Guest guest Posted July 16, 2002 Report Share Posted July 16, 2002 ***************************Advertisement*************************** eCentral - Your Entertainment Guide http://www.star-ecentral.com ***************************************************************** This message was forwarded to you by yitzeling. Comment from sender: This article is from thestar.com.my URL: http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2002/7/16/features/yygaspipe & sec\ =features ________________________ <DIV ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE= " Arial " COLOR= " #9F9F9F " >Tuesday, July 16, 2002 Line of contention CONTROVERSY has dogged the Malaysia-Thai gas pipeline project since it was first proposed three years ago. The project, which aims to exploit gas reserves off the coast of Songkhla in Thailand, is a joint venture between Petronas and the Petroleum Authority of Thailand. & nbsp;<p> Under this project, natural gas will be pumped up from offshore fields in the Gulf of Thailand to service industries and consumers in both countries via the proposed 366km-long Trans-Thailand-Malaysia Gas Pipeline System. The pipeline will link up with the Peninsular Gas Utilisation pipeline & #8211; which services Peninsular Malaysia & #8211; at Changlun in Kedah. & nbsp;<p> Environmental organisations are generally quiet over the setting up of gas pipelines as they see it as a trade-off for cleaner fuel. & nbsp;<p> After all natural gas which is colourless and odourless has been touted as the cleanest fossil fuel with 45% less emission of carbon dioxide which contributes to global warming. & nbsp;<p> It also emits lower levels of sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and reactive hydrocarbons. & nbsp;<p> However, the joint Malaysia-Thai gas pipeline project generated a storm of protest from the local Thai community who fears it may unleash adverse social and environmental consequences. & nbsp;<p> Local groups together with Thai academicians and environmentalists cite the impact it would have on one of the few sand dune forests in the world which is sited in southern Thailand. & nbsp;<p> There are concerns too that the project will disrupt the coastal ecosystem and affect the fishing industry, thus jeopardising the villagers & #8217; livelihood. They worry that drilling operations would pollute the air and contaminate the water with mercury. & nbsp;<p> Incidentally, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on this project was rejected eight times, mainly on the grounds of its adverse social impact. & nbsp;<p> The project was to have taken off last year but was stalled because of the many problems it ran into. There was also widespread resentment on the Thai side that Malaysia would be the first to benefit without suffering the environmental effects. Under the agreement, the first five years of output will all go to Malaysia. & nbsp;<p> Thai authorities have held numerous meetings with their counterparts in Malaysia. During a two-day official visit to Bangkok recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad was assured that the project would proceed, although with some inevitable delay that will push costs beyond the original estimate of US$800mil (RM3.04bil). & nbsp;<p> The latest news is that the Thai side is re-routing the pipeline 5km away from the original site through land owned by the navy to circumvent objections. & nbsp;<p> According to a local environmental consultant who declined to be named, there is no conclusive proof of environmental damage other than during the initial set-up. The EIA also bears this out as it did not raise any objections on environmental grounds, but highlighted the socio-economic impact on the communities involved. & nbsp;<p> However, it was pointed out that the gas reservoirs off the coast of Songkhla contained one of the highest concentrations of carbon dioxide in the world, and if any of that escapes during drilling, it would adversely affect the corals and marine ecosystem. & nbsp;<p> Russian marine environmentalist Dr Stanislav Patin, in his book Environmental Impact of the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry, points out that high concentrations of hydrogen sulphide are sometimes found in pockets of natural gas. & nbsp;<p> Accidents involving offshore drilling can release this water-soluble poisonous gas into the ocean, bringing untold harm. Leaks in the pipeline offshore and onshore can contaminate the environment with hydrogen sulphide too. & nbsp;<p> Engineer Muhammad Razif Ibrahim, who is involved in the oil and gas infrastructure business, says that any problems associated with the project would only be common ones during the construction process, with soil erosion and collapse of slopes if proper mitigation measures are not taken. This could lead to sedimentation in rivers which may disrupt aquatic life. & nbsp;<p> Another potential problem is the accumulation of wastes known as natural gas pipeline condensate. This waste contains a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, including benzene which is a carcinogen. & nbsp;<p> In February the US Environmental Protection Agency took to task the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation (Transco) for disposing condensate wastes near its compression stations which could result in contamination of groundwater. Transco, one of the main gas distributors in the United States, was also found to have used lubricants containing polychlorinated biphenyl, a cancer-causing agent, in its compressor stations. & nbsp;<p> Transco was slapped with a fine of US$1.4mil (RM5.32mil) and ordered to carry out clean-up operations. & nbsp;<p> A local environmental consultant says that these gas condensates, which are the heavier hydrocarbons that come out of the ground with the natural gas, are usually separated at the receiving stations when the gas comes ashore. The useful gases like propane and butane are removed and sold as liquefied petroleum gas. & nbsp;<p> The processed natural gas is then pumped through the distribution lines. & nbsp;<p> In order to push the gas over long distances through the pipelines, compressor stations are needed. & nbsp;<p> These stations compress the gas, and this can result in more condensates being formed from residual heavy hydrocarbons left in the gas mix. & nbsp;<p> & #8220;Compression stations usually have a knock out drum or slug catcher to collect these liquids which should be disposed of if they contain the heavier or nastier chemicals, & #8221; he explains. & nbsp;<p> These condensates are sent by trucks back to the receiving station where they will be burnt off, resulting in flares that are sometimes seen at the processing plants. & nbsp;<p> Clearly the environmental impact of gas extraction, its transmission and distribution needs to be studied more closely to avoid serious repercussions that could arise from ignorance or negligence. & nbsp;<p> <p><!-- Page: 4 --> ________________________ Your one-stop information portal: The Star Online http://thestar.com.my http://biz.thestar.com.my http://classifieds.thestar.com.my http://cards.thestar.com.my http://search.thestar.com.my http://star-motoring.com http://star-space.com http://star-jobs.com http://star-ecentral.com http://star-techcentral.com 1995-2002 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. 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