The MOOC will be developed around Five (05) modules capitalizing on the experience of face-to-face courses held in Mauritania and Senegal.
- Module 1: Marine and coastal ecosystems and the services they provide
- Module 2: History, issues and geopolitics of oil and gas activities
- Module 3: Offshore oil and gas industry: characteristics, typology of activities and impacts
- Module 4: Regulatory frameworks for offshore oil and gas activities
- Module 5: Environmental management tools for offshore oil and gas activities
Module 1: Marine and coastal ecosystems and services
This module focuses on marine and coastal ecosystems, the services they provide and integrated marine and coastal zone management. The aim of this module is to give course participants an overview of the marine environment (ecosystems, habitats, biodiversity, resources, etc.) and the ecological and socio-economic services provided by marine and coastal ecosystems. The first step will be to describe ecosystems and how they function. For pedagogical reasons, the course will be subdivided into two ecosystems: marine ecosystems (sub-module 1.1) and coastal ecosystems (sub-module 1.2). In each of the two sub-modules, we'll focus on demonstrating the variety of species, habitats and biodiversity, the fragility of ecosystems, and the interconnectedness of habitats. Although habitats and species are relatively well conserved in Africa, this has been achieved at the cost of enormous efforts on the part of both governments and local populations involved in initiatives led by civil society and NGOs.
However, these ecosystems remain fragile. The main factors disturbing the environment will be presented. In addition to unsustainable fishing practices, these include climate change, 5 human aggression on coastal areas and various forms of pollution linked to offshore oil and gas activities. Finally, the module will focus on the importance of ecosystems, detailing the wide range of services they provide in terms of nutrition, regulation, disaster mitigation, etc. The good health of marine and coastal ecosystems is essential if we are to continue to benefit from these services (sub-module 1.3). NB: As a concrete example, a video presenting the PNBA or the Bijagos archipelago. The focus will be on the global ecological importance, ecosystem services and economic value of these two ecosystems. The following sub-modules are to be developed in Module 2
- Sub-module 1.1: Description and functioning of marine ecosystems;
- Sub-module 1.2: Description and functioning of coastal ecosystems;
- Sub-module 1.3: Importance of marine and coastal ecosystems and services rendered; N.B.: we recommend finding videos presenting the Banc d'Arguin, Bijagos, etc. to show their richness and vulnerability to pollution;
Module 2: History, challenges and geopolitics of oil and gas activities
Improved technology and the increasing scarcity of onshore hydrocarbons have led to a resurgence in offshore oil and gas exploration and production. This is the case in West Africa, where offshore oil and gas exploration and production has grown considerably in recent years. One of the aims of this module is to retrace the main features of the history of the oil and gas industry, from the first discoveries in the mid-19th century to the present day, in order to highlight the strategic transformations brought about by the advent of hydrocarbons in the global industrial economy. The presenter will focus on the role of the African continent in international dynamics (sub-module 2.1). Emphasis will be placed on the relationship between development issues and the exploitation of natural resources. Participants will be introduced to geopolitical issues at global and African level; the world economy's dependence on oil; strategic choices for sustainable hydrocarbon management and diversification of national economies; the curse of natural resources; characteristics of the current context (sub-module 2.2).
Another challenge for the module will be to present the main characteristics of oil companies, the main players in the extractive arena and their relations with governments, the shares of profits derived from the exploitation of hydrocarbons, etc. (sub-module 2.3). The module will also provide an understanding of the value chain approach in the extractive industries (its components and transparency), and introduce the various markets (financial, raw materials, etc.) and their operating mechanisms (sub-module 2.4). Four sub-modules are therefore planned:
- Sub-module 2.1: History of hydrocarbons and key issues
- Sub-module 2.2: Geopolitics of oil and gas activities worldwide
- Sub-module 2.3: Oil industry: characterization and organization at international level and in the West African sub-region.
- Sub-module 2.4: Value chain analysis in the extractive industries
Module 3: Offshore oil and gas industry: characteristics, typology of activities and impacts
The aim of this module is to provide participants with an understanding of the different stages of an offshore oil and gas project, from exploration through drilling and development to decommissioning, and their environmental, social and economic impacts. This module will include an introduction to the genesis of hydrocarbons (oil and gas geology) to explain the formation of petroleum, its geological environment and the evidence of hydrocarbon resources (sub-module 3.1). This module should enable course participants to discover and understand the main stages in the offshore hydrocarbon extraction process: the exploration process (initiated once the exploration permit has been obtained) and the exploitation process (initiated once the exploitation concession has been obtained). These include: geological and geophysical studies - exploration drilling, production, production drilling and extraction, processing, storage and loading/transfer operations, transport of oil and gas products offshore, decommissioning of infrastructure at the end of operations (sub-module 3.2).
Significant risks and associated environmental impacts will also be presented at each stage of the activity. Impacts should be described concisely, with a causal relationship, and the effects on other players and sectors of activity highlighted, such as negative effects on fishing. Technical measures to mitigate these risks should be presented for each of these activities, where they exist. Positive impacts, where they exist, should also be mentioned, such as the repopulation of fish around artificial reefs resulting from oil and gas infrastructures (sub-module 3.3). A new sub-module has been added to give you a deeper understanding of the impact of offshore oil and gas activities on marine biodiversity. This sub-module (sub-module 3.4) presents the importance of marine turtles, emblematic but fragile species, which contribute to the regulation of marine ecosystems, and characterizes the nature of the negative impacts of these activities and their direct effects on the survival of marine turtles, as well as the indirect effects on ecosystems.
