The Canadian experience in frontier environmental protection

Conference · Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:5794555

Jones, G H ^[1]

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1. Alconsult International Ltd., Calgary, Alberta (Canada)

Early Canadian frontier exploration (from 1955 onshore and from 1966 for offshore drilling) caused insignificant public concern. The 1967-1968 Torrey Canyon Tanker and Santa Barbara disasters roused public opinion and governments. In Canada, 1969-1970 Arctic gas blowouts, a tanker disaster, and damage to the 'Manhattan' exacerbated concerns and resulted in new environmental regulatory constraints. From 1970, the Arctic Petroleum Operations Association learned to operate safely with environmental responsibility. It studied physical environment for design criteria, and the biological and human environment to ameliorate impact. APOA's research projects covered sea-ice, permafrost, sea-bottom, oil-spills, bird and mammal migration, fish habitat, food chains, oceanography, meteorology, hunters'/trappers' harvests, etc. In 1971 Eastcoast Petroleum Operators' Association and Alaska Oil and Gas Association followed APOA's cooperative research model. EPOA stressed icebergs and fisheries. Certain research was handled by the Canadian Offshore Oil Spill Research Association. By the mid-1980s these associations had undertaken $70,000,000 of environmental oriented research, with equivalent additional work by member companies on specific needs and similar sums by Federal agencies often working with industry on complementary research. The frontier associations then merged with the Canadian Petroleum Association, already active environmentally in western Canada. Working with government and informing environmental interest groups, the public, natives, and local groups, most Canadian frontier petroleum operations proceeded with minimal delay and environmental disturbance.

• OSTI ID: 5794555
• Report Number(s): CONF-910403-; CODEN: AABUD; TRN: 92-007561
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Vol. 75:3; Conference: Annual meeting of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), Dallas, TX (United States), 7-10 Apr 1991; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CANADIAN ORGANIZATIONS
COORDINATED RESEARCH PROGRAMS
FISHING INDUSTRY
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FISHERIES
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
ICEBERGS
OFFSHORE SITES
OIL POLLUTION CONTAINMENT
OIL SPILLS
ONSHORE SITES
CONTROL
ICE
INDUSTRY
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
POLLUTION CONTROL
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
020900* - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects
290500 - Energy Planning & Policy- Research
Development
Demonstration
& Commercialization
540320 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)