RIASSUNTO
Abstract
Agip KCO is involved in appraisal and development activities in the Kazakhstan sector of the North Caspian Sea and recognizes its responsibility in protection of unique biodiversity of the region. As a part of its sustainable development strategy and environmental protection / management program, the Company has produced a Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for 2007-8. The primary objective of the Company Biodiversity Strategy and related actions is to efficiently and effectively avoid threats to biodiversity. The interaction between biodiversity, local communities and other interested or affected parties is crucial to this process. This strategy assists the Company to develop synergies between internal biodiversity programs and external local and regional environmental programs; and secondly optimise the links between operational biodiversity programs and community relations programs. The Company carries out environmental monitoring, impact assessment studies and supports key external biodiversity conservation projects. The integrated long-term Biodiversity program will allow Agip KCO to evaluate and reduce the potential direct and indirect effects (both marine and terrestrial) of operations in the area; identify mitigation / restoration actions to reduce current impacts and measures to improve biodiversity conservation in the future; and finally integrate the outcome of studies into our daily operations.
Introduction
Agip Kazakhstan North Caspian Operating Company (Agip KCO) operates on behalf of a consortium of companies involved in the North Caspian PSA (Tab. A-1). The current appraisal and development activities are located in 11 blocks in the Kazakhstan part of the Caspian Sea, covering an area of about 5,600 km2. These blocks include the giant offshore Kashagan Field and the Kalamkas, Kairan and Aktote Fields (Fig. B-1). Ongoing activities include exploration and appraisal operations at Kashagan, Kalamkas, Aktote and Kairan. Main focus of the current activities is development of the Kashagan Field, which was discovered in 2000 and which is historically unprecedented in its size and complexity anywhere in the world. The complexities of the Kashagan Development include those related to the characteristics of the oil field, such as great depth, high pressure, high hydrogen sulphide content, as well as those attributed to the operating environment. Physical environment is characterized by extreme variations in seasonal temperatures, long term sea level transgression, significant wind driven short term sea level fluctuations, high levels of turbidity and sediment movement, ice cover in winter (Fig. B-2) and scouring of the seabed by moving ice. A major challenge of the project is how to successfully operate in this dynamic physical environment with minimal impact on the sensitive but yet highly adaptable flora and fauna. The discovered oilfields are located in the North Caspian State Nature Reserve, a zone, highly recognized for its unique, versatile, delicately balanced and potentially fragile biodiversity.
The Company recognizes its critical role and responsibility for maintaining the integrity of nature and the significant implications of its operations for the quality of life for the local people and for the environment. Therefore, the Company adopts a world-class environmental protection and management program. The program considers international good oil field practices and ensures that all operations are carried out in environmentally concerned manner with minimal permitted discharges, according to international and Kazakhstan standards. The program is carefully tested through regular Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies and monitoring surveys.
As a part of its environmental protection program, the Company is committed to work towards regional biodiversity conservation and restoration and is developing a strategy for engagement with biodiversity issues.