- OIL AND GAS HARMFUL EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Dave Ikiedei Asei
14/01/2023
Oil and gas exploration and exploitation have had disastrous consequences on the environment all over the world, yet because these products generate billions and trillions of dollars in revenue, the protection of human life and other environmental resources has received less or no attention.
Because of this, we need to pay close attention to the negative impacts that ongoing oil and gas exploration, protection, exporting, etc., have on our ecosystem. Despite the enormous financial advantages associated with such activities by the multinational oil and gas firms around the world, we will look at some of the ways in which these activities have harmed our environment in the sections below.
ECONOMIC EFFECTS:
Because they can harm infrastructure and disrupt the fishing and tourism industries, oil spills can also have considerable negative economic effects.
The primary causes of environmental impacts during crude oil and natural gas production are long-term habitat change within the oil and gas field, production activities (including facility component maintenance or replacement), waste management (e.g. produced water), noise (e.g. from well operations, compressor or pump stations, flare stack, vehicle and equipment), the presence of workers, and potential spills. These actions could affect the resources, as was described below.
NOISE:
Compressor and pumping stations, producing wells (including sporadically flaring), truck traffic, and producing wells would be the main sources of noise during the extraction of crude oil and natural gas. Between 64 and 86 dBA at the station and between 58 and 75 dBA at a distance of about 1 mile or more (1.8 kilometers) are the noise levels produced by compressor stations. Localized disturbance of wildlife, recreationists, and people would be the main effects of noise. Cavitation noise poses a serious threat to cattle, wildlife, and owners of the land.
AIR OF RISKY QUALITY:
The main emission sources during the extraction of crude oil and natural gas would include compressor and pumping station activities, vehicle traffic, production well operations, separating the oil and gas phases, and on-site storage of crude oil. Among the pollutants that might be discharged are vaporized organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), hydrogen sulfide, particulates, ozone, and methane.
When oil is extracted, natural gas (methane) may be evacuated or flared. Because the gas is usually contaminated with oil, trace levels of metals, or other naturally occurring substances, this is a good approach to get rid of it. It's possible for a lot of scale and sludge waste to accumulate inside
IN SUMMARY
1. COMMUNITIES ARE HARMED BY POLLUTION
Governments of oil producing countries are all too aware of the negative effects of fossil fuel extraction taking place in their backyards of oil producing communities but do little or nothing to ameliorate the sufferings of host communities.where oil and gas production takes place.
Fossil fuel-related air pollution is referred to as the "invisible killer." More than 15% of fatalities in Oil and gas exploration and exploitation from aged 13 and above are attributable to it, which can result in respiratory, cardiovascular, and other disorders.
The use of fossil fuels can also result in the release of hazardous compounds of deadly poisonous materials into the soil and water supplies, which can harm the liver, cause birth defects, and cause cancer.
Oil and gas production poses serious health risks, so it's critical to limit fossil fuel development, particularly on public lands that ought to be improving our health and wellbeing. We should be aware of such activities in their environment.
2. Risky emissions contribute to climate change
The result of the planet's rising temperatures is longer wildfire seasons.
Climate change is now taking place. The West's wildfire season is longer, hurricanes are more dangerous, and 2020 was one of the warmest years on record. The burning of fossil fuels, which releases heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, is a direct cause of these extreme weather occurrences.
- WILD LANDS CAN BE DESTROYED BY OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT
On wildlands, infrastructure erected for oil and gas extraction can have drastic effects. Heavy machinery is needed to build roads, buildings, and drilling sites, which can significantly damage virgin wilderness. Often, the harm is irreparable.
Furthermore, a lot of fossil fuel developments are situated in the West, where the climate is already in danger.
The unpleasant consequences of oil and gas could make visiting public areas less enjoyable.
To enjoy nature in all its beauty, hunters, anglers, hikers, birders, and vacationing families enter the wilderness. They don't anticipate to see oil tanks, power poles, noisy compressors, or busy roadways. Anyone's vacation can be ruined by excessive noise, air pollution, or damaged scenery.
Local towns that rely on tourism for a living may ultimately suffer as a result of the unattractive effects of oil and gas. Local and national economies rely heavily on outdoor recreation. In 2019, visitors to national parks spent money on wilderness areas that ought to be preserved.
5. DRILLING DISTURBS THE HABITAT OF WILD LIFE
Wildlife is endangered by the extraction of oil and gas. Animal communication, breeding, and nesting can be hampered by loud noises, human movement, and vehicle traffic from drilling operations. Numerous species' habitats can also be damaged by highways, fences, wellpads, and powerlines.
Animals making this ancient journey, however, have recently encountered a number of challenges, most notably intense activity in significant natural gas fields. To find the feed that hasn't been demolished, pronghorn must maneuver over massive well pads and deafening compressor stations. The abundance of this herd could ultimately be significantly impacted by future energy development further south.
6. ANIMALS CLAN DIE FROM OIL SPILLS
Large oil spills have a devastating effect on marine ecosystems and kill a lot of species.
Although smaller oil and gas leaks don't typically make the news, they can still be harmful. The "mud" that is used to lubricate wells during drilling is meant to be collected in lined pits before being disposed of. But they frequently leak and splatter all over drilling locations.
7. LIGHT POLLUTION HAS AN EFFECT ON WILD LIFE AND ANIMALS
One of the best spots in the world to observe the night sky is Chaco Canyon, where the oil fields are nearly as brilliant as those in Minneapolis and Chicago. The burning or flaring of natural gas, well pads, and storage sites is responsible for a large portion of that light.
Researchers have discovered that pollinators like bees can suffer from the strong glare. The highly crucial task of dispersing pollen, which aids in the development of new fruits and plants, is performed by these insects. However, brightness throws off their sleeping, eating, and reproducing schedules, which causes plants like the cabbage thistle to disappear.
Important cultural landscapes like the Chaco National Park are being altered by the brightness. The park is one of the best sites in the world to view the stars, but the glare from nearby oil and gas installations could make the park's clear skies invisible to the human eye. If the federal government doesn't permanently preserve the area from this kind of development, the show might end.
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