On her latest charter the RRS Ernest Shackleton has been involved in Environmental Monitoring for Statoilhydro in the Norwegian Sea. Since the 1980’s, Norwegian legislation has enforced Environmental Monitoring around all platforms, installations and subsea structures. Each site is surveyed every three years in order to assess the impact of offshore exploration and production.

Around each site, bottom samples are taken using a Van Ween grab. The sampling points various distances and directions from the structures. The samples are subject to tests that check for hydrocarbon content, heavy metals content, organic matter content & particle size distribution. The sample is then washed and run through a 1mm sieve. The biological samples that remain are used to produce a diversity index. These are compared with reference stations for that year and with previous data for that site.

Every area within the program has a baseline study to assess the environmental situation without the impact of the exploration and production activities. Even when a site is no longer functioning, the monitoring continues for 6 years and may be extended longer if considered necessary.

So what have been the findings of the monitoring program? Well, past surveys have shown that there is little or no impact outside of 500m from the platform. Generally, it is expected that most areas will return to their original state in 10-20 years following the cessation of activities. There is an exception however.

In the 1990’s the discharge of oil based drilling mud was stopped. On the older stations where this occurred, despite the cessation of activities, the effect of this is clearly evident.

Bringing-the-grab-onboard

The crew have played an active roll in this project. The four seamen have been operating the winch for the team of marine biologists. The second part of the project involves box coring for Shell as part of the same Environmental Monitoring Program. All data from this program is publicly available from the Norwegian Environment Agency.

Article by Ralph Stevens, Chief Officer, RRS Ernest Shackleton

Grab Sampling photo by Lars Petter Myhre

Winch Driving photo by Ralph Stevens

Greetings once again, well here we are, floating about in the North Sea on contract and earning our keep.

After a fairly hectic stay in Immingham with repairs and new installations of equipment we finally departed Immingham on Sunday the 10th of May and headed out for DP trials, which were conducted just off the Humber estuary.  The trials went well and on Monday evening we dropped off the surveyor and few others onto the Humber launch and turned our bow northwards towards Norway.

The passage across the North Sea was thankfully calm. We picked our pilot off Bergen at about midday and had great run in picking our way between the picturesque islands in glorious sunshine. We eventually arrived at our berth about three hours later.

Island Dwellings

Island Life

We were greeted by the Riebers representatives and given the low-down on what the plans for the vessel were.  We were to spend a few days in Bergen and then depart for Kristiansund further up the coast where we would mobilise for our first job of the season.

On the Friday a good few us were treated to a tour around Bergen curtesy of Riebers, which included a ride on a Vernicular railway up to the top of one of the seven mountains overlooking Bergen.

Overlooking Bergen

It was an absolutely clear day and the view from up there was spectacular and seemingly never ending.

Old Town

Down in the harbour area we were shown around the old parts of city, which are now a “World Heritage Site”.  All the buildings are original wooden structures some over 200 years old. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day out.

On Friday and Saturday night we took the opportunity to taste the nightlife of Bergen. There was lots of live music about. We were all flabbergasted at the prices off everything though, which were seemingly double if not more than what we were used to paying in the U.K.  We steadied ourselves, tried not to think too much about it and ventured bravely forth nonetheless.

Island off Bergen

On Sunday the 17th we departed Bergen for Krsitiansund, the vessel snaking her way once again between the islands as we headed north.  We arrived at our destination midday on Monday midday and were greeted by the client personnel who gave us all a briefing of the scope of the project before commencing with all the steel work on deck. They had hoped to be finished and away later that night but a series of delays, not caused by the ship, resulted in the job taking much longer than anticipated. The work was eventually completed on late on Wednesday evening and just after midnight we headed once again, out to sea.

Kristiansund

So here we are moving form position to position taking surface mud samples for analysis.  They are looking for levels of contamination from different installations as part of an environmental impact study.

Heidrun Rig - North Sea - Norway

We will repeating this work at various instaltions up down the oil fields until we sign offbe doing this until we sign off on monday the 8th June.

Text and images by Pat O’Hara