The use of Satellite Remote Sensing for Offshore Environmental Benchmarking

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1 The use of Satellite Remote Sensing for Offshore Environmental Benchmarking Michael King Fugro NPA Limited

2 Fugro NPA (Formerly Nigel Press Associates) World leading Satellite Remote Sensing & Geoscience consultancy Established 1972 and incorporated into the Fugro group in April 2008 Part of the Fugro Robertson Group Of Companies since January 2011 Based near Edenbridge in Kent, UK, (20 miles south of London) Specialists in the distribution and value-adding of satellite data Fugro Centre of Excellence for satellite remote sensing 38 cross-disciplinary staff QMS (9001:2008) and HSE (18001:2007) certified Acknowledged as experts in: Onshore Exploration: Local and regional interpretation of structural geology, tectonic geomorphology and oil/gas/mineral exploration Offshore Exploration: Mapping and classification of oil seeps (natural & pollution) InSAR Surveying: Remote detection, mapping and monitoring of ground and structure stability Imagery & Data Services: Acquisition, distribution and value-adding of optical, radar and elevation data ISO 9001:2008 certified Due to be OHSOS18001:2007 Q3 2011

3 Introduction Satellite Remote Sensing is being increasingly utilised for environmental benchmark services in the offshore oil exploration industry. In recent years, tightening up of environmental legislation in response to major pollution events such as the Macondo Spill in July 2010, has resulted in operators becoming much more aware of the potential environmental impact of their operations.

4 What can Satellite RS detect and how? Environmental Baseline Satellite Remote Sensing has a long time series (SAR 20+ years, optical over 30 years). Using this we can help operators understand the background: Seepage Pattern Pollution Pattern Shipping Activity Coastline habitat, vulnerability and any seasonal changes Oceanographic changes These factors can help create an Environmental Baseline to compare to any effect their operations may have.

5 Modelling & Monitoring Modelling Remote Sensing data can also be used to: Aid oil spill models (spatial extent) MetOcean models (surface currents and winds) These can be part of any Environmental Impact Assessment or in disaster response Monitoring Once an Environmental Baseline has been established it is recommended that their operations are routinely monitored to aid with: Potential litigation claims (possible misplacement of blame for spills) Disaster Response (early detection of event)

6 Methodology Oil Slick Detection

7 Seepage and Pollution Benchmarking How do we establish a benchmark? Look at all weather compliant imagery (budget allowing) from: ESA missions (ERS 1&2 and Envisat) Radarsat 1&2 TerraSAR and Tandem X ALOS Palsar Cosmo Skymed Supplement with optical if available/required Acquire new imagery for present day situation Map all possible oil slicks (pollution & seepage) Show annual/seasonal time changes Establish repeat seepage sites and regular pollution sources in an area

8 Global archives of wind compliant imagery

9 Example Seepage Gulf of Mexico Example Seepage Slick Natural oil seepage clearly visible on radar Static source point provides characteristic morphology Appearance, morphology, context & repetition allows differentiation from pollution Example Repeat Slicks Example Scene

10 Pollution and Shipping Activity Classify historical pollution slicks Identify shipping and show densities of high anthropogenic activity Combine with AIS to identify shipping Combine with Rigs and Infrastructure to show likely sources Can identify operators good and bad environmental practise Highlights countries with good and bad environmental standards

11 Pollution Detection Ship Aerial SAR SURFACE Fresh oil is much thicker than natural film or seepage example from illegal ship dumping

12 Fugro NPA slicks baseline dataset Slick outlines to show existing global historical seepage and pollution benchmark

13 Shipping Classification Wide Swath Ship Signature Standard Mode Signature, vessel dimensions possible Vessel Detection From SAR SAR Data Can be combined with AIS for vessel identification

14 Offshore Pollution Historical global pollution and shipping classification

15 Monitoring Typical approach: Programme satellites to acquire daily (or greater) SAR scenes Complement with optical if available (and budgets allow) Interpret scenes as close to NRT as possible Identify any slicks, locations, likely sources etc. Deliver in NRT via web applications and compatible with modelling software Archive to provide evidence in case of any litigation

16 Example Daily Monitoring options Cosmo Skymed, a constellation of 4 satellites allows for up to 4 images over a site on a daily basis at very high resolution (unrivalled SAR monitoring capacity) Compromise between resolution and area covered Limited by incident angle and weather compliance

17 Coastline vulnerability What can we tell: Coastline land cover Elevation onshore - DEM Elevation offshore Shallow bathymetry Map annual & seasonal vegetation and coastline change Map bathymetric change (do facilities affect sediment movement?) Coastal subsidence is area subsiding? Relate to a vulnerability classification (utilising legislative or user defined parameters)

18 Limitations Available data For current events data rarely available as limited background missions Weather compliance Cost Coverage Delivery time Cloud Cover

19 Case Study Gulf of Mexico - Macondo Study Aims: Create baseline of oil slicks in the region & help quantify natural seepage in the area Confirm positions of natural seeps post event (same as pre event?) Identify background pollution levels before Identify other sources of pollution during and post event

20 Coverage depth used

21 Macondo Spill MODIS 25/06/2010 Slick in sunglint

22 Seepage Baseline Pre event slicks Repeating Rank 1 slicks

23 Macondo event 29 th April 2010

24 Macondo Post event slicks

25 Case Study Australia Montara Platform Aims: To identify natural seepage pattern Help quantify spill effect and extents Provide input to force spill models

26 Environmental Baseline FNPA Slicks pre 2009

27 Spill event Extent of the slick

28 SAR Montara

29 24/9/2009

30 21/10/2009

31 MODIS Imagery post event 22/11/2009

32 FNPA slicks Post 01/11/2009

33 Our combined service

34 Conclusion Recent events and subsequent environmental standards have seen an increase in benchmarking studies The long time series of SAR and Optical archives make remote sensing ideal for this purpose Benchmarking studies provide evidence of previous and current bad practice Documenting the location of seepage ensures operators are not blamed for natural occurrences Changes that production has on natural seepage can also be monitored Complementary services can also be added to benchmark Coastline change and vulnerability Changes in oceanographic parameters Benchmarking needs to be combined with routine monitoring to Protect operators from false litigation claims Provide first alert Provide input to force oil spill models should any spill occur Remote sensing should become an integral part of any oil spill response plan