Northwest Pacific Oil and Gas Industry Risks for the Environment

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Northwest Pacific Oil and Gas Production

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Background information in Oil and Gas Industry

Oil and gas industry has enjoyed history of strong influence in the global arena. The sector contributes substantial amount of revenue to several economies worldwide. Despite the key progresses that major world producers of oil and gas have recorded in the past, a drop in world market prices of oil and gas remains a major challenge for oil marketers, governments, and economists (Inkpen & Moffett 2011). Speculations and sanctions bestowed upon leading producers in addition to various malpractices have led to artificial shortages in the once vibrant industry. Governments of oil producing nations have come up with mechanisms to address key problems affecting world prices, which has negatively affected their GDP growth. While oil marketers grapple with fluctuations of oil prices in the world market along with high transit cost, environmentalists, and state agencies with a role in environmental conservation and protection, have amended policies concerning the environment (Inkpen & Moffett 2011).

Different oil projects initiated by governments and oil marketers have contributed to increase in damages to ecosystem and biodiversity, water pollution, and pipeline construction that collectively pose ecological problems and are health hazards. The paper focuses on both the negative and positive impacts facing oil and gas production and marketing in East of Russia, China, Japan, and South Korea. Influence of major producers towards determination of world prices is another interest aspect the paper seeks to unearth. Apart from Russia, China, Japan, and South Korea, other leading oil producers and exporters with bigger stake in the industry include Kuwait, Iraq, Libya, and Saudi Arabia (Inkpen & Moffett 2011).

East Russia

Russia is one of the key players in the world energy markets. The country tops the list of largest exporters of natural gas, and is second largest oil exporter. Captivatingly, the country is the third largest consumer of energy. Oil and gas exports are key drivers of Russia’s economic growth. Over the last five years, the production of Russian oil has risen substantially and oil prices in the global market have been very high (Heidersbach 2011). The colossal revenue Russia has gained from the industry has influenced Russian economy’s dependence on oil as well as natural gas. Although exorbitant prices of oil in the global market have boosted economic growth of Russia, fluctuations in oil prices increases vulnerability of Russia’s economy, which in the end paralyses the growth and development of the very economy oil industry has always supported when world oil prices are extremely high (Heidersbach 2011). Sudden fluctuations in world prices threaten economic growth of Russia in addition to igniting the sustainability debate regarding Russia’s dependence on oil and gas industry as main source of revenue.

Many problems cloud Russia’s ability to maintain and expand its capacity as a leading producer and exporter of energy. The oil and gas fields that Russia has are aging by the day. The export capacity of crude oil pipeline system controlled by the state-owned Transneft is insufficient. The capital injected in the improvement and expansion of Russia oil and gas production and pipeline system is inadequate (Heidersbach 2011). Therefore, the government has always intervened during horrendous situations of oil and gas scarcity. The move would see the government take full control of the energy sector including energy supplies. The government took severe measures such as dismantling Yukos (an energy company) and acquired its key oil production subsidiary. Russian companies with close connections to the government have used advantage within its reach to purchase energy companies to control over supply of energy (Heidersbach 2011). Russia has maintained close energy ties with Central Asia countries, because many transportation routes in the Asian region are destined toward European Russia. Failure of Ukraine to increase what it pays for Russia’s gas triggered Russia’s attempt to cut off gas supply. However, Russia restored gas supply following uproar from several European countries. Plans are underway to increase supply of oil and natural gas Russia produces. Thus, it calls for development of infrastructure to boost large-scale production and faster transportation of oil and natural gas from Russia to various destinations in Asia and Europe (Heidersbach 2011).

Russian energy trends not only affect countries in Asia and Europe, but also to United States energy markets and economic welfare in most cases. Approximately 25 percent of oil reserves in Russia are located on Sakhalin Island. At Sakhalin, several consortia have commenced producing and exporting oil (Heidersbach 2011). Russia has a long-term plan that would see it export large volumes of natural gas to the United States through pipelines. Cases of Environmental owing to pollution by Russian energy are minimal compared to any other top producers of the commodity worldwide.  

Figure 1

Source: Energy Information Administration, Russia Country Analysis Brief, February 2005 December 3, 2005

China

Political ideology and progressive growth of population is to blame for inadequate oil reserves in the China. With an estimated population of 1.3 billion people, China rely heavily on other countries for oil among other important resources. The government of the People of Republic of China has forged good relationships with neighbouring countries such as Malaysia. Political differences between China and Malaysia have however created contention between the two neighbours (Vatansever & Rosner 2005). Incidentally, the large supply of oil China imports from Malaysia has left the former with few options as far as economic and political independence is concerned. China Oil and Gas Group Limited is one of the outstanding companies that market oil. The Company is listed in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Besides, the Company has invested in natural gas among other energy related business. The ventures of the Company in gas operations include piped city gas business, constructions, distributions, liquefied natural gas, and pipeline design (Vatansever & Rosner 2005).

