ABSTRACT
Environmental impacts are normally classified according to the environmental compartment affected (air, water and soil), and/or oil and gas industry location (on- or offshore). Northeast Atlantic oil and gas exploration and production, mainly in the Barents Sea, represents a combined consortia of on- and offshore activities, with likely impacts on all three compartments. In addition to permanent and temporary exploration and production facilities, service activities like refining, transport and storage of crude and refined petroleum, production chemicals and technical equipment, as well as solid and liquid wastes, should all be included when attempting to describe the total environmental risk posed by the industry.
