THE EVOLUTION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRAM

Abstract

Production of South Pepper Oilfield commenced in 1987. Since that time the North Herald and Chervil fields have been brought on line and have produced in excess of 18 million barrels of oil. Initially environmental management and monitoring strategies attempted to understand and predict changes to the ecosystems caused by acute impacts such as a major oil spill. Over the life of the project the emphasis in environmental monitoring has shifted from measuring for acute effects to measuring on a more sensitive scale to predict and monitor the chronic impacts of oilfield operations. Monitoring efforts consequently have changed emphasis so that a better understanding of impacts is now possible due to the introduction of a more rigorous experimental design.