Apart from oil, China has invested its massive resources in building a gas pipeline. The gas pipeline (commonly referred to as Turkmenistan-China Gas Pipeline) connects Asia to Xinjiang in the People’s Republic of China. The population explosion in China has prompted the government to come up with adequate strategies to control birth rate, which advocated for one child for every household (Vatansever & Rosner 2005). The over 1.3 billion people have increased pressure on its limited resources. The gas company has eased transportation of natural gas from China to various destinations around the world.

China depends mostly on Malaysia for oil and oil products despite political differences that has put the two Asian countries at loggerheads for several decades. The country has also expanded its road and railway networks to facilitate transportation of petroleum within China’s major towns and cities (Vatansever & Rosner 2005). World fuel prices have negative effects on prices at which China buy oil from its neighbour, Malaysia. When oil prices go high, the government as well as local oil marketers purchase oil at exorbitant prices.  Since oil marketers bought the precious commodity at higher prices, the increases in price has shifted to local consumers. Motorists and domestic users would purchase the product at relatively higher prices compared to initial prices before increase in world price took effect. The People’s Republic of China has to bear the extra costs charged on oil as well as future fluctuations in price (Vatansever & Rosner 2005).

China has taken firm measures against occurrence of any form of pollution caused by oil or gas. The Republic of China has particularly put in place regulations that would prevent and control Marine pollution from ships. The first comprehensive system of marine pollution regulations took effect from first of March 2010. The enforcing agency of the regulations is The Maritime Safety Administration (MSA). The marine authority play important role of supervising and administering prevention as well as control of marine pollution, usually caused by ship operations (Vatansever & Rosner 2005). According to authorities at the China ports, pollution response companies must vet every ship entering Chinese ports carrying hazardous cargo. Every cargo ship docking at Chinese ports must is required to meet Chinese Maritime Code and Bunkers Convention where appropriate. Hence, different organizations charged with the responsibility of preserving and protecting the environment, have stepped in to save the situation (Vatansever & Rosner 2005).

Japan 

Although Japan limited oil reserves of its own, it is the third largest consumer of oil worldwide after United States and China. The 2008 statistics of BP Energy Survey indicate that Japan consumed approximately 5051.02 thousand barrels of oil every day (2007). The country imported an average of 5031.89 thousand barrels of oil per day during the same period (Kambara & Howe 2007). The increase in oil consumption is attributable to shutdown of various nuclear plants in the year 2003. This caused utilities to attain maximizing point as far as use of oil-fired generating company is concerned. Japan obtains the largest percentage of its imported oil from OPEC, especially countries in the Persian Gulf such as United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Over 80 percent of imported oil goes to industrial processes in the manufacture of various products. In reality, Japan has only 59 million barrels of proven oil reserves (Kambara & Howe 2007).

Oil marketers in Japan have been active overseas since the early 1960s following government move to establish a Company run by the state to facilitate oil exploration in overseas countries. Japan National Oil Company (JNOC) discharged its mandate effectively since its inauguration in 1967 until November of 2001. The Prime Minister by then called for its abolishment following increase in the number of bad loans. Since then, Japanese government have been considering liquidating Japan National Oil Company and considering the role, it should have played in funding of the overseas oil projects (Kambara & Howe 2007). Fortunately, one of the leading subsidiaries of JNOC called Japan Petroleum Exploration Corporation (Japex), which authorities successfully listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange market back in 2003. Apart from oil, Japan is the world’s leading importer of liquefied natural gas. According to 2008 BP Statistical Energy Survey, the 2007 natural gas consumption stood at 90.23 billion cubic metres, which is a 3.07 percent of world total. The refinery capacity of Japan stood at 4597.9 thousand barrels a day and a refinery through put of 3993.81 thousand barrels a day during the 2007 spell (Kambara & Howe 2007).

Japan has more than 200 commercial ports, many of which are off-limits to ships from foreign countries. Only about 68 ports are operational in the wake of post-quake Japan. The rest have sustained serious damages resulting from the quake and Tsunami. Apparently, the needs of Japan have changed since occurrence of the devastating earthquake and Tsunami (Kambara & Howe 2007). The two major calamities immensely affected the economic growth as different development projects stalled. The overall effect on the country’s GDP was severe and costly, especially considering that Japan imports oil among other energy products. Japan’s needs have changed significantly since occurrence of the earthquake. The energy gap Japan experiences is a threat to the global economy (Kambara & Howe 2007). An estimated five million automobiles could face a delay or not produced at all due the looming oil shortages in Japan. Japan has taken necessary precautions against oil shortages that could paralyze its vibrant automobile industry.

