Environmental Vulnerability in Pre-Salt Oil and Gas Operations

Tatiana Farane Mein, André Luiz Veiga Gimenes, Eduardo Mario Dias, Maria Lídia Rebello Pinho Dias Scoton and Miguel Edgar Morales Udaeta
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Tatiana Farane Mein: Grupo de Automação Elétrica de Sistemas Industriais (GAESI), 05508-010 São Paulo, Brazil
André Luiz Veiga Gimenes: Energy Group of the Department of Energy and Electrical Automation Engineering, GEPEA/EPUSP, 05508-010 São Paulo, Brazil
Eduardo Mario Dias: Grupo de Automação Elétrica de Sistemas Industriais (GAESI), 05508-010 São Paulo, Brazil
Maria Lídia Rebello Pinho Dias Scoton: Grupo de Automação Elétrica de Sistemas Industriais (GAESI), 05508-010 São Paulo, Brazil
Miguel Edgar Morales Udaeta: Energy Group of the Department of Energy and Electrical Automation Engineering, GEPEA/EPUSP, 05508-010 São Paulo, Brazil

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-24

Abstract: The objective of this work is to analyze disturbances in the environment caused by anthropic activities in the oil and gas extraction sector. Methodologically, focusing on environmental vulnerability (EV), hydrocarbons (oil and gas) are considered through a qualitative and quantitative analysis of environmental impacts, including the research of Environmental Impact Studies and procedures like EIA/RIMA (institutional Environmental Impact Reports in Brazil). This study focuses on the operation and demobilization of the offshore drilling activity and the installation and operation of the Santos Basin pre-salt oil and gas production (Stages 1, 2, and 3). The criteria addressed in the EIA/RIMAs are used, focusing on those that correlate with EV and oil and gas extraction. Impacts for long-term, permanent, partially reversible, or irreversible disturbances are filtered, totaling 53 impacts (31 effective/21 potential). We concluded that the criteria and methodologies of EIAs vary between stages. At times, the variation is so drastic that the same impact can have a completely different rating from one stage to another, despite referring to the same area. This condition makes it impossible to define a single vulnerability index for the pre-salt venture. This work does not offer a concrete resolution, but exposes the EV issue and its inconsistencies.

Keywords: environmental vulnerability; hydrocarbons extraction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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