Produced Water
Produced Water JIP ( 2006-2009)
The Produced Water - Joint Industry Project - is a program financed by two oil companies. The scope is to validate techniques suitable for monitoring of Produced Water discharges and to establish effect levels for a range of relevant biological effects in marine organisms, including reproductive effects in fish. Both controlled large scale laboratory exposures with authentic PW, field exposures with caged organisms and collection of feral organisms has been included. The design of the program is closely linked to the “Water Column Monitoring” imposed by the Norwegian environmental authorities. One important sub task is to use biomarker based monitoring to document the environmental benefit of new cleaning technology.
Financing: ConoccoPhillips, Total E&P Norge AS
Pollutant exposure and effects in fish related to discharge of produced water in the North Sea oil industry ( 2003-2005)
The two projects above address produced water (PW) effects in fish. Emphasis is put on the effects PAH and alkylphenols, since these chemicals are well represented in PW and both are of concern with regard to possible impact on offshore fish stocks. The main objectives are to develop better and more sensitive biomarker tools and to provide relevant field data on analyses of fish collected at the Tampen field – a region where large volumes of PW are discharged.
Financing: The Research Council of Norway - PROOF
Improved SPAD GCMS method for determination of alkylphenol exposure to fish
Financing: Total E & P Norge AS
Comparative Cod Exposure ( 2005)
The main objective of the project was to develop an exposure system for water exposure using authentic produced water and to produce material of fish that made it possible to compare and assess chemical uptake and biological responses in organisms exposed to oil related compounds. Several institutions in Norway received material for analysis.
Financing: The Research Council of Norway - PROOF
GC/MS Determination of produced water related PAH and alkyl phenol-metabolites in marine Fish ( 2002-2003)
Offshore produced water (PW) discharges may potentially lead to polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and alkylphenol (AP) contamination of downstream fish populations. The contamination will, if it occurs, be at very low environmental levels. There is therefore a need for sensitive exposure markers in marine fish that can be used for detection/biomonitoring of PAH and AP contaminants. The scope of this project was to pursue this need by developing more sensitive detection tools based on GC/MS analyses of PAH and AP constituents in fish bile. The project was the first study in a series of follow-up projects which in sum have resulted in considerable progress in this field and which have been reported in several peer review publications.
Financing: The Research Council of Norway – PROOF
Validation and Biomarker Bridges: Integration of Biomarkers in Environmental Risk Assessment ( 2003-2010)
Industry has developed environmental risk assessment tools based on biological effect data derived from laboratory tests. These effect results need to be validated in the field for their ability to express effects of environmental concern, but most of the effects studied in laboratory tests cannot be measured directly in the field. Biomarkers are useful parameters to build the bridge that can link data from laboratory and field, and thus also link the tools for risk assessment and field monitoring. This is the principal aim of these two projects, and once achieved it will allow comparison of field monitoring with environmental risk data.
Financing: The Research Council of Norway - PROOF
Proteome Expression Signatures (PES) in fish as a diagnostic tool to evaluate the environmental impacts of offshore oil & gas exploration ( 2005 -
The principal objective of the project is to develop a proteome based diagnostic system for cod in Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) and Environmental Monitoring of produced water. The project will aim to identify the structure of key diagnostic proteins that express the effects of the different PW components in order to develop suites of biomarkers. The new biomarkers based on proteome changes will be correlated with functional disorder in order to provide a better environmental monitoring system and input to the ERA model
Financing: The Research Council of Norway
Biosensor project (2006 – 2008)
The objective was to evaluate two biosensors for rapid screening of biological samples exposed to produced-water related compounds: A DNA biosensor and a horseradish peroxidase biosensor.
Financing: The Research Council of Norway and Total E & P Norge AS
Strategic Institute Programmes (SIP) ( 1996 – 2004)
SIP 1 Application of biomarkers in environmental monitoring 1996 – 1999
SIP 2:Hormone disruption in Marine Invertebrates 2000 - 2004
Two research programmes in the field of biological effect monitoring with biomarkers. Biomarker methods are now incorporated in almost all projects with the offshore industry. The first strategic institute programme was dedicated to development and implementation of marine environment biomarkers. The second programme was focused on problems related to substances which are similar to hormones, and their possible effects on marine invertebrates. Chemicals with properties that are like those of hormones are considered to be a major problem in all animal groups, and the extent of the problem is so far unknown. There are few methods available for studying these effects in marine invertebrates. It is thought that components in raw oil such as phenols, and production chemicals may have this type of property. (Alternative category III)
Financing: The Research Council of Norway
IDREMER (Bioaccumulation, Biomarkers, DREAM pre-project)
The objectives of the programmes was to develop competence, methodology and capacity to be able to monitor and predict environmental impact of discharges from oil and gas industry offshore in different geographical areas and environmental conditions ( North Sea, The Arctic and Deep Sea Areas)
Financing: Total E & P Norge AS
DREAM programme - Dose related Risk and Effect Assessment Model for chronic discharges (1998 – 2002)
This is a modelling tool for risk evaluation of continuous discharges from oil installations offshore. This tool integrates sub-models combining the spread of chemicals, the fate of chemicals (physical properties chemistry) and their breakdown, as well as uptake by organisms, bioaccumulation, biological effects and risk. The IRIS participation in the project covered: Effect studies with long term exposures of model fish (sheepshead minnow) and copepods to produced water components (PAHs and alkylated phenols) for the development of DREAM.
Financing: Statoil, Total E&P Norge AS, Eni Norge AS
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