12/13/2023

Part 8
Basics of Environmental
Protection

Contents
• Definitions: Ecology, environment, pollution
• Forms of pollution
• The E&P Lifecycle
• What is an EIA?
• General EIA Process
• General Guidelines for Full EIA
• Law 4 of 1995
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Definitions
Some Definitions
•Ecology = Study of organisms & surroundings
•Environment
• Surroundings of the organism.
• Made up of other living organismes
•Physical factors:
• Mountains, hills, lowlands
• Other land forms, the seas, oceans, weather systems
• Places of distinctive characters'
• Climat, nutrients, …
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Definitions
Ecology answers question such as:
• How organismes obtain their food?
• Does the nutrient limit growth or number?
• Does it reproduce and how?
• Is it absent because of some factors?
• What causes the death of the organisms?
Life is affected by complex interactions of elements of the environmental
system

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.
Pollution and It’s Classifications
Pollution
• Activites generate wastes.
• Pollution occurs when wastes become Excessive = harmful
• Natural pollution is rare.
Classification of Pollutants
• Pollutants have three classes:
• Natural Substances: CO2.
• Toxic substances: pesticides
• Non Toxic Substances: CFC, may have unfortunate consequences

Forms of pollution
1. Eutrophication: shortage of O2
• Substances lower O2 level in water:
•Sewage
•Leached fertilizers
•Concentrated products: sugar
2. Heavy-Metal Toxicity
3. Acid Rain
4. Pesticides: May not be bio-degradable

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Forms of Pollution
5. Pollution due to CFC
• CFC affects ozone (O3)
• One CFCL3 removes many ozone molecules.
• CF Cl3 + Light  CF Cl2 + Cl

• Cl + O3  ClO + O2
• ClO + 2O  Cl + O2
6. Oil Spills due to mistakes human errors or sabottage
• Behavior of oil spills depends on:
• Specific Gravity
• Volatility of Oil
• Viscosity
• Pour Point
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Oil Weathering Processes

• Spreading: (influenced by) viscosity, pour point, wax content, sea state, and
weather conditions
• Evaporation: volatility and temperature
• Dispersion: mechanical action of the sea
• Emulsification of oil with water
• Dissolution is not significant
• Oxidation takes time
• Biodegradation takes time
• Sedimentation takes time
• Prevention (Training) is better than curing.
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Forms of Pollution
7. Air Pollution
•Is mainly from effluent gases and dust.
•Air pollution sources are three:
Point Sources: stacks, vents from storage tanks, and
flares.
Fugitive Sources: leaks
Area sources: large arial extent.
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Toxic Pollutants from Hydrocarbons

 Sulfur Dioxide SO2
 Carbon Monoxide CO
 Oxides of Nitrogen NOx
 Total Hydrocarbons HC
 Hydrogen Sulfide H2S
 Sulfuric Acid Mist H2SO4
 Particulate Matter PM & PM10
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Sources of Air Pollutants

• Combustion & Unburned HC HC Processing

• Evaporation of HC Production of H2S

• Reactivity in Atmosphere Fugitive HC

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E&P Lifecycle
• Feasibility and due diligence
• Seismic exploration
• Exploration drilling and
appraisal
• Field development
• Abandonment and
decommissioning
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Seismic Exploration
■ Offshore
■ Underwater noise
■ Vessel emissions, wastes etc
■ Airborne noise
■ Light
■ Physical disturbance of seabed
■ Shipping / navigation / fishing
■ Non-routine events
■ Onshore
■ Land clearance
■ Noise
■ Light
■ Waste Management
■ Workers camps

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Drilling for Exploration/Production

• Rig positioning
• Impacts from mud and cuttings
• Flaring
• Rig emissions, wastes etc
• Presence of the rig
• Social Impacts

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What is an EIA?
• EIA is commonly a legal procedure in which a project developer is required to
provide environmental information to a consenting body so that this information can
be used for better informed decision making.
• Usually also involves publication and public comment / disclosure (consultation)
• This information is usually provided in an EIA Report (also called Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS), Environmental Social (Health) Impact Assessment
(ES(H)IA) etc).
• EIA procedures vary widely from one jurisdiction to another.