The country has a considerable number of oil and gas companies that have ensured continuous importation and supply of oil to major manufacturing industries in he economy of Japan. The major Subsea oil and gas companies Japan within Japan territory include Cosmo oil, Hamanaka chain, Hamanaka International, Inc, Inpex Corporation, and Japan Drilling Company Ltd. Other key oil corporations include Shanghai Saige Composite materials, and Teikoku Oil. Inpex Corporation explores Oil gas in Japan while Japan Drilling Company Ltd is an offshore drilling contractor (Kambara & Howe 2007). Therefore, alarming oil and gas shortages poses a great threat to the third largest economy and fifth largest energy user globally. The unprecedented fluctuation in world oil prices threatens growth of Japanese once vibrant automobile industry.

South Korea    

The Republic of South Korea has no domestic Oil reserves hence must import crude oil. Oil constitutes the largest share of total energy consumption in South Korea. However, the share has declined in the recent past (Karleskint et al 2006). The BP Statistical Energy Survey (2008), shows that South Korea consumed an average of 2371.46 thousand barrels of oil a day in 2007. The consumption rate constitutes over 2.72 percent of the world’s total. Following South Korea’s absolute reliance on oil imports, it has put in place a policy that deals with securing and diversifying the supply of oil in the country. The country focuses on fulfilling both its short-term and long-term oil needs (Karleskint et al 2006).

Korea has developed a strategic petroleum reserve as part of short-term strategies. The national oil company manages the petroleum reserve. The reserve acts as security against disruptions in supply of oil. The national oil corporation discovered natural gas deposits at the offshore Donghae-1 field in South Korea in 1998 (Karleskint et al 2006). Production of natural gas came into effect in 2004 with average production of 50 million cubic daily by 2005. The Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) is the sole importer and distributor of natural gas in the Asia country. Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC) is the sole national oil and gas corporation of South Korea. It is also one of the most important industrial companies in the Korean Peninsula (Karleskint et al 2006). Korea has long-term plans of increasing production from overseas fields by 35 percent imports by 2020.

Damage to ecosystem and biodiversity

The ecosystem constitutes the entire living organism interacting with each other to produce a sustainable system. It is the basic unit of ecology, hence bringing the need to conserve it for the thriving of the living organism. Biodiversity constitutes all the various species of the organism in an environment. The two have a direct relationship since when the ecosystem undergoes damage; the latter will also receive the same amount of damage.  Oil spills have a direct relationship to the thriving of ecosystem and the biodiversity. An oil spills occurs when there is release of oil in the environment, usually occurring accidentally. The oil spread on a wide area, especially if spills in the oceans, due to the presence of tides and wind. The coverage of the oil spills makes the effect of oil be felt at a higher magnitude around the world. The oil spills have a negative effect on both because of its ability to prevent the passing of oxygen. Therefore, the damage factor of oil spills on the environment lies on the fact that it deprives the two of oxygen. Oil and gas industry have remained in operation for a prolonged period, and in most cases, they have carried out their operations in the most sensitive places in the globe. Most of the affected parts are the mangroves, coral reefs and desert. The mining process is not instantaneous and, therefore, calls for those that are carrying out the process to reside at the place of exploration. The following are some ways in which the oil spills damage the ecosystem and the subsequent biodiversity:

In the course of transporting oil, there might be leakage that causes the oil to spread on the water surface forming a thin layer called oil slick (Manivanan, 2008). The spreading depends on the density and composition of the oil, and the layer continues being thin until it forms a rainbow like shape called sheen. This always causes the effect on the marine birds, mammals, fishes and other sea animals because of the oil contamination capability. The layer formed by the oil usually acts as a coat which prevents the passing of oxygen into the inner parts of the sea; consequently, introducing suffocation in the ecosystem. Therefore, the living organisms in the sea will die due to lack of oxygen besides the swallowing of oil that is always toxic to the animals’ health. This causes the shrinkage of biodiversity in the ocean ecosystem because most of the animals and plants would have died due to contamination and suffocation.

The oil spills can also reduce the insulating ability of the fur bearing animals such as sea otter (Calow, 2009). This reduces the mechanism activity of the organism in covering themselves from harsh elements. The animals living in the sea also need to insulate themselves from the extreme condition in the sea; consequently, the destruction of the insulating ability will mean that the animal will be much vulnerable to these conditions. Hence, the oil destroys the habitat for the animals making the ecosystem be unsuitable for the inhabitation by the animals. Poisoning of other birds and mammals can also occur when they are trying to clean themselves with the tendency of swallowing the oil (Manivanan, 2008). For instance, fishes are in danger because they usually ingest oil through their gills thus leading to their death. The oil spills also reduce the reproduction rate of fish hence reducing the number of fish in the habitat.