The following sub-modules are proposed for this module:
- Sub-module 3.1: Hydrocarbon genesis (hydrocarbon geology);
- Sub-module 3.2: Main activities of the offshore oil and gas industry;
- Sub-module 3.3: The main environmental risks and impacts associated with oil and gas activities;
- Sub-module 3.4: Impacts of offshore oil and gas activities on sea turtle survival.
Module 4: Regulatory and cooperation frameworks for offshore oil and gas activities
Because of the damage it is likely to cause to the marine and coastal environment, the offshore oil and gas industry is subject to national, regional and international regulations designed to guide the strategic and technical choices of oil and gas projects in order to mitigate their impacts and make them compatible with the preservation of the marine and coastal 7 environment. Indeed, unregulated oil and gas operations are known to damage marine habitats and marine and coastal biodiversity. Regulating them by means of technological standards, environmental norms (emissions, discharges) and environmental management process standards is well within the realm of possibility. The aim of this module is to present the regulatory frameworks designed to oversee the extractive industry from the study phases through to abandonment, as part of a vision of sustainable development based on good governance of the resources of the extractive sectors (fishing and offshore hydrocarbons) and of marine and coastal areas. As an introduction to the module, it is important to share with participants the concepts that form the very foundations of the MOOC.
Indeed, the importance attached to safeguarding the environment in economic and social activities is rooted in the concept of sustainable development. This introductory module will therefore present the concept of sustainable development and highlight the essential elements that will make the offshore hydrocarbon extraction industry more of an economic opportunity than a threat for the countries that have it (sub-module 4.1). Next, the module will address the supranational legal framework for regulating oil industry activities in compliance with environmental requirements, and the specific frameworks established for the purposes of prevention, mitigation and compensation in the event of damage (MARPOL, OPRC, etc.). The main conventions regulating oil and gas activities will be shared with participants. A window will also be opened on the conventions on the conservation of habitat, species and biodiversity in general (CBD Convention, Ramsar Convention) in order to draw parallels between these different conventions.
To take account of the sub-regional context, the Additional Protocol to the Abidjan Convention on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration and Production will be highlighted (sub-module 4.2). The legal and institutional framework of national regulation (national laws and codes, petroleum contracts, etc.) and other public policy instruments governing petroleum activities remain the essential levers to which oil and gas sector players, administrators and citizens refer first and foremost. Emphasis will be placed on production processes, the conditions for their relevance and efficiency, and the need to adapt them to national contexts. To be more concrete and avoid generalities, this sub-module will present a case study from one of the countries in the sub-region (Senegal and/or Mauritania). (sub-module 4.3).
Finally, we will be highlighting the most relevant multilateral cooperation frameworks in the world that enable oil and gas industry players, government players and environmental civil society to cooperate (EITIE, Publish what you pay, IPIECA, GI-WACAF). These frameworks generate or promote good practices. To these we must add the good practices that define new environmental and social performance standards, which can under certain conditions have an impact on national projects (e.g. the norms and standards of the International Finance Corporation, etc.). Finally, the main environmental norms and standards for the management of offshore oil and gas activities will be highlighted (module 4.4).
NB: Particularly for the Atlantic sub-region, resources will include a video presentation and links to GIWACAF and the COBIA initiative. The following modules are proposed for this module:
- Sub-module 4.1 Sustainable development
- Sub-Module 4.2: Supranational regulatory frameworks
- Sub-Module 4.3: National legal and institutional frameworks
- Sub-module 4.4: Multilateral cooperation frameworks: Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), voluntary standards and codes (IPIECA,)
Module 5: Environmental management and monitoring tools for offshore oil and gas activities
The module will address two important types of tools for managing oil and gas activities: marine and coastal spatial planning and development tools, and environmental management and monitoring tools. A sub-module will be dedicated to tools for managing and monitoring the state of the environment following oil and gas activities (observation systems, measurement of biochemical indicators, etc.). The focus will be on the need for regular monitoring of the marine and coastal environment, and the relevant tools for monitoring and managing ocean quality, ecosystems and marine species. By way of example, we will focus on the marine and coastal environment monitoring system implemented in Mauritania by IMROP and in Senegal with CRODT as part of the COBIA initiative. (sub-module 5.1). The various environmental assessment tools will also be covered, from impact notices to Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), as well as the management tools to be developed in advance, based on international standards and their evolutions.
The ESMP calls for specific measures to be taken to prevent risks or mitigate impacts. This will highlight the need to align them with the risks and impacts identified in the EIA and SEA. (sub-module 5.3). Finally, the various aspects of oil spill preparedness and response will be presented. Indeed, despite the sound legal provisions governing exploration and exploitation activities, they do not protect against accidental spills, for which oil-producing countries need to be prepared. Emergency response plans are tools that prepare countries to combat pollution in the event of accidental spills. Coastal and offshore response techniques are covered in module 5.4.
The following courses are offered as part of this module:
- Sub-module 5.1: Systems for observing the state of the marine environment 9
- Sub-module 5.2: Environmental assessment approaches and tools: impact notice, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), environmental audit, Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA), etc.
- Sub-module 5.3: Environmental management approaches and tools : Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP),
- Sub-module 5.4: Marine pollution contingency plans