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Objectives of an EIA
• An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is...
A tool to identify potential environmental impacts of a proposed
project, assess how significant (important) these impacts are and
recommend appropriate mitigation, management and monitoring
measures to prevent or reduce impacts to acceptable levels
• EIA is a process and a tool to aid decision-making
• Information gathered during an EIA can feedback into project
design
• EIA outcomes are typically used to manage subsequent phases
of project design, construction and operation
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Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

■ Drivers for an EIA:
- Regulatory
- Industry / Corporate
- Financing

■ Context of an EIA:
- Standards
- Policies

■ Scope of an EIA:
- Environment
- Social
- Health
- Safety
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Standards Used in an EIA

• Prescriptive vs. Guidelines
• Performance Standards e.g:
• “end of pipe” concentration
• environmental quality standards
• safety performance
• Design Standards e.g.:
• Good International Industry Practice (GIIP)
• Well control and safety systems
• design tolerances - e.g. 1 in 100 year wind and waves
• ‘Procedural’Standards (e.g. EIA, monitoring, options selection)

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EIA Timing in O&G Projects

Oil & Gas Development

Initial Project Engineering Procurement,

Exploration Pre-FEED FEED Production
Definition Construction

Pre-EIA Activities EIA Preparation EMP Preparation

EMP Implementation

Petroleum
Sharing Client – EPC Production
EIA Review
Contract Contract Contract
(PSC)

Contracts and Review Stages

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EIA Timing in Power Projects

Power Project Development

Initial Project Engineering Procurement,

Site Selection Pre-FEED FEED Production
Definition Construction

Pre-EIA Activities EIA Preparation EMP Preparation

EMP Implementation

Client – EPC
MOU & MOA EIA Review IPP contract
Contract

Contracts and Review Stages

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General EIA Process

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Screening
• Primary objective is to identify what requirements apply to
the Project
• Formal activity could be undertaken by Project Proponent,
the lender or the regulator depending on the project and
jurisdiction
• Good project planning:
• understand the project: what do we need to do
• project definition, environment, impacts,
alternatives
• when – programme
• how – methods
• who – expertise needed
• who do we need to talk to – consultation and
Stakeholder Mapping 22

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Scoping
• Ensures that the EIA focuses on:
• The most important impacts
• Appropriate alternatives
• Defines the EIA “scope” in terms of:
• Adequacy of baseline data
• Coverage, focus and methodology for
impact assessment
• Defines the Project’s “Area of Influence”
• Also importantly identifies issues that are
• beyond the scope and rationale for
exclusion
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Scoping Tools and Methods

• Potential ‘interactions’ between project activities and baseline
are mapped.
• What effects could the project have on the environment or people?
• Which of these effects are likely to be significant?
• Which alternatives and mitigating measures should be considered?
• Impact Matrix – identify potential impacts:
• an interaction is reasonably expected;
• an interaction is possible but none of the resulting impacts are likely to lead
to significant effects; and
• the interaction is reasonably possible and at least on of the resulting
impacts is likely to lead to an effect that is significant.
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Establish Baseline
• Why collect baseline data
• identify and describe aspects of
environment that may be affected
• provide data needed for predictions
• inform judgments about significance
• Desk research and field work
• Important to focus on relevant
information

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Why Predict Impacts?

• Decision makers are not experts
• They need to understand what
we are telling them when we
describe an impact; to
understand how important the
predicted impact is so that they
can give it the right weight in
their decision.