The oil spill also has a negative effect when it reaches the coast. It causes interference in the human activities especially on the shoreline such as fishing (Fingas, 2011). Once the oil has poisoned the fish, they will always be vulnerable in tidal areas where they bump into the oil especially when tide is low.  This will lead the government into banning the fishing because of the poisoning the fish will cause to man. The poisoning come as the result of man being in the same food chain with fish hence the poisoning will travel up the food chain. This causes man to be vulnerable to the poisoning that may ultimately lead to deaths. The banning by the government will eventually reduce the operation in the seafood market thereby having a direct effect on the daily activities in the ecosystem. Oil spills on the beach sand, and gravels will always inhibit the inhabitation by vegetation hence reducing the amount of vegetative matter along the shoreline.

The oil spills can also have effect on the recreational activities of man. This happens when the oil spills covers rocks and boulders on the shoreline hence reducing their beauty. The beauty is what always acts as a tourist attraction hence the covering will always reduce the recreational effect the features at the beach.

The oil spills also have effect on the wildlife environment. This normally have effect on the wild animals living near the sea since they can also get poisoning by the oil waste (Fingas, 2011). These wild animals are living in the harsh ecosystem brought about by oil waste since they can ingest the oil accidentally. The digested oil can interfere with their reproductive system and their usual behaviors; consequently, reducing the population of the animals in the ecosystem.

The oil spills in the sea have a negative effect on the industries involving sea water. The industries will have to increase the overhead cost in purifying water hence their activities in the ecosystem would have undergone interference. 

Even though, the oil and gas production may prove significant in to the daily activities of man, there is a need to take precautions whenever there is transportation to reduce on the chances of oil-spills. The oil spill causes the ecosystem inhabitable for the organism, leading to the death of most of the organism; eventually reducing the biodiversity in the environment. The industry should ensure that they put the appropriate measures in ensuring that they have reduced the susceptibility of oil spills in the environment.

Oil spills and water pollution

Water is essential for the lives of a human being hence bringing the need to discuss water pollution in relation to the production of oil and gas since the latter proves to be significant in the daily economic activities of man. Discussing this will help in determining ways of making the production of oil be compatible to the healthy living of man. Oil spills, which ends up in the sea, always accounts for a larger percentage in them pollution of water. Apart from the oil from the ships, the oil spills account for about 12% of the oil that seeps gets into the sea (Martínez-Gómez et al, 2010). The increased population and affluence has lead to increas transportation of oil thereby increasing the number of oil spills. Statistics show that half of all hazardous spills in water arise from oil products with the daily reporting of the spills. The following are the ways in which the oil and gas production influence water pollution:

Oil compounds are generally the hydrocarbons consisting of hydrogen and carbon. These compounds combine to form a toxic compound in the waters thereby interfering with the components of water. This in turn makes water to lose its property and gain the toxicity of the resulting compound formed between carbon and hydrogen. These compounds lead to the contamination of water hence the ultimate pollutions. The accelerated pollution capability of oil arises as the result of the aromatic compounds that always causes the greatest problem in the waters (Calow, 2009). The most harmful aromatic compound is the poly-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (Effects of Oil Spills on Wildlife, 2010).

PAHs always pollute the waters thereby making the latter be harmful to the plant and animal life since it interferes with the metabolic activity and the ability of the animals to regulate water. The pollution of water by the oil spills always affects the fish cancer and contributes largely in damaging the fish embryos.

Chronic oil pollution in the Pacific Ocean has resulted to death of many seabirds every year. Oil does is immiscible to water. This makes the oil available for the birds’ feather to absorb the oil that in turn reduces the bird’s buoyancy and waterproofing capability. Consequently, the birds will suffer from hypothermia that ultimately causes deaths.

Man also needs water to maintain a healthy living. This implies that once the oil has polluted the waters, man will have to be one of the victims of this adverse effect. Unless man does not find ways of purifying the waters, the PAHs will have accumulated in the human system thereby damaging the various essential organs of the body. In order to prevent this, man will have to apply expensive process that will see him filtering the water from oil. Therefore, water pollution arising from a spill of oil has a devastating and long lasting effect on both the aquatic and the terrestrial environment (Xhelilaj & Sinanaj, 2010). In the quest to offset this effect, man has been on his way to designing better strategy that could help in reducing the effect water pollution; arising from oil spills.

