The need for an environmental strategy in the oil, gas and petrochemical industries

Abstract

The different stages of oil exploration, extraction, and processing, as well as its down-stream industries and the activities of refineries and petrochemical exploitation, leave multiple effects on the environment. For certain, as a result, soil, air, water (including surface and underground), organisms, plants, trees and even humans are affected by these effects. Hence, the fundamental importance of sustainable development and attention to the needs of the future generation, as well as the relevance of preventing the re-duction of environmental quality, encourages and requires oil industry and environmental experts to think of solutions and provide operational-strategic solutions to control and reduce the adverse environmental effects caused by these industries. Indeed, it is necessary to diversify control strategies and include environmental considerations in the planning of the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries, but the current situation is far from ideal. This article first briefly presents some environmental challenges and problems of the oil, gas and petrochemical industries and then describes the need for an environmental strategy to overcome these issues.