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Predicting Impacts
• Describing what will be affected (from the baseline)
• and how …. the nature of the change
• The size of the change (how much - mg/m3; ha; % of population)
• its geographical extent and distribution (where, how far)
• its timing and duration (when, how long for, how often)
• the probability and consequences (“risk”) of unplanned / non-
routine events (accidents, natural disasters etc) occurring
• the likelihood of uncertain effects (impacts where we don’t know /
are not sure) occurring
• assumptions and limitations and any resulting uncertainty
about the prediction (ranges, +/- x%, confidence limits)
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Approaches to Predicting Impacts

• Use standards and norms as the starting point for evaluation
where available:
• Does it cause legal or accepted environmental standards to be
exceeded – e.g. air, water or soil quality, noise levels – or make a
substantial contribution to the likelihood of exceedence
• Does it adversely affect protected areas or features, or valuable
resources – nature conservation areas, rare or protected species,
protected landscapes, historic features, high quality agricultural land,
important sources of water supply
• Does it conflict with established government policy e.g. to reduce CO2
emissions, recycle waste, regenerate deprived urban areas, protect
human rights
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Is it enough?
• The decision-maker needs to know more than just “Is it significant?”
• They need to know how much weight to give to the impact in making the
decision
• How important it is to impose conditions to control the impact?
• Breach of a mandatory standard is illegal
• So what about impacts that don’t reach that level
• Are they still significant? How significant?
• What about non-statutory guidelines?
• The EIA must present a judgment about the significance of impacts
• Essential to explain how significance is evaluated, i.e. evaluation criteria
• Where there are no standards a good approach is to consider the
magnitude of the impact and the value or sensitivity of the affected
resource or receptor 29

Predicting Impacts
• Impact Type
• Direct, secondary, indirect, cumulative or residual
• Impact Magnitude
• Impact Nature
• Negative, positive or neutral
• Impact Duration
• Temporary, short-term, long-term or permanent
• Impact Extent
• Local, regional or global
• Impact prediction takes into account any mitigation or control measures that are
part of the Project design.
• Additional mitigation measures aimed at further reducing predicted impacts
are proposed where necessary or appropriate.

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Mitigation, Management and Monitoring

• Eliminate or otherwise minimise adverse impacts
• As Low As Reasonably Practical (ALARP)
• Consultation can play a major role in defining appropriate measures
• Mature industry has developed best practice guidance for most routine
E&P operations
• New frontiers mean new challenges
• Integrated management systems cover environment, social, health and
safety
• Commitments and obligations arise from EIA process
• Roles and responsibilities or putting commitments into action
• Verification – audit and inspection
• Monitoring to ensure effectiveness of mitigation and to manage change

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General Guidelines for Full EIA

A full Category C EIA should include but

not limited to the following chapters:

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Executive Summary

• A Non-Technical Executive summary to help all readers to understand

it
• It should give an overview of the proposal, the alternatives
considered, the potential environmental impacts and their effects,
and the proposed mitigation measures.
• It will conclude by setting out the residual effects of the
development after mitigation.

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2. Introduction
It should give a general information about the project
such as:
• The title of the project that will be used in issuing the
permit/license
• The type of project (drilling, development, others)
• The name of the owner (s) of the project, etc.
• The name of the consultant or consulting firm that co-
operated with the owner in preparing the EIA document.
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3. Description of the Project

This chapter should provide a clear statement of the objectives of the
project that includes:
• A work-plan
• Timing and lifecycle of the project, in addition to decommissioning
methods, if any.
• A description of the exact location of the project and the area to be
occupied
• A brief description of the project with the main components,
specifications, layout, etc.

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4.Policy, Legal and Administrative

Framework
• All laws considered during the planning of
the project (law 4/1994, its Executive
Regulation) regarding the limitation of
polluting …
• It should identify the relevant authorities
involved in the assessment and regulation
of all aspects of the project.

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5. Baseline Studies
An overview of the existing environmental conditions in the area of the project,
against which the anticipated environmental impacts of the project can be evaluated.
Baseline information is likely to include:
• Land Characteristics and Use
• Landscape Character and Existing Views
• Water including Hydrology and Water Quality
• Air Quality
• Noise Levels
• Habitats, Flora and Fauna
• Socio-cultural and Economic Context
• Traffic Flows and Transport Infrastructure
• Utility Services

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properties, distribution,occurrence,
and effects distribution,
Graphic representation
of water onofthetheearth'sand
surface,
surface features the
of asoil
place or region effect in
of ground water.
and underlying rocks, and in
on a map, indicating
the their relative
Weather atmosphere.
and weather conditions
positions and elevations.