1. Predicting oil behavior: development of models

The industries study the feature of the oil spills by knowing when the oil spills and the direction of oil spills. This is critical since it helps the oil industry in developing better strategies that will act as emergency plans for the potential disasters and spill respondence during real emergencies (Xhelilaj & Sinanaj, 2010). The environmentalist has taken a crucial step in developing models and fate that will help inn forecasting the place where the oil is likely to spill and the direction in which it will travel. This makes the environmentalist to be aware of the oil spill; consequently, designing a counter against the fate of the oil spill. They avail themselves within the scene of the spill before the latter spreads to a wider area. The environmentalist will eventually be in a position to reduce the effect of oil spills in relation to spreading and causing water pollution.

2. Fingerprinting

This process helps the environmentalist in determining the exact place where the mystery spill would have originated. Fingerprinting will help the environmentalist in determining the origin of the mystery spill thereby making it easy to deal with the mysterious spread of the oil. This is because the environmentalist would have determined the source of the spill and put in place strategies of stopping the oil from continuing its spread. Fingerprinting removes the difficulty, which arises when there is a need to assign responsibility for a spill having many possible sources (Wang & Stout, 2007). The fingerprinting procedure involves determining oil formation conditions with the unique properties of the crude oil taken as the “fingerprint”. The environmentalist uses these properties to trace the geological origin of the oil spill and in the determination of the extent oil spill. The environmentalist can also use forensic analysis to identify the origin of PAH compounds in water; consequently, they will be able to apply precautions before the intended adverse effect.

Future fate

The number of lives loss because of the oil spill shows that there is rising need to apply better oil strategy such as that of Canada (Environment Canada’s oil spill science).  This will help in easily predicting about the features of the oil spill including the source and direction of the oil spill. This will help in anticipating the associated problems and in determining the best solutions.

Effects of mining to the local community

The locations that are affected by the exploration vary from areas that are inhabited by indigenous communities mostly of a rural nature to others of the urban nature that have a higher population threshold. Though operations of oil and gas industry appear as the most formidable activity, they are respected for being at the fore ground in implementation of new technology and have an immense deal of their attention to eradicating ecological anomalies that arise from their activities. Even though the industry tries at their level best to contain the problems that arise from the mining process they unfortunately, still manifest in the ecosystem (Habeck, 2005). The industry is known to have already, adversely affected Russia adversely over its years of oil and natural gas mining especially in relation to the country's landscape.     The continuous occurrence of the predicaments in the country ranging from oil spills to pipeline ruptures that occur in the mining process and the transportation phase has led to a point of disorientation especially to the local ecosystem (Habeck, 2005). With all these factors accounted for the resulting havoc, ensuing not only leads to the disorientation of the country's forest landscape but also leads affects the residing population in the locality of the exploration. This in essence manifests from the fact that the environment to which the local communities were previously dependent on becomes eroded hence depriving of the local communities their lively hood.

Case study

An exemplary case study of the effects of oil and gas manufacture in Russia is exemplified by the state of one of its Okrugs, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug (NOA). The Okrug is a leading player in the production of oil and gas, in Russia, but more importantly is its small population that renders it a minimal industrial enterprise reception (Mikkelsen & Langhelle, 2008).

Effects & problems of pollution from mining

The area has a high thresh hold of pollution mostly from the presence of the oil and gas industries and the presence of housing and infrastructure utilities. The most persistent form of pollution in the region atmosphere resonates from gas flaring. The pollution of the landscape in the region manifests, in both physical and chemical properties. Hydrocarbons cause serious pollution when they leak into water bodies especially if there is a malfunction in the well or a rupture to the oil pipes.

The occurrence of such pollution negatively affects the resident population with greater reparation transferred to wild animals and water creatures such as fish. In the case of housing and utilities infrastructure, the biggest problem is the lack of  equitable solid waste disposal areas that can account for a central waste disposal site hence all waste is disposed in random sections. The region also has a limited number of sewage treatment sites and a majority of the housing facilities lack facilities for the treatment of sewage.       Another cause of worry to the town is the military activities that happen in the area especially with the continuous test of their radioactive material. Even though, the radiation exposure of NAO is not the worst of all the other affected territories, it remains at a greater risk to catastrophe especially with an account of the geographical factor of regions terrain. After exposure to continuous blasts from both air and ground, NOA terrain remains at a weak state and its ever-changing structure, unfortunately, not considered as an exemption to testing of nuclear equipment. This, therefore, leaves the population of the area at risk especially with the landscape vulnerable from continuous drilling in oil mining and the fact that the military is relentless to the testing of their catastrophic weapons. A case that happened around 1980-1990 clearly justifies the cause for concern especially with radionuclide escaping to the surface at the period.  

