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The Integrated Management Plan for the Barents Sea and Lofoten area (Arctic area) reports that human intervention and activities shall not harm the function, structure, productivity or dynamics of the ecosystem. The precautionary principle is currently the guiding principle applied in the Norwegian Barents Sea based on the assumption that Arctic areas host a fragile and sensitive ecosystem. The industry proposed a zero physical discharges regime in this area which has been strictly implemented in the regulation on the assumption that this will provide the best environmental practice. The precautionary principle and zero discharge are therefore presently applied to E&P discharges rather than using a scientifically based approach. TOTAL E&P NORGE together with Eni E&P Division and its subsidiary Eni Norge have joined forces to establish a research project, BIOSEA, designed to build scientific knowledge on Arctic ecosystem sensitivity towards regular E&P discharges based upon experience (and results) from similar research projects for the North Sea temperate ecosystem. The project objective is to generate a qualified set of data for assessing the impact of produced water and dispersed oil discharges on Arctic marine organisms that can contribute to a scientific based approach for defining effect thresholds. Larvae, juveniles and adults of Arctic species selected for their key position in the ecosystem have been exposed to realistic field concentration of produced water. The experiments were designed to assess short term response and long term biological effects after one month to several months of exposure. Exposures were run both to validate monitoring tools and to establish no effect concentration levels for produced water discharges in Arctic waters. A series of no observable effect concentrations (NOEC) and lowest observed effect concentrations (LOEC) have been established throughout the project for cod, northern shrimps and Icelandic scallops at Arctic conditions with a Barents sea crude oil. These results were compared to available data for the same or similar species exposed to North Sea conditions and a North Sea crude oil. From this comparison, it is concluded that the species tested do not present a higher sensitivity to dispersed crude oil at Arctic compared to North Sea conditions. As compared to the threshold level concentration measured for the early life stages, most of the biomarkers measured in adults showed no responses at corresponding concentrations. This comparison shows that the sensitivity of some of the biomarkers commonly used in field monitoring are not high enough to serve as early warning for effects at the most vulnerable life stage in these organisms. These results underline the importance of carrying out tests with early life stages and refining the set of biomarkers used in field monitoring. These data will be supplemented with tests on additional Arctic species. It is by building a representative dataset and integrating this into an appropriate ecological risk assessment model that a realistic assessment of environmental impact linked to oil and gas industry will be achieved.

SmartGIS is a web application based on a Continuous Improvement project focused on Oil Spill Management processes to perform a large-scale harmonization of procedure and strategies. The main scope was the development of an Oil Spill Best Practice which provides a guideline addressed to eni subsidiaries for oil spill preparedness and for the selection of the most suitable tactics and technologies for response and remediation. This is based on the habitat types present in each Country where eni operates. To reach this goal, the Habitat Mapping and Benchmarking activities were performed as intermediate deliverables. Habitat mapping is based on the mapping and classification of all the habitat types using certified reference datasets. Three marine and seven terrestrial habitats were identified. Benchmarking analysis provides a detailed overview over the current status and development trends of oil spill response and remediation tactics and technologies applied worldwide. They have then been categorized with respect to suitability for the various habitat types. A webGIS application was identified as the best solution to manage all the data and information acquired during the development of the project. The application runs wherever an internet connection is available and allows an effective remote support of the accidental oil spill scenario. For this reason the SmartGIS was launched with the development of an environmental analysis tool within the 3Ter Advanced Emergency System, already implemented in eni in case of emergency. The environmental analysis tool is characterised by different layers for habitats, countries, marine regions, active concessions and protected areas. In addition it can be supplemented by other information such as meteomarine data, nautical charts, bathymetry and vessel tracking as well as thickness and concentration of oil. This paper will illustrate how the data and information presented in the SmartGIS can be applied worldwide in case of an accidental oil spill, providing a effective contribution to handle the emergency situation.

Marine polar ecosystems are often claimed being sensitive and having low tolerance toward external stress. In the Norwegian sector of the Barents Sea, this assumption has caused the implementation of a zero physical discharge policy. This policy is preventing an empirical definition of tolerance limits in relation to petroleum activities and the application of tailored and effective mitigation measures. Eni E&P, its subsidiary Eni Norge, TOTAL E&P and its subsidiary TOTAL E&P NORGE, have launched the BIOSEA JIP in cooperation with IRIS-Biomiljø. The aim of the project was to build a scientific platform for risk based environmental management of Arctic E&P offshore activities. The BIOSEA initiative, developed over a 6 years period, aimed at establishing a suitable set of tools for environmental monitoring in offshore areas, and at adding knowledge on the sensitivity of Arctic species to dispersed crude oil and produced water. The project finished in December 2009 and the main achievements are presented in this paper. Controlled laboratory exposure experiments and on site field surveys clearly demonstrated the relevance of typical oil exposure parameters (biomarkers) as valuable tools for oil exposure monitoring in different Arctic species. The monitoring toolbox was refined based on sensitivity and response patterns of individual biomarkers. Biomarker field reference levels were also established for the same species, as some biomarkers may be influenced by environmental and seasonal conditions. Based on data obtained from laboratory exposure experiments and field baseline monitoring, biomarker threshold levels were estimated. By establishing such biomarker threshold levels, BIOSEA has significantly contributed to the definition of assessment criteria to be used for monitoring of the environmental quality in the marine environment, as required by the Integrated Management Plan for the Barents Sea and Lofoten areas.

The Water Balance Assessment is a methodological approach developed and applied by Eni for the identification of improvements in water management at site level. The approach is based on three steps. The following report describes each step and the application of the approach to a real case study in Tunisia. Water is a vital resource for our planet and for humankind. Biodiversity and ecosystems’ preservation, human health, and food security as well as energy production, industrial development and economic growth are all dependent on water. The consequences of climate change and the actual projections of increasing water demand will affect water availability and quality in the coming years. About the Oil & Gas sector, this industry consumes and produces significant volumes of water. For this reason, energy companies must consider sustainable options for the use of this resource, especially in water stress areas. This can be achieved through:A deep knowledge of the site water streams and of the context where the site is located.Identification of improvements and initiatives that could reduce the water risk of the site. About water safeguarding, Eni is committed to pursue the following practices:Water Conservation: Upstream Oil & Gas operations need significant quantities of water; a key element for its conservation includes the reduction of withdrawals and the efficiency in water use.Water Reuse and Valorization: Upstream Oil & Gas operations must manage large volumes of wastewater, mainly Produced Water. Design solutions shall introduce and maximize the recycle of water with the adoption of suitable treatments, to make discharges compatible with the reuse in the same production cycle or by third parties (e.g., other plants, local communities), and pursue the opportunity to reuse industrial water, instead of discharging it as wastewater. For their deployment, Eni has defined and applied a methodological approach to support the definition of improvement and optimization initiatives of water management at the site level. The approach represents an application of a "convergence approach" which, starting from an overall view of the site, identifies opportunities, further and more detailed areas of analysis, and design projects that can improve water use, management, and reuse. The methodological approach is based on the following steps:A country-based framework study on water resources, and water-related risks analysis at country and local level.A Water Balance Assessment, gathering water qualitative and quantitative information and site framework details.Definition of site initiatives for wastewater reuse and valorization, and for the optimization of water withdrawals, based on the above steps and considering local legislation. Through this approach, operational water risks exposure is analyzed in detail, allowing to address a wide range of opportunities for the improvement of water management, also through the development of new synergies with local communities.