Vladimir N. Bashkin

Evaluation of Geo-Environmental Risks in the Impacted Zones of Oil and Gas Industry in the Russian Arctic

The article deals with evaluation of geo-environmental risks (GER) in the impacted zones of oil and gas industry in the Russian Arctic. Much attention is given to GER analysis concept using acidifying pollutant critical load (CL) methodology. It is described GER review concept algorithm for acid-forming deposition in areas affected by oil and gas industry sites in the Russian Arctic. It’s especially advisable for the preparation of environmental study for oil and gas projects in areas with low information availability and high degree of uncertainty.

Natural Biogeochemical Cycling in Polar Ecosystems

Natural biogeochemical cycling in polar and tundra ecosystems is described. The review of literature and new data allow the author to show the approaches to biogeochemical cycling ranking in severe climate conditions based on active temperature coefficients.

Specific Reaction of Biota to Environmental Pollution in Tundra Ecosystems

This paper shows the specific reaction of biota to gas industry environmental pollution in tundra ecosystems, such as alteration of tree-ring size of Siberian larch, changes in biodiversity of plant components, and accumulation of biological elements (nitrogen and phosphorus) on biogeochemical barriers in plants in the impacted areas of facilities for gas production complex. On a basis of these researches, we can conclude that atmospheric nitrogen-containing pollutants have a significant fertilizing effect on tundra ecosystems that is manifested in the reliable increase in the content of nitrogen, directly and phosphorus, indirectly through the enhancement of biochemical processes in plants. It is established that both studied species of lichens (Alectoria ochroleuca and Alectoria nigricans), and dwarf birch leaves can be used as indicator species/plant organs when considering atmospheric pollution. Increasing concentration of nitrogen in the tissues of tundra plants presents the evidence of its effective absorption by plant community that is most likely to lead to increased productivity of tundra plant communities as a whole.

Introductory Paper: Biogeochemical Technologies for Managing Pollution in Polar Ecosystems

This paper presents the editor’s introductory words for the set of chapters devoted to gas industry impacts on polar ecosystems and environmental risk management. Special attention is provided to developing biogeochemical technologies for managing pollution in these ecosystems.

Gas Industry Impacts on Natural Ecosystems

This paper is devoted to assessing the gas industry impacts on surrounding tundra ecosystems. The relevant loading of pollutants emitted by production activity of gas company “Gazprom Dobycha Yamburg LLC” is accounted using both the retrospective pollutant emission database and field monitoring results. Perennial analyses of emitted pollutant loading showed that priority atmospheric pollutants for the zone of influence of the production facilities of “Gazprom Dobycha Yamburg” LLC are oxides of nitrogen.

Climate Cycling and Modeling in Polar Areas

The paper shows that climate change (temperature fluctuations) on the Earth, caused by solar variations, is a cyclic natural process, which geochronologically accompanies periods of warming and cooling. At present another temperature decline is forecast. This is very important for gas production in the permafrost area of polar ecosystems since allows to support the firmness of grounds and sustainability of different construction basements, pipelines, roads and wells. The given cooling trend is bound to increase energy demand globally, as well as locally. It is suggestive that the International Energy Agency outlook projects increasing energy demand, with energy produced by oil, coal and especially natural gas, which will allow the latter to take the second place after oil in 2035. The conclusion is that such a climate dynamics is also important for the sustainable gas supply.

Emission of Carbon Dioxide and Methane in Gas Industry Impacted Ecosystems

The paper results showed that in field studies in gas industry impacted tundra ecosystems the positive relationship between the level of atmospheric pollutants and the rate of emission as carbon dioxide and methane from zonal ecosystem has not been established. The values of fluxes of these greenhouse gases confirm the high spatial and temporal variability of the studied parameters for tundra ecosystems and are consistent with the literature data. Average (over study period) CO2 flow value was 158 mg CO2/m2/h. This value lies within the emission of carbon dioxide received for tundra ecosystems of Western Zemlya and Taimyr tundra. Flow of methane was characterized by a low rate of emission, averaging 0.063 mg CH4/m2/h, which indicates the absence of significant sources of methane in the studied soils. Therefore, in the given conditions was not marked remarkable changes in the biogeochemical cycle of carbon.

Possible Indicators for Assessing Geo-Environmental Risk in Polar Ecosystems of the Yamal Peninsula in Relation to Pollutant Emission During Gas Production

The methodologies of risk analysis and critical loads (CLs) have been used to assess the influence of anthropogenic emission of NOx on terrestrial ecosystems of the Yamal Peninsula in the impacted zone of Bovanenkovo gas condensate field (BGCF). Depending on dominant plant communities, the calculated values of CLs of nutrient nitrogen were equal in average 210–350 eq ha−1 yr−1 (or 3–5 kg N ha−1 yr−1). Mean values of CLs of acidity were lower (100–200 eq ha−1 yr−1). Additional N deposition, associated with emission of NOx, is estimated at the center of 30-km zone under impact in 35–140 eq ha−1 yr−1 (or 0.5–2 kg N ha−1 yr−1) at the initial stage, and more than 2000 eq ha−1 yr−1 (or 25–30 kg N ha−1 yr−1) at maximum gas production. But even at high exposure, exceedance of CLs in most ecosystems of this territory will not be higher than 1.5–2 kg N ha−1 yr−1 that corresponds to low risks of eutrophication.

Biogeochemical Approaches for Managing Geoenvironmental Risk of Hydrocarbons Pollution in Disturbed Soils

The laboratory tests carried out in the conditions of in vitro experiment with new biological means of a soil cover remediation are considered as biogeochemical approaches for managing geoenvironmental risk of pollution by hydrocarbons—gas condensate and oil in various climatic zones, including tundra. For the assessing soil remediation efficiency the enzyme activity analysis are used and the relevant full degradation of hydrocarbons is calculated. Such approach allows us to obtain the correct information for realization of a soil remediation in situ in perspective. So, the comparative assessment of degradation of gas condensate and oil in a soil under application of new biological preparations (Bioros and Piksa) showed that degradation of gas condensate in soil, for example, under Bioros action was faster than degradation of oil. After introduction of Piksa to soil the process of oil degradation was much faster. The activity of catalase and dehydrogenase enzymes increased with enhanced quantity of biological preparations used for oil contaminated soil remediation.

Biogeochemical Technology for Disturbed Tundra Soils Recultivation by Peat and Potassium Humate Application

The biogeochemical technology of recultivation of disturbed tundra soils includes the joint application of local peat and its potassium humate from the Taz peninsula (the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug). At the same time the potassium humate is produced from humic acids of local peat by consecutive decalcifying, extraction, sedimentation and clarification. Efficiency of application of peat and potassium humate to the disturbed soils in doses depending from their granulometric composition is estimated on a basis of biomass of grown grass-cereals plants. The given technology is forwarded to increasing the efficiency of recultivation of the disturbed soils.