Dependency to mining

The oil and gas industry is a highly lucrative business and at times will affect a country's economy with a tremendously positive effect. A point of concern to the dependency of the resource is the fact that it is a non-renewable resource and is, therefore, vulnerable to depletion at any time without prior notice or warning. This fact brings the discussion of what might happen to a territory such as NOA that was once composed of an indigenous community that was before the discovery of oil composed of people who their occupation was cattle herding but now through industrialization has converted to entrepreneurship.

The Okrugs reliance to the oil and gas industry as evidently stipulated in the territories revenue remains the greatest contributor to the regions sustainability (Mikkelsen & Langhelle, 2008). The region's infrastructure and development attributes all possibility to the existence of oil and gas industry and more so to the fact that most of it happens for the sole reason of enhancing efficiency in the industry with little or no consideration to enhancing lively hood to the residing population. There exists little or no effort directed to acquiring an alternate source of finance to the region and to its citizens as contingency for the period when the resource finally runs out in a way to secure the future of the regions occupants.      Even though, a few of the regions inhibitors still practice their traditional occupations, chances that they will continue with the practices grow slimmer with time to the point where they may be considered to be endangered as they are at the point of extinction. This occurs from the reasoning that the communities are adapting to the industrial nature taking over the region not forgetting that the communities are cattle keepers hence with the continued pollution of the landscape they are still at the risk of permanently losing their plan b alternative.

Advantages and solutions

Even though the existence of the mining industry in the region resonates, as a disadvantage to the local community, a paramount factor of consideration, is the fact that the mining industry goes out of its way to ensure that the lively hoods of the local communities remain safe. The advantages that apply to the existence of mining in Russia especially to the rural areas surpass the disadvantages that manifest from the mining process (Mikkelsen & Langhelle, 2008). An important point of consideration remains the fact that the Russia obtains their main source of revenue from revenue collected from oil and gas industry. Through the funds that NAO collects from revenues in the mining industry they enable them support other activities such as regional programs and community based projects. The greatest advantage to the residing people remains the opportunities that they attain from the surplus employment opportunities waste (Fingas, 2011).          Contingent persons to the mining base also enjoy a privileged lively hood with increased incomes and revamped infrastructure. Most of the infrastructure that was absent prior the investment of  mining endeavor sooner or later manifest in the affected region hence creating new opportunities for residing occupants. Oil and gas companies that exist in the NOA territory support its residents directly by purchasing equipment to the herders through a close association to existing community groups.

Recommendations

Clearly, it is evident that what is profitable for one group is the exact contrary to another. This represents the conundrum that the state and territorial interests face when aspects of compromise in economic activities is affected. Though circumvention remains applicable, figuratively the problem has no solution.

Mining advancements and in combating ecological problems

The methods of mining are a continuing revelation that grows better with age especially on the cautious factor that plays the greatest role in the verdict to the competency of a mining method (Noyes, 2009). New methods such as the horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies play a crucial role in assisting the United States majorly in its mining endeavors. They have ensured that they have the capability to obtain an immense amount of natural gas from shale rock located deep below the earth’s surface. Shale gas exists naturally in shale rock that in turn is located deep in the earths crust (Noyes, 2009).

Advantages and solutions

With the development of technology, facilities now exist to extract the natural resource that previously was inaccessible. The existence of new equipment for horizontal drilling associated with hydraulic fracking advancement enable miners reach and extract the natural gas at ease (Liu, 2010). Despite the reasons that the extraction of the shale gas is more environmental friendly than that of other gases, the gas also has qualities that enable it reduce green house gas emission. Natural gas compared to other energy sources such as coal or oil when combusting, is cleaner and hence leads to less acid rain with reduced production of toxic waste that eventually lead to pollution or global warming (Liu, 2010). With this new revelation, the use of other natural resources as sources of energy could be outdated, and the new resource implemented to suffice in the new generation for the production of clean energy.      

Effects &  problems of new technology

The prospect of using the extraction method to mine the gas in both countries is still at its baby steps with both fearing for the environmental pollution factors that could ensue from its adoption especially if not all safety measures are followed to the tee. Since the method is practically new and is a product of US, both countries have decided to form an initiative of compromise to allow the US has access to china mining grounds waste (Fingas, 2011). This ergo allowing them to monitor procedures in a bid to ensure that safety protocols remain comprehensively followed. The association also allows the US give a hand on investment aspects of the mineral by implementing operations for safeguarding and developing of the region. Even though, the cooperation between the two countries on the agenda has so far been smooth, the aspect of cooperation remains trending behind from the reason that the developers of the method are still in the process of perfecting it hence the effective threshold of the process.   

