A Methodology to Fulfill Environmental Requirements for Implementing Projects with Subsea Systems in Campos Basin Sensitive Regions

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents a methodology to fulfill environmental requirements for implementing project with subsea systems in regions with great number of coral formations. Solutions for the complex environmental permitting process of Marlim Field Revitalization Project are also presented. To enable this, an in-house application was developed based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology for controlling and monitoring fulfillment of requirements imposed by the Brazilian environmental authority. Because of all complexity inherent to the project, the environmental permitting process faced several challenges, of which the most relevant are presented in this paper. GIS have been used in several areas, both by private companies as well as by the government sector, where georeferenced information is essential for planning, monitoring and controlling a great variety of activities. Petrobras has also been using GIS technology for several activities such as greenfield alternative studies, management of existing subsea systems, real-time monitoring of logistical resources as well as for environmental management. Due to the ecological importance of coral formations for the global climate balancing, and to preserve these ecosystems that are found massively in Marlim and Voador Field regions, the environmental feasibility of the project has been conditioned to the deployment of subsea flowlines in compliance with the routing proposed in the project subsea layout. Not only the flexible pipelines need to be laid without touching coral mounds, but also, corresponding evidence of deployment inside the predefined 20 m enlarged corridors along pipeline planned routes should be presented periodically to the environmental authority. The magnitude and complexity inherent to Marlim Field Revitalization Project can be considered as one of unique characteristics in the offshore oil and gas industry. The massive usage of GIS technology throughout the whole project can be also considered singular. It enabled an integrated view of technical and environmental aspects, ranging from alternative studies, planning and execution to the fulfillment of the requirements imposed by the environmental regulatory agency. The GIS system had a preponderant role for the environmental feasibility and licensing of such complex project.