CSIRO research and development activities to address environmental issues related to offshore oil and gas development
Kenneth Lee A , David Smith A and Andrew Ross ACSIRO, Wealth from Oceans National Research Flagship, Australian Resources Research Centre
The APPEA Journal 54(1) 11-14 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ13002
Published: 2014
Abstract
In 2013, the Wealth from Oceans Flagship of the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) started a new research strategy in environmental sciences to support the future needs of the offshore oil and gas industry, regulatory agencies, and the oil spill response community. Using its world class laboratory facilities and research vessels, CSIRO intends to further apply its scientific expertise in the Australasian region towards the assessment and mitigation of environmental risks related to offshore oil and gas development and accidental oil spills.
This paper provides an overview of ongoing and planned research activities by CSIRO in collaboration with academia, the private sector and other government agencies to ensure the protection and sustainability of Australia’s marine resources. The program includes the conduct of integrated environmental baseline studies, the development of improved protocols for environmental effects monitoring (EEM) of operational waste discharges (e.g., drilling muds/fluids and production waters), and the application of risk assessment protocols in support of ecosystem-based management. In support of oil spill response operations, the program will also develop remediation technologies and systems to detect and model the fate and transport of contaminant hydrocarbons in the marine environment. Project deliverables of this research, which integrate operational and scientific monitoring efforts with evaluation of oil spill response technologies, will result in new equipment and standard methods that will be used by the oil industry on a global scale to reduce the cost and time spent on monitoring programs while enhancing capability, response readiness and capacity.
Dr Kenneth Lee is the director of the Wealth from Oceans Flagship of Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). He is responsible for the development and leadership of national multidisciplinary research teams that apply their expertise in a whole-of-ecosystem approach in areas as diverse as:
Prior to joining CSIRO Dr Lee was executive director of the Centre for Offshore Oil, Gas and Energy Research (COOGER) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). An international expert on the assessment of potential environmental impacts from offshore oil and gas activities, and the development and application of oil spill countermeasures, Dr Lee has published more than 300 academic and technical publications. He has served as a science advisor to industry, academia and government in Canada, USA and Australia for the establishment of policies, regulations and science research programs. ken.lee@csiro.au |
Dr David Smith leads the sustainable ecosystems and living resources theme of the CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship. The theme focuses on research that supports the balanced use of marine resources, including sustainable marine industries (fisheries, offshore oil and gas) and biodiversity conservation. The offshore oil and gas activities of the Flagship sit within Dr Smith’s theme, which includes the $20 million collaborative research science program designed to improve the understanding of the environmental, economic and social value of the Great Australian Bight. The interplay of science and policy is of particular interest to Dr Smith, who is well placed to improve the provision of science advice for resource management. Dr Smith has more than 25 years’ experience in marine resources science, assessment and management. Prior to joining CSIRO in 2005, Dr Smith was Director of the Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute and research director of marine and freshwater systems for Primary Industries Research Victoria. Dr Smith has published more than 150 research papers, reports and book chapters and invited conference papers on subjects including fisheries assessment, harvest strategies, ecosystem based fisheries management (EBFM) tools, alternative management strategies and spatial management. david.c.smith@csiro.au |
Dr Andrew Ross leads both the Oil and Gas Integrated Environmental Assessment and Hydrocarbon Exploration Streams of the CSIRO Wealth from Oceans and Energy Flagships, respectively. Additionally, he leads various research projects focused on natural seep surveys and the development of new hydrocarbon sensor devices, systems and workflows for oil spill monitoring. Dr Ross and his team were involved in the Gulf of Mexico MC252 spill response, spending four months monitoring surface waters in 2010, as well as performing hydrocarbon seep surveys in the vicinity of the MC252 incident location in 2011. More recently, Dr Ross has commenced the Great Australian Bight natural seeps and leakage project. Dr Ross joined CSIRO in 2004 and has qualifications in marine biology, oceanography and petroleum geoscience. andrew.ross@csiro.au |