Recommendation

This example shows the potential that mining posses and the capability that the process could take place without necessarily having to harm to the environment. This, therefore, sets the trend that other stake holders in the mining business should partake in to ensure that they conserve the environment (Yong, 2012). The method has inspired china to follow on the same path in the extraction of the same natural resource that it also has below its earth surface. The method represents some of the safe practices that mining industries should adopt in their endeavors. To use the method correctly a variety of safety measures apply that include retrieving of greenhouse gases emitted in the mining process and decontaminating of waste water in order to avoid contamination of natural existing waterways.

Solution to Northwest Pacific oil and gas risks to environmental sustainability

The developing of oil projects, megaprojects (Sakhalin 2), exposes the oil management into numerous problems. The solutions to this problem are vital in establishing and evaluating the success of the oil industry in this region of the world (Goel, 2011). The problems exposed in this are inclusive of the, ecological problems should be detected (damage to ecosystems and biodiversity, water pollution, damaging local communities in the region and the pipeline construction in geologically dangerous region. This is necessary to sustain the progression of the persistent gaining from the advantages while checking on the side effects of the oil production sector.  The location of the Sakhalin 2 is on the Pacific Ocean (Burger, 2011). This exposes it its effects on the aquatic life (Cowell 2010). The project should upstage the technology of applied in the exploitation the oil resources in the area.

The aquatic life exposed to the effects of the oil includes the vast varieties of the fish species, whales, and the birds living on the water. Statistics from American reports more than 70 of oil spills on mean daily. This leads to the expounding the effects of hypothermia, hydrocarbon, chronic long-term effects and smothering.  On the sea life and other fresh water points surrounding the places suffers the effects of pollution. This calls for the establishment of the contingency planning at both the national and local levels. The respondent solutions facilitate the achievement of the structural measures in the solving of the problems.  Scientific analysis of the fishes to determine the effects on the special cases of the seawater animals is essential.  Plant varieties on land, swampy grasses in riverbanks and estuary, and organisms at beds in the sea; microscopic animals; and large animals, like fish, reptiles, amphibians and birds, and mammals get the impacts of contact, toxicity, smothering, and   long-term effects. These actions result from chemical and physical qualities of the spilled oil. The animals suffer numerous effects. This includes the lack of insulation from the cold (Goel, 2011). 

Dehydration for the animals results from lack of the uncontaminated water to drink. The intestinal disorder and stomach upsets emerge from the oil spillage. The animals experience the destruction of the red blood cells due to the consumption of the oil (Cowell, 2010).  Inhalation of the oil gases causes the occurrence of pneumonia in the animals.  Further effects on the animals are eye and skin irritations. There are chances of impairing the reproduction process of the animals. During the rehabilitation process, of the seawater animals suffer further. Skin problems, infectious diseases, lesions and joint swelling emerge from the process. Research results contend that the small effects of the oil spillage may result in the demise of the embryos (Burger, 2011). For the fish varieties, oil spillage causes the blocking of the gills. The chemical effects on the gills are severe due to the suffocation elements of the oil. There are high levels of toxicity in the water. Oil Spillage causes respiratory rate problems, enlargement of the liver, fin erosion, a set of biochemical and cell alterations.   Oil prompts genetic process results in the abnormalities of the   animal body cells. 

The possible remedies that help in the reduction of the effects oil on the water cause several other factors to the water.  They are majorly depressants that eliminate the oil effects on the seawater. Mr. Goel in his book Water pollution: Causes, effects and control   explains that depressant of the oil pollution facilitates the tainting of the fish. This happens due to the increasing the intensity of the oil concentration in the water.   The effects of oil on human existence have adverse in the recreational and fishing sectors. This ha s unfavorable on the tourism sector especially for the countries bordering the Sakhalin 2 project. Oil causes the feathers of the birds to glue to each other. The feathers naturally overlap on top of one another to facilitate the trapping of the air. This maintains the buoyancy of the bird and facilitates the insulation of the bird against heat losses.

The waterproof quality of the feather diminishes as the oil penetrates in the feathers. Ingestion of oil induces the extensive reproductive challenges to the animals. The effect of oil on the water mammals depends on the sensitivity of the animals (Burger, 2011). The mammals that live in water are the polar bear, dolphins, walrus, porpoises, manatees, river otters, seals, beavers and the sea lions.   The effects are predominant on the thermoregulation capability of the animals. The clean fur for the mammals facilitates the management and conservation of heat for the animals. When these animals leave water for the land life, they experience cold due to the closely attached feathers resulting from the oil.  The aquatic, mammalian   eye has poor resistance to the effects of the eye oil effects. This prompts temporary effects on the mammalian animal eyes. The consumption of the swallowing of the oil results in the bleeding of the alimentary canal.

