Induced Effects : Induced effects during the initial stage of 

 drilling production wells are similar to effects related to exploratory 

 drilling. Employment figures, percentage of crews from the local labor 

 pool, and onshore living patterns are all similar. Onshore support for 

 a platform may be more extensive during this phase, as supply needs are 

 greater and somewhat more diverse. 



During the second phase, which begins after the well is completed, 

 employment both offshore and onshore declines rapidly. However, this 

 lower level of employment lasts approximately 20 years, and almost all 

 employees reside in the adjacent onshore area. Very few employees will 

 be new residents. This phase may be punctuated by workover, when 

 employment rises to levels of the first phase for a period of several 

 months. As they were during the initial stage, these employees are 

 primarily temporary residents who will leave the area upon completing 

 the workover; they have very little effect on the community. 



Effects on Living Resources 



Production drilling has effects of particular concern to fish and 

 wildlife from: (1) removal of ocean bottom habitat; (2) drill cuttings 

 and other discharges from the production platform; (3) oil spills; and 

 (4) increased activity from boats, pumps and other equipment. 



Location : Production drilling is basically similar to exploratory 

 drilling except it may continue for a much longer period of time and 

 more drilling occurs from a single site, therefore concentrating drill 

 cuttings and mud. When drill cuttings are disposed overboard, the ocean 

 bottom topography is altered; organisms can become smothered from the 

 silts and sediments. Drill cuttings disposal can lead to increased 

 turbidity, eutrophi cation, and toxifi cation of local waters. Although 

 new technology has greatly reduced the chance of blowouts, oil spills 

 are still a distinct possibility from production drilling. Spill 

 potentials are reduced because much is known about various field pressures 

 from the exploratory wells previously drilled. Additionally there is a 

 chance of a spill from the transfer of oil between the production 

 platform and tankers or barges prior to pipeline construction. Increased 

 activity from boats operating between the shore and the platform, plus 

 noise from compressors, pumps, and other machinery may cause fish and 

 wildlife to avoid an area which under normal conditions they would have 

 occupied for reproduction, feeding, etc. 



Design : The sponsor will have to incorporate design features into 

 a production platform which will exhibit the best in pollution control 

 technology, not only for the present to meet EPA's OCS platform discharge 

 criteria but also in terms of future developments. Appropriate designs 

 would allow easy insertion of pieces of machinery in anticipation of 

 future pollution control regulation. 



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