The Impact of Submarine Pipelines to Coastal

Zones in Sabah and Sarawak

Presented By:
Mohd. Afiq Mohammad Uzir 16666
Siti Sarah Suhaimi 17319
Introduction
Environmental Impacts
during Installation and
Managements
Environmental Impacts
during Commissioning and
Testing and Managements
Conclusion
I
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From the discovery of petroleum as a natural
energy resource, improvements in techniques
of exploration, especially the offshore drilling
and transportation were developed around the
world to obtain the Black gold.

By 1960 the land-based petroleum production
of most Borneo fields was growing slowly,
whether from reduction of resources or for
political reasons; on the Peninsula there was
no petroleum production
The first major offshore
discoveries were made
from Brunei and
Sarawak, and in the
second half of the
1960s the first offshore
wells came on stream

By the late 1970s, the existence of
more oil pools and big gas
resources had been established on
the large sections of the eastern
and northern coasts of Borneo

With exploration continuing into
ever-deeper waters, especially of oil
and gas, the submarine pipeline
system are utilized as the ideal way
of transportation of the resource
from offshore platforms in order to
fulfill the rising rate of energy
demand in the region
Environmental
Impacts
during
Installation
and
Managements
Contents
Environmental Baseline Study
involves sampling of water
quality parameters, biological
communities and bottom
sediments.

The suspension of the
sediment would smother the
marine communities.

Impact on the fishing activity
around the study area arises
causing the fisherman to
avoid fishing in the
surrounding sea.

Pre-
Construction
Phase
Local disturbance to the seabed
during the piling work, affecting the
current flow resulting in
resuspension of sediment particles.

This causes changes to the benthic
communities and also the alteration
in water quality parameters

The impact of fishing are obvious,
fishermen would avoid fishing in the
surrounding sea due to fear of
potential mishap or hazard arising
from the piling activities.
Installation
Phase
Management
measures
Installation should be reduced
to the shortest possible time
to minimize impact on the
oceanography and water
quality

In reducing the conflicts on
the use of open waters,
authorities such as Fishery
Department and LKIM should
be informed.
Offshore Submarine
Pipeline Placement
pipelines will rest upon
the seafloor thus causing
temporary and localized
disturbance to bottom
sediments

Impacts on the environment arise due
to:
Spillage of waste coating materials
(bituminous compounds, concrete, etc.) and
oil and grease from machinery on the laybarge
into the water column

Personnel on board the laybarge may produce
sewage discharge that would pollute the
seawater with excess nutrients.

Contaminated ballast water discharged from
the laybarge also pollutes the water in the
area
Resuspension of bottom sediments occur when
the heavy pipeline is released too quickly onto
the sea bed (high touchdown velocity)
causing a rapid rise in turbidity and damaging
the surrounding habitat.

Existing soluble pollutants in the sediment may
travel with the bottom currents and affecting
ecosystem in adjacent areas, including
sensitive sites.
Management
Measures
The pipe laying process using
barge causes the least
disturbance to the sea beds, it
is the most suitable method for
of offshore pipeline installation

The pipeline joints should be
strong to withstand minor
pressure pores by sudden gas
escapes causing damage to the
surrounding ecosystem.
Shore Approach
Pipe-laying
During this operation the
trenching process disturbs the
seabed sediments causing it to be
dispersed over the adjacent
seafloor, affecting the surrounding
biota
Depends on :
The location and hydrodynamics of the
site such as the water depth, sea
conditions,
The surface and under currents,
The nature of the material being dredge
and the type of dredge used.
Increments of 6.5 NTU to 102-441 NTU in
turbidity was observed in an area within 100 m
radius of the dredger

Other impacts on the water quality are the
release of heavy metals, organic compound and
nutrients from the sediment to the water column.

The pulling of the pipeline will cause
resuspension of sediment and releasing
sedimented contaminants such as heavy metals
and organic components
Impact to Marine
Biological System
Installation of pipelines at offshore and nearshore
areas:
resulting in the loss of some benthic and bottom
feeding organism due to trenching and increased
turbidity associated with the pipeline laying
Anchoring activities on the seabed disturbed
immobilize benthic organisms. It will take a long
period of time for the benthic population to return
to its original state after the activities are
completed.
The pipelines will rest upon the
seafloor thus causing distribution and
resulting to changes of localized
benthic community structure.
The benthic organisms are forced to re-
colonize or re-establish themselves elsewhere
and new communities will be established.

Mobile pelagic organism are affected during
the pipe laying activities where their feeding
grounds might be destroyed causing them to
flee to other areas to feed.
Figure 1: Oil and gas fields, refineries, and LNG plants
in Borneo (Sources: Government of Malaysia 1991a;
Valencia, 1991)
The installation process of the offshore pipeline
system had effect the local communities fishing
activities
Physical interactions with fishing activities had
caused damage to fishing gears such as the nets
got entangled with the pipelines
Interference of the fishermens right to fish in
the waters and disturbance of fish stocks. There
are 500 m radius of safety zone imposed around
every pipeline installation area may be perceived
as loss of fishing ground.
Impact
to the
Fisheries
Activity
Management
Measures
Local fishermen should be
duly warned of the planned
activities in a timely manner.

If there is a real complaint of
loss of fishing ground by the
local fishermen, the contractor
should lease with the Marine
Fisheries Department on the
requirements and procedures
for compensation.
Impact to the Socio-economics of
the Local Communities
Majorities of the workers that are
working on the laybarge and work
boat are recruited from the local
community

The impact is positive for the duration
of the installation work and benefits
those local who are employed for the
work
Management
Measures
The contractors are
to give priority for
employment to the
locals so there will
not be any
discontentment in
the local community.

Environmental Impact during
Testing and Commissioning
Phase and Management
The integrity of the pipeline will
be check out by carrying a
hydrostatic test.

The seawater used for the
hydrostatic testing is inhibited by
adding a few type of chemicals.
Caused orange plume in the
sea due to the tracer dye.

The orange dye will disperse
and dilute rapidly and
eventually will disappear after
a few hours.

The negative impact on water
quality and marine life is
considered insignificant.

Impact of
Inhibited
Seawater
Discharge
Management
measures

Concentration of the
chemicals used should be
optimized and
environmental friendly.

Project development team
is responsible to ensure
chemicals used is
implemented
Figure 2: MLNG-Tiga Underwater Pipeline Development
Project off the coast of Miri and Bintulu, Sarawak. (Sources:
NREB, 2009)
Environmental Impacts during
Operational Phase
Routine activities associated with the
operation phase:
a)pipeline inspection
b)maintenance
c)corrosion protection monitoring

Oil spill and chemicals spillage
during maintenance and
operation activities into water
bodies will pollute the water
column.

The floating oil can be harmful to
plankton communities.

The impact to marine
environment is significant.
Impact
from
Chemical
Spillage
Management
measures
Expired chemicals should be
sent to shore for proper
disposal.

Technician should be
adequately trained in chemical
handling.

Inspect the chemicals
containers regularly for any
leaks and corroded containers.

Anti-fouling agent normally
added into paint formulation to
control bio-fouling.

As a result small amount of the
chemical released into the water
column which is introducing the
toxic heavy metals like Al, Cu, Ni
and also Zn.


Impact
from
Fouling and
Corrosion
Protection
Management
measures
Recommended amount of
chemical compounds like anti-
fouling agent which is
allowable should be strictly
adhered to for these bio-
fouling controls.

Submarine pipelines are very
importance nowadays. However,
periodic inspection of submarine
pipelines is recommended,
especially after natural disaster,
to ensure the integrity of the
pipelines and also to reduce
negative impacts.
Conclusion