Expansion of oil and gas production and increase of environmental risk

Resumo

Onshore oil and gas production is often accompanied by accidents of varying severities and negative consequences. Operations within the areas of peripheral seas and the World Ocean have significantly aggravated the situation and driven a significant part of the emergencies related to the production of hydrocarbons to regional and global levels. The use of new technologies in the production of shale hydrocarbons has added a new problem, that is, the probability of total contamination of a large volume of geological environment with highly toxic chemicals. The discovery of a new promising fossil energy source, gas hydrates, makes it possible only to outline the possible related hazards and shows that the environmental risk can increase by many times. To withstand the threat of emergencies related to the growth of hydrocarbon production, it is advisable to establish special control and rapid-response structures on a nationwide scale. Such structures may be open to international cooperation in the jurisdiction of the United Nations, if necessary.