Page images
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

and international waters) with no casualty to the vessel being

involved.

Based on the years 1967-73, the death rate due to offshore oil

operations and involving vessel damage in international waters was 41 and in inland waters was 27. Distributing the 36 deaths not involving vessel damage according to the 41:27 ratio, an additional 24 deaths may be added to the total for international waters, giving a total of 65 deaths for the seven year period. Based upon this information, at least ten deaths per year may be expected in the Gulf of Mexico as a result of offshore oil industry activity in OCS waters.

Below is listed a summary of injuries reported to the Office of Workmen's Compensation Programs under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act by district 1/. The years are recorded as Fiscal years.

1/ U. S. Dept. Labor.

[blocks in formation]

3.

Impacts Which Can be Minimized or Avoided by Regulations and Safe Operating Practices

A more thorough discussion of regulations and operating orders is presented in section V, "Mitigating Measures Included in the Proposed Action."

4. Summary of Impacts

The preceeding sections describe the source and amount of both intentional and unintentional discharges which will pollute the sea and ocean floor if this proposed lease sale is held. It is the intent of this section to summarize all predicted polluting discharges in tabular form (Table 38 ). Two features should be pointed out prior

to consideration of the tabular values.

(1) All pollution sources will not be present throughout the life of the leases; e.g., exploratory drilling will be completed within 4 years of leasing, developmental drilling within 7, and production will not begin until the third. The reader is reminded of the time

table and discussion in Vol. 1, Sec. III. A. 6.

(2) The text of the preceeding sections contains estimates of maximum pollution anticipated based on the maximum number of wells and amount of production. The table included here shows a range of pollution anticipated, based on the range of production predicted by the Geological Survey (6,00012,000 bbl. of oil per day or 2.2 million 4.4 million bbl. per year).

Table 38. PREDICTED POLLUTION FROM DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF OIL AND GAS LEASES

[blocks in formation]

2/ Too many factors involved to make meaningful prediction. No "annual" volumes concerned.

3/

Does not include oil associated with formation water; represents peak of production, not developmental or declining years.

One "Blowout".

« PreviousContinue »