 5. How often?.......................................................................................................................... 6. Where?................................................................................................................................ 7. What CONTROL measures (precautions) are used? (E.g. local ventilation, goggles, respirator, protective gloves. etc.)…………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………..... ……………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………….……... 8. Is it ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL to keep/use this substance? YES/NO 9. Can it be DISPOSED OF NOW? YES/NO APPENDIX 2 – ETHICAL CLEARANCE SHEET Name and student number (if applicable): Title of the research project: Supervisor (if applicable): ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Purpose of research: Funding source (or anticipated funding source): Duration of research project: Contact details for applicant: Contact details for supervisor (if applicable): COSHH 2 - ASSESSMENT OF A SUBSTANCE 1. Name of substance:…………………………………………………………………………......... 2. The process or description of job where the substance is used…………………………....... ……………………………………………………………………………………………………........ 3. Location of the process where substance is used…………………………………………..... 4. Health & safety information on substance: a) Hazards to health:…………………………………………………………………………........ ……………………………………………………………………………………………………........ ......……………….……………………………………………………………………………………. b) Precautions required:………….……………………………………………………………..... …….………….……………………………………………………………………………………....... ………….…………………………………………………………………………………………….... …….………….……………………………………………………………………………………...... …….………….……………………………………………………………………………………...... 5. Number of persons exposed:…………………………………………………………………..... 6. Frequency and duration of exposure:…………………………………………………………... 7. Control measures that are in use:……………………………………………………………..... ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….... ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….... ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….... ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….... 8. The assessment, an evaluation of the risks to health:……………………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….... ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….... ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….... ………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 9. Details of steps to be taken to reduce the exposure:………………………………………... ………………………………………………………………………………………………………... ………………………………………………………………………………………………………... ………………………………………………………………………………………………………... ………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 10. Action to be taken by (name) :…………………………………………(Date):…………….... 11. Date of next assessment/review: ..................... 12. Name and position of person making this assessment: ................................................... 13. Date of assessment: ................................ APPENDIX FOUR Consent Form I………………………………………agree to participate in [name]’s research study. The purpose and nature of the study has been explained to me in writing. I am participating voluntarily. I give permission for my interview with [name] to be tape-recorded I understand that I can withdraw from the study, without repercussions, at any time, whether before it starts or while I am participating. I understand that I can withdraw permission to use the data within two weeks of the interview, in which case the material will be deleted. I understand that anonymity will be ensured in the write-up by disguising my identity. I understand that disguised extracts from my interview may be quoted in the thesis and any subsequent publications if I give permission below: (Please tick one box:) I agree to quotation/publication of extracts from my interview  I do not agree to quotation/publication of extracts from my interview  Signed……………………………………. Date………………. Read More