Sustainable Development of Green Fields: Greenhouse Emissions

and Project Footprint as low as reasonable possible

Jami J., Arteaga F., Guamán A. Central University of Ecuador (UCE) Chiluisa P. University
of the Armed Forces (ESPE)
Abstract:
This paper study the viability for the construction of a greenfield in Ecuador in relation to the oil and gas industry,
for which an investigation of the characteristics of a greenfield has been carried out, also it has been studied the
principal’s environmental impacts in the upstream activities such as exploration, drilling, production, workover and
activities of EOR and IOR to take advantage of the existing problems and create a sustainable field in Ecuador,
reducing its carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating existing social conflicts a Leopold matrix was
used, which is a tool to measure the environmental impact according to the different components that are operational
activities in the oil and gas industry through a weighted rating, which was based on a bibliographic investigation of
the current status quo, the rating takes into account the magnitudes of extension, reversibility, duration, magnitude
and importance that allows identifying impacts highly significant, significant, despicable and beneficial.
The research shows that the main impacts are found in the initial phases of the construction of ways and platforms,
drilling campaign, transportation and in the inefficiency of resource management, also it generates social conflicts
and even legal claims.
As alternative solutions that allow mitigating the impacts presented, the use of technologies and processes is necessary
with the sustainable development objectives that should be implemented in the construction of the Greenfield in
exploration and exploitation areas and in the operational activities carried out in the upstream oil and gas.

Keywords: Greenfield, Un-SDGs, Leopold Matrix, Smart Building, Technology

Desarrollo Sostenible de un Greenfield: Emisiones de Efecto

Invernadero y Huella del Proyecto tan bajas como sea posible

Resumen:
En este trabajo se estudia la viabilidad para la construcción de un greenfield en Ecuador en relación a la industria de
petróleo y gas, para lo cual se ha realizado una investigación de las características de un greenfield, también se han
estudiado los principales impactos ambientales en las actividades del upstream tales como exploración, perforación,
producción, reacondicionamiento y actividades de EOR e IOR para aprovechar los problemas existentes y crear un
campo sustentable en Ecuador, reduciendo su huella de carbono, emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero y
mitigando los conflictos sociales existentes se utilizó una matriz de Leopold, que es una herramienta para medir el
impacto ambiental de acuerdo a los diferentes componentes que son actividades operativas en la industria de petróleo
y gas a través de una calificación ponderada, la cual se basó en una investigación bibliográfica del status quo actual,
la calificación toma en cuenta las magnitudes de extensión , reversibilidad, duración, magnitud e importancia que
permite identificar impactos altamente significativo, significativo, despreciable y beneficioso.
La investigación muestra que los principales impactos se encuentran en las fases iniciales de la construcción de
caminos y plataformas, campaña de perforación, transporte y en la ineficiencia del manejo de recursos, además genera
conflictos sociales e incluso reclamos legales.
Como soluciones alternativas que permitan mitigar los impactos presentados, es necesario el uso de tecnologías y
procesos con los objetivos de desarrollo sustentable que se deben implementar en la construcción del Greenfield en
las áreas de exploración y explotación y en las actividades operativas que se llevan a cabo en el upstream del petróleo
y gas.

Palabras clave: Greenfield, ODS, Matriz de Leopold, Construcciones inteligentes, Tecnología

