G
Exxon´s
drilling plans in the Kara Sea 2014
LEGAL ASPECT: According to Russian legislation, any industrial activity, in particular - exploration and extraction of mineral resources, - is strictly forbidden in protected natural territories1. Moreover, according to Russian Federal Law “On Continental Shelf of the Russian Federation” it is forbidden to grant licenses if geological survey, exploration and extraction of mineral resources is planned to be carried out within specially protected natural territories of the Russian Federation continental shelf2. The licenses that are being jointly developed by Rosneft and ExxonMobil for hydrocarbon exploration and extraction in protected natural territories apparently violates not only Russian legislation, but also contradicts the statements of the Russian leadership that resource development will “abide by the strictest ecological requirements” in the Arctic.3
West Alpha in shipyard in Norway
Exxon´s drilling plans in the Kara Sea 2014 Media briefing WHAT: The world´s largest oil company ExxonMobil intends to conduct its first drilling in the Arctic Kara Sea this summer. The company, who was responsible for one of the worse oil catastrophes in the world, the Exxon Valdez 25 years ago, is now back in the Arctic and runs the risk of causing irrecoverable damage to the Arctic ecosystem. ExxonMobil has already contracted the West Alpha semi-submersible rig to drill. The rig has been at a shipyard in Ølen, Norway for preparations to go drilling in one of the most extreme, remote and harsh drill sites in the Arctic this year. With an icefree operational window of only 8-10 weeks, ExxonMobil plans to drill its first well in the Kara Sea this summer.
WHEN: Between July-September
WHERE: The drill site is located to the east of Novaya Zemlya in the Kara Sea. Water depths in the Kara Sea vary between 40 and 350 metres, ice cover lasts for between 270 to 300 days a year, and ice thickness reaches anywhere from 1.2 to 16 metres. Minimal temperatures during the winter can fall to -46°C. Exxon plans to drill its first well in the Akademichesky field in the East-Prinovozemelsky-1 license block, which overlaps with the Russian Arctic National Park. 4506 hectares of East-Prinovozemelsky-1 and 2 license blocks lies within the Russian Arctic national park. Further, the license area is only where the company is planning to drill - when an oil spill happens the oil could flow into several protected areas of the national park. A number of Exxon´s license blocks in Russian Arctic overlap areas of specially protected natural territories, such as Wrangel Island Nature reserve and Franz Josef Land. Altogether the area of specially protected territories that is overlapped by offshore oil license blocks being operated by ExxonMobil and Rosneft makes more than 1 million hectares. There is no effective way of cleaning up an oil spill if it spreads under ice, therefore as an example, Norway is not allowing oil drilling in icy waters. ExxonMobil plans to drill in the Kara Sea within Russian territory, where regulations do not require a relief rig that could be crucial to stop a spill before it reaches the ice. If there is a spill, the effect might be catastrophic.
Endnotes According to Russian legislation it is not required for the company to demonstrate the ability to clean up an oil spill before they start drilling (first training of oil spill response plan could be conducted 2 years after launch of oil drilling). And regulations are not requiring to drill a relief well which is required almost everywhere else. Fact is regulations in Russia are so limited, that ExxonMobil cannot claim to be acting responsibly there.
FACT: The Russian Arctic Park: The Russian Arctic National Park is recognised for its magnificent wildlife and includes one of the largest bird colonies in the northern hemisphere. Up to 25% of the world population of the endangered ivory gull is found within the park, and its islands are the only breeding grounds for the Atlantic subspecies of the Brent goose in Russia. The park is the habitat of the Karo-Barents polar bear population, and is famous for its large walrus rookeries. It is home to an endemic subspecies of reindeer particular to the Barents Sea region, and two rare marine mammals – the narwhal and the bowhead whale – live offshore throughout the year.
1. Federal law ‘About the special natural protected areas”, articles 6, 9, 24 http://base.garant.
ru/10107990/#block_200
2. Federal law “About the continental shelf”, articles 8, 16.1 http://base.garant.
ru/10108686/2/#block_2000 3. http://energyland.info/news-show-tekneftegaz-65833?utm_ source=feedburner&utm_ medium=feed&utm_campaign=F eed%3A+energyland+%28Energy land.info+-+%D0%9B%D0%B5% D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0+%D0 %BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B E%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D 0%B9%29