Information systems and tools in the offshore oil and gas industry by F' Balkau UNEP Division of Tec

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Information systems and toolsin
the offshore oil and gas industryby F.
BalkauUNEP Division of Technology, Industry and
EconomicsforExpert Meeting, Oil and Gas,
Stavanger, June 2000

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Noordwijk, 1997

• .. there is a large body of (environmental)
  information, but this is not organised in ways
  that users can easily access, nor even be aware
  of its existence ..

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information for sustainable development covers

• what is the situation now? (reports)
• where do we want to be for ? (SD goals, targets)
• how to do it ? (tools)
• who can help ? (support)

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information types include

• awareness, knowledge of issues
• ambient environment - how clean? how safe?
• operational - releases, accidents, processes
• technologies and techniques
• how to manage - EMS, tools, reports
• how to apply regulations and conventions
• trends in policies

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who wants to know ?

• industry - CEOs, managers, technicians
• financing institutions, investors, insurers
• government - environment, industry
• NGOs - global and local
• associations
• Conventions, Regional Seas
• academia/educators

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example of Regional Seas

• want to know about
• potential impacts of operations
• model regulatory regimes
• appropriate technologies
• how to establish information linkages

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where to find environmental information?

• documents and publications
• internet
• professional societies
• journals and magazines
• company information
• EIS reports
• institutes and agencies
• public media

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origins of information

• companies
• associations
• governmental programmes
• IGOs, Conventions
• institutions and academia
• professional groups
• NGOs and local groups

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information systems - environmental reports

• cover many key issues
• becoming more sophisticated
• rapidly increasing quality
• result in real improvements

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information systems - environmental reports

• limited to a few companies activities
• retrospective, problem-solving oriented
• not all companies prepare reports
• reports often do not cover public issues

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information systems - GEO

• strong policy analysis, not a data compilation
• focus on government policy viewpoints
• synthesis of issues, not situation-specific
• not sector-specific

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information systems - SPE - HSE

• good technical content, authoritative
• but often not complete on issues
• not free access
• lacks synthesis format
• may be seen as part of industry sector

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information systems - WWW

• much information, but dispersed
• difficult to locate
• often consists of official position statements
• unverified

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information systems - journals

• up-to-date, topical
• but ad-hoc, unsystematic on issues
• supply side, driven by publishers interests
• limited distribution and access

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Noordwijk, 1997

• .. there is a large body of (environmental)
  information, but this is not organised in ways
  that users can easily access, nor even be aware
  of its existence ..

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Offshore Oil and Gas Environment Forum

• www.natural-resources.org/offshore
• an attempt at a roadmap of information sources

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contents of the OEF

• Internet-based, free access, worldwide
• Contains
• news and events
• documents and publications
• addresses or information sources
• some technical and management information
• education and training guides
• feedback and query service

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characteristics of the OEF

• environment related information
• reference to information sources
• internet based, free access
• interactive - user-oriented
• multistakeholder management
• multi-issue

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the OEF experience

• use is increasing
• neutral source is appreciated by users
• flexibility to respond to sudden needs
• useful programme support to users
• information supply is a problem
• user reluctant to upload their information
• potential partneers do not recognize
  opportunities
• awareness of OEF is still too low

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OEF as a news service

• news on offshore companies, environment
• events caledar
• new publications
• changes in legislation

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OEF as a programme promotion tool

• awareness of your programme
• and your publications
• and your conferences
• linking with your constitueents

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OEF as a project support tool

• IHE course
• surveys, eg reporting
• expert meetings
• debate on issues, eg decommissioning
• communications link

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the OEF is readyare you?
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A few words about UNEP
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UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and
Economics

• Encourages decision makers in government, local
• authorities, industry to adopt policies,
  strategies,
• practices that
• are cleaner and safer
• make efficient use of natural resources
• ensure environmentally sound management of
  chemicals
• incorporate environmental costs
• reduce pollution and risks for human and
  environment

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key partners and stakeholders

• Industry associations
• ICC, WBCSD, PWBLF, ICME, IISI, ILZSG, ILMC,
  IPIECA, ICCA, National Chambers of Mines
• UN organisations
• UNIDO, WB, Habitat, UNCTAD, WTO, ILO, CSD
• NGOs
• Institutes
• mining schools, universities, WRI, CERES, EPE,
  SEI
• Governments
• environment, industry, mining ministries

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main areas being addressed

• awareness raising, education and information
• environmental policy development
• cleaner production
• APELL
• pollution and waste management
• chemicals management
• energy and climate change
• corporate management systems and tools
• sustainable consumption patterns
• engineering curricula for sustainable development

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aimed at issues such as

• company environmental mangement
• policies, regulations, codes
• professional awareness, skills
• problem issues such as
• pollution, waste management
• biodiversity
• energy
• chemicals safety
• emergencies
• product issues
• decommissioning

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awareness and information

• Offshore Environmental Forum - OEF on
• www.natural-resources.org/offshore
• Industry and Environment, and www.unepie.org
• technical reports and best practice guidelines
• trainers manuals
• expert meetings and training workshops
• policy dialogue conferences
• public bulletins and information

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environmental policy

• environment, sustainability and development
• preventive rather than remedial policies
• preventive environmental regulation
• use of impact assessment
• links with financing and insurance
• Examples Washington, Oslo and Berlin meetings

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cleaner production

• Is ... a preventive approach to avoid pollution
• being produced during operation ..
• Involves improvements in technology,
• operation and management.
• Example application to collection and recycling
• of lead-acid batteries alternatives to mercury
  in small-scale
• mining

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cleaner production

• International Declaration on Cleaner Production
• 15 Cleaner Production Centres with UNIDO
• information distribution via ICPIC
• publication of case studies
• financing study of cleaner production investments
• support to regional CP roundtables
• national demonstrations of cleaner production
• promotion of policies and strategies

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emergency preparedness (APELL)

• Co-ordination of emergency services inside
• and outside the site.
• Communication with authorities and the public
• about site risks and emergency plans.
• Example metings and publications on the
• public dimension of tailings accidents

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pollution and waste management

• environmental best practice guidelines
• water management guide
• tailings dam construction guide
• hazardous and chemical waste disposal
• cyanide management
• site remediation (incl. contaminated sites)
• support to Basel Convention

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chemicals and energy management

• support to international conventions
• chemicals management advice
• promotion of energy efficiency
• investigate alternatives to mercury and cyanide

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promoting environmental management tools

• EMS training kit and support
• corporate environmental reporting
• promotion of EIA, EnTA, LCA for mining
• promotion of SCM and EPR
• benchmarking on voluntary codes
• training on compliance and enforcement

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sustainable consumption patterns

• Supported by CSD and international institutions.
• Programme just beginning, establishing
• dialogue, identifying stakeholders
• Example role of business, advertising and
• marketing sectors

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For more information

• UNEP
• Division of Technology Industry and Economics
• Production and Consumption Unit
• Paris
• tel [phone]
• fax [phone]
• unepie_at_unep.fr
• www.uneptie.org
• On offshore issues
• www.natural-resources.org/offshore