Golder Associates has completed a comprehensive social baseline study in Greenland on behalf of Maersk Oil, Cairn Energy, ConocoPhillips and Shell.
The cooperative study was commissioned as Maersk Oil, Cairn Energy, ConocoPhillips and Shell are in the process of planning their exploration activities off the coast of the Qaasuitsup territory in north-western Greenland – one of the northernmost locations ever for drilling.
Before they could initiate any plans, they needed comprehensive assessments of how their operations would affect those who live there and the local environment.
Image: An iceberg offshore Greenland. Image from Golder.
Instead of undertaking four different social baseline studies, Golder lead a co-operative effort on behalf of all four oil companies. Working with the local consultancy Inuplan A/S, Golder mapped all the local conditions in the tough Arctic environment and entered a dialogue with local communities. This helped the oil companies plan their future activities so that they can engage most out of scarce local resources and infrastructure and minimize strain and negative impact on communities.
The joint study was a pioneering achievement, says Golder, showing how companies can expand their operations into new territories in an innovative and sustainable manner.
The project is one of a number Golder Associates has been working on in the Arctic, strengthening its Arctic presence.
In Canada, Golder has several projects in the Beaufort and Atlantic regions. One of the Beaufort projects is a wide-ranging environmental assessment. It includes support, data sourcing and data analysis for different kinds of numerical modelling – such as spill trajectory and plume dispersion modelling, mud and cuttings discharge modelling, air emissions trajectory modelling, and acoustic modelling related to underwater sound generated by ship operations and drilling activity.
With specialist teams for harsh climate oil, gas and mining, Golder has extensive experience from consulting on responsible operations in the High North. The consultancy operates across Northern Europe, North America and Russia, delivering a wide range of services to the petroleum and mining industry. As the High North becomes a central arena for future oil and gas extraction, understanding the Arctic is and will be essential for the petroleum industry.
Golder’s Danish Country Director, Hans Christian Krarup, and the rest of the Golder team, will be at ONS this week, stand C-300 in exhibition hall C.
Subscribe
