Question
Question Four (a) You are an expert working with a consultancy firm contracted to carryout exploratior development, production and decommissioning of Kingfisher oll fields in Uganda. (12 mark Explain what each of the four activities mentioned In 4(a) entails. (b) The National Oil and Gas Policy for Uganda , 200B recommends value addition throu refining process. (04 marl (i) Explain two processes carried out during oil refinery. (04 mar (ii) State four disadvantages of such a project in 4(b)
Answer
4.5
(255 Votes)
Una
Elite · Tutor for 8 years
Answer
(a) Exploration: The process which includes the search for rock formations associated with oil and gas. Means are then used to test the formations to unearth if oil and gas are there in sufficient powers to justify the need of perfection. Development: It's the stage that involves fully establishing facilities and infrastructure development necessary for the production stage.Production: The operation of bringing the well fluids to the surface and separating hydrocarbons and fluids.Decommissioning: It involves properly disposing off oilfield infrastructure and restoring the ecosystem after extraction is no more profitable.(b)(i) The process of oil refining includes Distillation: Application of heat, usually under pressure, to separate the different particles contained in the oil based on their diferentes of boiling points. Conversion: Altering of certain molecules, or compounds, into others. Few reactions change light, but unsaleable, molecular items into gas and gasoline. (ii) Among the disadvantages of refining in Uganda are cultural displacement, resource degradation, environmental pollution, unequal economic benefits, and risk of corruption.
Explanation
Part (a) of the question refers to the four stages in developing and using oil fields, specifically applied to the Kingfisher oil fields in Uganda. Exploration involves searching for geological conditions suitable for extracting oil. Development involves readying the site for extraction by installing all necessary equipment and facilities. Production refers to extraction and refining of oil or gas on-site. Decommissioning refers to retiring the site when extraction is no longer economically sustainable - infrastructure must be removed, possible contamination must be cleaned up, and efforts need to be made to restore the ecosystem.Section (b) concerns the National Oil and Gas Policy for Uganda, established in 2008 and highlights the refining process. (i) The asked processes of refining might vary but in general, refining involves either distillation where the oil is heated and different compound elements are tapped off at their boiling points or conversion where specific molecules in raw petroleum are altered into molecules to create the desired product.(ii) The projected disadvantages for the project in Uganda could potentially be an uneven distribution of economic benefits, displacement of local communities, environmental degradation through pollution, and potential for corruption and mismanagement.