Estate Service Asset - PDO

Petroleum Development Oman
Estate Services Asset
Environmental Assessment
2002 Review and Update
6 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
6.1 Methodology
In this chapter, the significant environmental hazards and effects present in the asset
are identified and assessed based on the methodology outlined in PDO's document
GU-195 "Environmental Assessment Guideline" (Reference 2). In PDO's
terminology, the term "environmental hazard" is used for the sources (causes) of
potential environmental effects, and term “effect” is used for the impact.
The environmental effects may include all those that are beneficial or adverse, short
or long term (acute or chronic), temporary or permanent, direct or indirect, and local
or strategic. The adverse effects may include all those leading to, harm to living
resources, damage to human health, hindrance to other activities, impairment of
quality for use, reduction of amenities, damage to cultural and heritage resources, and
damage to physical structures.
For each identified potential environmental effect, the associated environmental risk
is assessed based on its likelihood and significance. The likelihood (frequency) of
occurrence of an effect, the significance of its consequence and the potential risk level
are evaluated qualitatively as described below:
- Rating of likelihood (frequency) of occurrence of an effect:
A (very low), B (low), C (medium), D (high), E (very high)
- Rating of significance of its consequence:
slight, minor, localized, major and massive
- Rating of potential environmental risk level:
low, medium, high and extreme
The criteria used for rating the environmental risk are discussed in detail in Appendix
2.
6.2 Potential Environmental Hazards and Effects
The potential environmental hazards and effects associated with the various activities
performed in the asset are presented in Appendix 3. These are presented in the form of
matrices. In the following sections, the impacts identified are qualitatively assessed
according to the methodology presented in Section 6.1.
©HMR Environmental Engineering Consultants C6 - 1
Oman’s Environmental Consultancy
HMR\1501\Estate Services