The oil influences results in the damaging of the kidney and the liver (Nardo, 2009). Oil leads to the damage of the nerve tissues and alteration of the behavior of the animals. Remedy for the oiled seawater is not achievable. The scientific research on the management of the   effects of the sea pollution is extremely challenging due to the extensive investment it requires. The oil effects expose the animals to further fungal attacks on the mammals.The adverse effects of the oil pollution on the ocean around the pacific especially from the Sakhalin 2 project require international cooperation and joint ventures of the countries in the management of the sea affairs.  Laws on the ocean territory ownership by different countries provide guidelines on management of some tracts of the sea. This includes the proportion of sea about 147 km from the ocean (Nardo, 2009). The beneficiaries of the Sakhalin 2 projects should come up with proper guidelines on how to share the returns of the projects. This provides for the development and the technological advancement of the technology of managing the pollution cases.

Concerted efforts by Russia and its business partners are compulsory for the entire fight against the pollution menace. This is vital in containing the immense effects of the spilled oil. The reorganization of the policies on the environmental management should have the backing by the various countries benefiting from this project.  The basis response strategy to the oil spillage includes elimination of the oiled debris. The management process involves the removal of the   contaminated water animals and the carcasses of the dead animals from the water.  The management should initiate environmental l advisory committee to look into the issue of the pollution (Verheij, 2009). This facilitates quick responses to the accidental spillage of the oil in the sea (United States, 2011). The daily management of the issues regarding the expulsion of the animals from the oil spillage zones to reduce the effects of the danger on the animals. This should include infrastructural mechanism of deterring the animals away from the spillages area. These methods include the use of hazing, auditory, use of a variety of visual deterrents. The visual deterrents include the balloons, smokes, kites, flags, reflectors and the scarecrows.

The auditory means attempts to use the loud sounds to scare the animals. The sounds are creatable from the alarms, predator recordings, model wildlife anguish calls and other noisemakers. However, extreme conditions the pollution regulators apply a combination of the auditory and visual cases to counter the intolerant animals from a spillage scene (United States, 2011).   These solutions attempt to reduce the effects of the seawater animals having adverse consequences from the oil spillage. However, attempts have control of the oil spillage require intense discipline from the management of the Sakhalin projects. They should create tough rules to deter accidents that people may perceive to be due to human negligence. The management with the aid of the cooperation should aid in the formations standards regulation department that checks on the servicing of the water vessel equipments. The marine vessels operating in many countries do not observe recurrent checkups. This exposes the cargo and passengers in to a condition of danger of accidents (Fingas & Charles, 2010). There should be application of the    modern technology on measuring and the assessing the safety of the various water vessels. Sakhalin project stands to benefit various states. This includes the consumer of the oil and the producer – Russia. It offers employment to thousands of individuals in the area. This entails the direct and indirect employment of people. 

The management of the project should ensure a monitoring and reviewing risk assessment of the ship movement. The analysis should have the coverage of about twelve months. The maritime management recommends a hazard identification and assessment procedure for the   management of the shipment issues. The management of the of collision accidents is exceedingly fundamental.  Noting that grounding of a vessel results in the wreckage of   a ship. This leads to the spillage of the oil in case the ship carry’s oil (United States, 2011). Management of the cargo transfer failure and the fire explosion accidents is a vital process of ensuring safety of the marine vessels. Other cause of the accidents that need proper safeguard against is the sinking and the structural failure of the ship. International cooperation should set up proper guidelines on the management of the structural standards of the ships. From the historical statistics, grounding is the most cause of the of the ship oil spillage. The increased frequencies of the ship movement along the ocean amplified the chances of the accidents occurrence (Verheij, 2009).  Major staff errors and physical or the mechanical condition contributes to numerous other causes for the accidents on the seas.

Oil spillage occurred along the ports and the harbor due to inefficient offloading and loading of the oil products. The grounding of the ship occurs when the ship is on route to its destination while some other accidents occur while the ship is at the harbor. Along the coast, the accidents occur due to the high traffic density, navigational hazards, the frequency of the motion of the sea ships and the transit time through a region.   The navigational causes of the ship oil accidents are the configuration of the seabed, confinement of the waterway, strong tidal streams, proximity to the shore and the choke spots for the traffic.  The response prepared audit department is highly crucial. Therefore, Sakhalin project management should invest in the security of the of the sea vessels. Emergency towage for salvaging the marine vessels that got accidents along the sea is tremendously significant. This reduces the increasing of the effects of the oil spillage. International community and corporations involved in the project should facilitate the helping of the maintenance, upstaging the pollution response, search and rescue practices, and surveillance process (Fingas & Charles, 2010).

References

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