1. European Centre for Environmental Research and Training
PANTEION university
Offshore exploitation of hydrocarbons and the Convention for the protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution Villefranche-sur-Mer,

2. Outlook
Definitions
Offshore Exploration and Exploitation Activities Worldwide
Offshore Exploration and Exploitation Activities in the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Environmental Governance
Oil Pollution Accidents in the Mediterranean
Comments on the Mediterranean Regime for Offshore Activities

3. Definitions
Activities concerning exploration and/or exploitation of the resources means:
(i) Activities of scientific research concerning the resources of the seabed and its subsoil
(ii) Exploration activities:
- Seismological activities; surveys of the seabed and its subsoil; sample taking
- Exploration drilling
(iii) Exploitation activities:
- Establishment of an installation for the purpose of recovering resources, and activities connected therewith; Development drilling; Recovery, treatment and storage; Transportation to shore by pipeline and loading of ships; Maintenance, repair and other ancillary operations
(Offshore Protocol)
Offshore activities are defined as:
activities in connection with the exploration or exploitation of so much of the seabed or subsoil or their natural resources as is situated in a state’s sector of the continental shelf
Offshore drilling:
Drilling for oil or gas in an ocean, gulf, or sea, usually on the outer continental shelf

4. Offshore Exploration and Exploitation Activities Worldwide
25-30% of Global Oil and Gas Production
Main Activity Areas
Gulf of Mexico
North Sea
Brazil
West Africa
Southeast Asia
Australia
(GESAMP 2007)
Projected Areas of activities in the future
Eastern Mediterranean
Arctic
(GESAMP 2007)

5. Offshore Exploration and Exploitation Phases
Seismic Surveying
Exploratory Drilling
Appraisal Drilling and Well Testing
Production Phase

6. Side effects of Offshore Exploration and Exploitation
Operational Discharges
Machinery Discharges
Drilling Discharges
Produced Water Discharges
Accidental Discharges
Most Recent Major Accident: Deepwater Horizon on May 2010 (Gulf of Mexico)
Estimated input of oil from offshore activities and production: tn/yr.
(GESAMP 2007)
Other Problems:
Acoustic Pollution (affecting marine mammals)
Decommissioning of Platforms (dangerous for ecosystems and maritime navigation)

7. Offshore Exploration and Exploitation Activities in Mediterranean
Country
No of Active Oil Rigs 2010
No of Active Oil Rigs 2011
ITALY 4 5
MALTA 1 3
CROATIA
EGYPT 7 10
ISRAEL -
TUNISIA 2
SPAIN
LIBYA
TOTAL 22 30
Steady increase of activities in recent years (Italy, Libya, Egypt, Croatia, Malta) and new activities are projected for near future (Cyprus, Greece, Israel)
Eastern Mediterranean (Levantine and Nile Delta Basins) are regarded as having world class potential for undiscovered natural gas and significant oil resources (USGS 2010)
Source:

8. Mediterranean Environmental Governance 1975-2011 (I)
1975: 16 Mediterranean countries and the European Community adopted the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), the first-ever Regional Seas Program under UNEP's umbrella
1976: the Parties adopted the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution (Barcelona Convention)
Barcelona Convention Protocols
Dumping Protocol (from ships and aircraft)
Prevention and Emergency Protocol (pollution from ships and emergency situations)
Land-based Sources and Activities Protocol
Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity Protocol
Offshore Protocol (pollution from exploration and exploitation)
Hazardous Wastes Protocol
Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)

9. Mediterranean Environmental Governance 1975-2011 (II)
1995: the Action Plan for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Sustainable Development of the Coastal Areas of the Mediterranean (MAP Phase II) was adopted to replace MAP
The Contracting Parties also adopted an amended version of the Barcelona Convention, renamed Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean
Today: 22 Contracting Parties
Convention's main objectives:
assess & control marine pollution
ensure sustainable management of natural marine & coastal resources
integrate the environment in social & economic development
protect the marine environment & coastal zones through prevention and reduction/elimination of pollution, whether land or sea-based
protect the natural & cultural heritage
strengthen solidarity among Mediterranean coastal States
contribute to improvement of the quality of life

10. The “Offshore Protocol”
Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution Resulting from Exploration and Exploitation of the Continental Shelf and the Seabed and its Subsoil  Adoption: 14 October 1994 (Madrid, Spain)  Entry into force:24 March 2011
Aim: establishing an effective management system to protect the Mediterranean Sea from pollution resulting from exploration and exploitation of the continental shelf, the seabed and its subsoil, and organize a mutual assistance in cases of emergency
It establishes a system of authorization, monitoring and strict liability in case of damage, with a view to limit impact on natural resources, biodiversity and population
The area to which it applies is:
(a) The Mediterranean Sea Area, including the continental shelf and the seabed and its subsoil
(b) Waters, including the seabed and its subsoil, on the landward side of the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured and extending, in the case of watercourses, up to the freshwater limit
Contracting Parties: 6
Signed (not ratified): 8
Albania
Croatia
Cyprus
Greece
Libya
Israel
Morocco
Italy
Syria
Malta
Tunisia
Monaco
Slovenia
Spain

11. Oil Related Accidents in the Mediterranean (I)
Main Reason of Concern:
Transport of crude oil by tankers and pipelines
Hotspots: Bosphorus and Dardanelles, Strait of Messina, Gibraltar
Other Reasons of Concern:
Rapidly Expanding Offshore Drilling Activities
Illicit Tanker Discharges
Regional Response Measures
REMPEC (Emergency Related Activities)
Legal Basis: Emergency Protocol

12. Oil Related Accidents in the Mediterranean (II): The Adriatic IV Accident
In August 2004, the Adriatic IV was on location over the Temsah gas production platform, off Port Said, Egypt in the Mediterranean. The platform was owned jointly by BP, Italy's ENI and Egypt's General Petroleum Corporation
A gas blowout during drilling ops caused an explosion followed by fire (August 2004)
Adriatic IV was reported sunk and not salvageable
The platform was damaged beyond repair and its destruction was ordered by Egypt's petroleum minister
Less than a year after the accident, production at the Temsah field was back on-stream at full production rates

13. Comments on the Mediterranean Regime for Offshore Activities
Fragmentation of the institutional framework (EU, Barcelona Convention, Union for the Mediterranean etc) – lack of coordination
Offshore Protocol:
It reflects the outdated state-centric approach as opposed to the participatory approach
There is need for the development of a liability and compensation regime
It has only been ratified by 6 countries
“If a gap can be noticed in the Mediterranean, it relates more to governance than to regulation”

14. Thank you for your attention