Environmental aspects of hydrocarbon exploration in the arctic

Stephen A. Macko, University of Virginia, USA
Vortrag in englischer Sprache
Kurssaal, Seiteneingang NHM, Burgring

Together with increasing global population comes a heightened demand for increased energy resources. While advanced technologies are being vigorously pursued to allow for drilling offshore in deeper ocean waters, an alternate novel location for exploration and production is the Arctic. The Arctic includes 25 geologically defined regions that may contain up to 100 billion barrels of oil and trillions of cubic feet of natural gas, some in the form of gas hydrates. These resources may represent the largest of the world’s remaining untapped gas reserves and much of the undeveloped oil reserves. These reserves, when accessed, will have implications for the global climate, and for the environmental health of the Arctic environment. At present, only minimal preparation for impact and cleanup exists for this eventuality in fragile Arctic environments. Only through an appreciation for the past, in more forgiving locations, and a comprehensive understanding of the present fragility of the Arctic, can we anticipate the future. The potential for that vision of the ocean lies with cooperation among all nations.

Gemeinsame Veranstaltung der Freunde des Naturhistorischen Museums, der Österreichischen Geologischen Gesellschaft und der Österreichischen Mineralogischen Gesellschaft

Kurssaal, Seiteneingang NHM, Burgring