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Journal of the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA)
RESEARCH ARTICLE

A quantitative method for evaluating ecological risks associated with long-term degradation of deep-sea plastic-containing infrastructure

Alexander N. Testoff A * , Nicholas A. Nelson A and Joseph P. Nicolette A
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A Montrose Environmental Solutions, Sandy Springs, GA 30350, USA.

* Correspondence to: atestoff@montrose-env.com

The APPEA Journal 62(1) 141-158 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ21113
Submitted: 9 December 2021  Accepted: 11 February 2022   Published: 13 May 2022

© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of APPEA.

Abstract

Presented herein is a newly developed quantitative approach for assessing potential ecological risk resulting from long-term degradation of deep-sea plastic-containing infrastructure. The risk characterisation involves four iterations of modelled ‘risk’ through forward or backward calculation of a deterministic hazard quotient, mathematically defined as the ratio of estimated exposure to a reference dose (or concentration) for a similar exposure period. The assessment focuses on direct effects of microplastics exposure, wherein exposure concentrations are based on modelled estimates of microplastic mass formation resulting from structure deterioration over time. Predicted no effect concentrations (PNECs) protective of slightly-to-moderately disturbed ecosystems and ecosystems of high conservation value were determined based on a species sensitivity distribution (SSD), in accordance with the current Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality. Each iteration of risk characterisation is performed irrespective of burial, with varying exposure unit dimensions (i.e. geographically localised and broader regions of microplastic dispersal) and degrees of plastic degradation, designed to conservatively bound the risk characterisation. Additionally, two SSDs derived from different ecotoxicological data sets prioritising either particle shape or marine species are also provided for a sensitivity analysis of the PNEC. Thus, the bounding exercise encompasses all possible outcomes. The risk characterisation approach is reviewed for a case study of two larger plastic-containing flowline assets in an oil production field offshore of Australia. The outcome of the risk assessment is the same for all model iterations: degradation of the subsea plastic-containing flowlines does not pose a risk to the local marine community.

Keywords: degradation, ecological risk, microplastics, NEBA, net environmental benefit analysis based comparative assessment, offshore decommissioning, plastics, risk assessment, toxicity.

Alex Testoff is a registered professional environmental engineer and senior consultant at Montrose Environmental Solutions. Mr Testoff holds two degrees in environmental engineering: a Bachelor of Science from Ohio State University and a Master of Science from John’s Hopkins University. Mr Testoff has 8 years of experience in contaminated site assessment and remediation consulting in the United States, primarily practicing in the CERCLA (Superfund) and RCRA regulatory areas, and in application of net environmental benefit assessment based comparative assessment (NEBA-CA) and habitat equivalency analysis (HEA) in decision-making associated with competing decommissioning strategies for international offshore oil/gas developments. Mr Testoff has unique capabilities in quantitative ecological risk characterisation and terrestrial ecological studies, and has developed an approach to quantitatively assess the potential for ecological impairment due to microplastics exposure resulting from long-term degradation of plastic-containing structures in offshore oil/gas developments.

Nick Nelson is an associate/staff level scientist with Montrose Environmental Solutions. Mr Nelson holds a Bachelor of Art degree in international management with minors in applied mathematics and environmental science from Franklin University, Switzerland, and is working towards a Master of Science in biodiversity, wildlife, and ecosystem health from the University of Edinburgh. Mr Nelson has conducted and co-authored several NEBA-CA as applied to offshore oil/gas infrastructure decommissioning and is experienced in ecosystem service valuation using HEA, resource equivalency analysis (REA), and commercial and personnel risk assessment. Mr Nelson has led and supported decommissioning projects in the North Sea and in Western Australia, and has extensive experience conducting assessments in the respective regulatory climates.

Joseph Nicolette is the Vice President of Ecosystem Services at Montrose Environmental Solutions. Mr Nicolette holds two degrees: a Bachelor of Science in environmental resources management from Pennsylvania State University, and a Master of Science in fisheries from the University of Minnesota. Mr Nicolette has over 35 years of experience in environmental consulting across 15 countries, with a career focus on site risk management, remediation, natural resource damage assessment (NRDA), aquatic ecology, and ecosystem service valuation. Mr Nicolette co-authored the first formalised framework for NEBA-CA, focusing on site remediation and restoration, recognised by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the USEPA Science Advisory Board, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Mr Nicollete pioneered the HEA methodology used in ecological service valuation before HEA became codified into NRDA regulations. He also provides strategic advice grounded in quantitative sciences on offshore decommissioning projects to balance and manage site risks and benefits (social, environmental, economic, technical, and safety) associated with competing alternatives.


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