Physical/Chemical
 Geology, hydrology &hydrogeology
 Topography, meteorology
 Significant
Plants
pollutant
Animals
in the study area.
Biological Environment
 Flora, fauna
 Endangered species
 Sensitive habitat, coral reef
 Species of commercial importance.
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Socio-cultural Environment
• Nearby communities & population
• Land use
• Planned development activities
• Employment & market
• Recreation & cultural aspects
N.B.
• Insert photographic documentation
• Used references should be presented
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6. Alternatives
The Alternatives chapter should include:
• An assessment of adopting alternatives of the project
(in design, technology, location, etc).
• Decommissioning alternatives methods.
• The consequences of not carrying out the proposal, the
“DO NOTHING” alternative.

The preferred alternative should be clearly stated, along

with a justification for its choice. 40

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7. Prediction and Evaluation of Impacts

• It is the most technical in nature and therefore is the most
difficult part of the EIA.
• It should include impacts during:
• Construction

• Operation

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Examples of Potential Impacts

• Land take leading to the loss of ecological habitats
with negative effects on fauna and flora.
• Construction works which directly damage the
existing landform.
• Economic impact during construction or operation
phase.
• Gaseous emissions to air resulting in negative
effects on the health of the local population.
• Discharge of untreated or inadequately treated
effluent with resulting effect on water quality.

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Disposal of Wastes
• Noise which may disturb people in their
home, schools and the other sensitive
receptors.

• Traffic which may increase delays and

result in traffic related effects such as
road accidents and traffic noise…

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8. Environmental Management and Action Plan

• This is a document designed to ensure that
the commitments in the EIA are fully
implemented.
• The EMP should demonstrate that sound
environmental practices will be followed
during the establishment, operation and
after use of the development

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8. Environmental Management and Action Plan

It should cover the following:
• Management Plans (during construction and
operation)
• Public Awareness and Training Programs
• Mitigation Measures
• Monitoring Plan

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Mitigation Measures
• They are suggested to reduce the magnitude or intensity of
the impacts affecting the environment.
• This of course will incur some costs, but it is expected than
such measures will, in the long run, mitigate the impacts so
as to make the project both economically and
environmentally viable.
• The EIA team has to decide between two alternatives,
either having a high cost and low pollution program or
having a low cost but a high pollution situation.

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Mitigation Measures
•Monitoring is an important part of project.
•Monitoring serves three purposes:
• Ensuring that required mitigation measures are
being implemented;
• Evaluating whether mitigation measures are
working effectively; and
• Validating the accuracy of models or projections
that were used during the impact assessment
process

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9. Public Consultation
• The EIA report must include securing coordination
with other governmental agencies involved in EIA,
obtaining the views of local NGOs and effected
groups, and keeping records of meetings and other
activities, communications and comments are
necessary.

• Public consultation may consist of informational

meetings, public hearings, and opportunities to
provide written comments about a proposed
project.

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Final EIA preparation / review

• Once complete, the EIA report is submitted to EEAA

• The EIA is reviewed
• The review enables EEAA to decide whether the EIA is
adequate, accurate and unbiased

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What Changes Can EIA Bring

Before After Introduction
Introduction of of EIA
EIA
Government D-A-D D-D-D
Planning and • Decide • Discuss
decision making • Announce • Decide
• Defend • Deliver
Role of citizens • Critics • Contributors
• Objectors • Participants
• Protestors
Environmental • Steadily • Deterioration
Conditions deteriorating slows
• Some areas
improving 50

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Law 4 of 1995
• has a greater role with respect to all governmental sectors as a whole.
• Designated as the highest coordinating body in the field of the
environment that will formulate the general policy and prepare the
necessary plans for the protection and promotion of the
environment.
• Will follow-up the implementation of such plans with competent
administrative authorities.
• Accordingly Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) was
stablishes

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End

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