A GENERALIZED MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OF ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING STUDIES DURING GEOLOGICAL PROSPECTING.

The works on geological prospecting may be conducted in Russia only on the basis of license for subsoil use. One of the mandatory requirements in such license is the conducting of environmental monitoring. But, legislative regulations for this monitoring are not established and there is a lack of corresponding methodical literature too. At the request of one company our team developed a generalized technique of environmental monitoring for use during search and exploration of oil and gas deposits at the license areas of the Middle Urals, Russia. The technique is based on a common methodology of biosphere monitoring with account of the specificity of prospecting works. On the basis of analysis of forecasted impacts on the environment, there were defined stages, objects, kinds and volumes of works, as well as lists of controlled characteristics. The technology of oil and gas deposits exploration comprises two consecutive stages, which are essentially different in nature of impact on the environment. In the first phase, there is conducted the study of the area by geophysical methods (the gravimetric and seismic methods). At the second step, the drilling and testing of exploration wells are carried out. The technique of environmental monitoring of the territory of license areas includes three stages. The first stage is performed prior to the beginning of prospecting works in order to determine the background levels of the studied parameters. The second stage is performed in a period of conducting the complex geophysical works. And, the third stage is performed during the drilling and testing of wells, including their elimination and reclamation of disturbed areas (in case of absence of the industrial oil and gas deposits). The technique foresees monitoring of atmospheric air, surface and ground water, soil, radiation background and the testing of drilling sludge. The objects of monitoring are: the territory of license lot, the drilling plots and the pit for drilling sludge storage. The list of studied characteristics includes more than 20 items. The technique is presented in the form of table which contains all necessary information for conducting of monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]