 1 1. INTRODUCCION
At national level according to estimates Ecuador has 5 Billion
Barrels of reserves, these resources are located in protected
areas due to the biodiversity that exists, this generates social
conflicts, which establish that will not be allowed to enter these
areas by the current mode of operation of the oil industry, this
is where the new framework of sustainable development that
aims to innovate in relation to the current mode of operation
of the industry to a transition to renewable energy sources
enters.
According to BP, the energy demand increases with each year,
so it is expected that within the next 25 years this demand will
increase, in which the role of conventional energies such as oil
will have a fundamental role in meeting these requirements in
which it must be coupled to the various international
agreements such as Zero Share Flaring 2030, the Sustainable
Development Goals as well as in the optimization of its
facilities and its operations through the research and
application of new technologies such as smart building, IOT,
among other technologies of the digital revolution It is also
important to collaborate between the different stakeholders
such as company, state, university and global organizations,
which allow the establishment of research projects for specific
areas or fields, allowing integration of innovation projects in a
more economically profitable way, reducing environmental
impacts in the industry. of oil, generating a better r
visualization of the company, mitigating social conflicts and
achieving lower carbon footprints and greenhouse gas
emissions.(Cortés & Peña, 2014)
2. MARCO METODOLÓGICO
A Green Field is a totally new project, where there is no
infrastructure, place or resources, likewise a company raises a
company from an initial phase with the study, design and
construction of the infrastructure and operations that allows it
to execute all the Activities proposed taking into account all
the stakeholders of the project and presenting a positive impact
of the economy in the execution area (Bayar 2017)
Processes and operations in the Oil and Gas industry
The Oil and Gas industry divide in three phases: Upstream:
dedicated to exploration and exploitation activities,
Midstream: dedicated to the activities of transportation and
storage of crude oil and derivatives and Downstream:
dedicated to refining and marketing activities (EP
PETROECUADOR 2013).
Due to the extension of the oil and gas industry phases, this
investigation will proceed to analyze the activities of the Oil
and Gas upstream activities.
The Upstream activities includes:
Exploration is an activity dedicated to the search for oil using
geophysical and geological methods in order to collect
information, define the exploitation area and confirm the
existence of oil.
Drilling and Completion is an activity that build a well to
connect the reservoir with the surface to start the production
activity.
Production is an activity consists of bringing the oil in the
reservoir to the surface, there are two methods depending on
the energy of the reservoir: natural flow and artificial flow.
Workover is an activity an activity that seeks to recover or
improve the productivity of a well through a series of works
such as repairing the well for any damage, changing or
repairing damaged equipment, stimulating the well or even for
closing and abandoning wells.
EOR and IOR is an activity to increase the production, for that
reason we have the EOR Enhanced Oil Recovery and IOR
Improve Oil Recovery.
IOR is a method of enhanced oil recovery using techniques
such as waterflooding and gasflooding and EOR is a method
to improve oil recovery through techniques that alter the
original properties of the oil, restoring formation pressure and
improving the displacement of reservoir fluid (Jose Condor
2021)
Environmental impact
In this way it can be said that the environmental impact (ia)
implies the adverse effects on ecosystems, climate and society
due to activities such as excessive extraction of natural
resources, inadequate disposal of waste, emission of pollutants
and change in the use of soil, among others. Direct and indirect
impacts are recognized (by the side effect of the previous
ones), which have three common dimensions of magnitude,
importance and significance (Perevochtchikova, 2013)
Sustainable development
After the world Commission on Environment and
development (CMMAD), emerged in 1987 the document "Our
common future", better known as Brundtland report, which it
maintains the idea that the concepts of environment and
development cannot be separated, as they advance in pro of the
same goal and meet inevitably bound. Document it states that
" development is not maintained if the environmental resource
base is deteriorates; the environment cannot be protected if
growth does not take in account for the consequences of
destruction environmental(Ortiz & Arévalo, 2016)
Sustainable management
The most cited definition of sustainable development is that of
the Brudtland Commission (WCED 1987, p. 8)” progress that
meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs". It is
worth noting that this definition highlights the legacy of one
generation to the next is in terms of well-being and not only a
set of natural resources, so this definition is the one most often
cited, as sustainable development is understood as the constant
improvement of human well-being over time.
(Bayar 2017)
Sustainable Development Objectives
Objective 1. Ending poverty in all its forms around the world.
Objective 2. Ending hunger, achieving food security and
improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Objective 3. Ensure healthy living and promote well-being for
everyone at all ages.
Objective 4. Ensure quality inclusive and equitable education
and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Objective 5. Achieving gender equality and empowering all
women and girls.
Objective 6. Ensure the availability and sustainable
management of water and sanitation for all.
Objective 7. Ensuring access to affordable, reliable,
sustainable and modern energy for all.(“Amexhi | Objetivos de
Desarrollo del Milenio,” n.d.)
Objective 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable
economic growth, full and productive employment and decent
work for all.
Objective 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive
and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
Objective 10. Reducing inequality in and between countries
Objective 11. Making cities and human settlements inclusive,
safe, resilient and sustainable.
Objective 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production
patterns.
Objective 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and
its impact.
Objective 14. Conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and
marine resources for Sustainable Development
Objective 15. Protect, restore and promote the sustainable use
of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat
desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt
biodiversity loss.
Objective 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for
Sustainable Development, facilitate access to justice for all
and build effective and inclusive accountable institutions at all
levels.
Objective 17. Strengthen means of implementation and
revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
(OIT, 2017, p.viii).
Status Quo
It is the situation or activity in which things are, in the case of
the oil and gas industry in Ecuador, exploration, production,
transportation, refining and marketing activities are carried out
from the first drilling of the well Ancon in 1911 in the Santa
Elena Peninsula on the Ecuadorian Coast and the drilling of
the Lago Agrio well in 1967 in which a century of operations
in the sector have passed, in which a series of benefits have
been presented such as economic development and industrial
sector of the country but also disadvantages such as
environmental impacts, inefficiencies in activities, the
negative point is necessary to solve it in order to become a
sustainable and sustainable industry, with a social
responsibility for which it is necessary to challenge the current
status quo of the industry, establishing new processes,
technologies, improvement options, all with the aim of
deriving the current situation, with options to improve both or
the operational, technical, administrative and environmental
scope (Sahin, Kalfa, & Celebioglu, 2008)
What are the last problems with oil and gas Industry?
In eastern Ecuador there are at least 447 gas flaring distributed
between Napo, Orellana and Sucumbíos that have burned gas
for decades and that people who live nearby associate with the
main health problem due to lung cancer (Paz A., 2021)
Such is the case presented in the provincial court of Sucumbíos
on January 26, 2021 to eliminate gas flaring from the oil
industry, the case mentions that gas flaring cause lung cancer
in this region, the complaint culminates in favor of the
plaintiffs to extinguish the lighters where the company must
investigate new technologies to avoid the burning and venting
of the associated gas that comes from oil exploitation
(Ciuffardi T., 2021).
A main problem along with gas flaring is the rupture of the
OCP and SOTE pipelines and the Shushufindi Quito pipeline
in the San Rafael waterfall sector in April 2020, in which 4,000
barrels of crude were spilled on the Napo and Coca rivers due
to the erosion of the Coca river that will even affect the Coca
Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant, the rupture of the oil
pipelines brings with it economic, environmental, technical
and social impacts (El Comercio, 2020).
Estimation of environmental impacts
The estimation of environmental impacts generated in the
processes of the oil industry were identified through the
Leopold Matrix, determining the character, extent,
reversibility, duration, magnitude, importance and type of
impact generated in the exploration phases. , drilling,
exploitation, production and enhanced recovery
Identification of measures and solutions
By determining the highly significant impacts in the five
phases that were previously determined, prevention, control,
minimization and technology measures are proposed that can
help develop a Green Fields.
3. RESULTS
According to the grade of the matrix of Leopold, we identify
some impacts in the upstream activities like as:
3.1 Exploration Phase
In this phase there are 4 highly impacts to alteration the
landscape, flora and fauna (Fig. 1)
Figure 1. Impact on Exploration activities.
3.2 Drilling Phase
 In this phase there are 7 impacts highly significant In the activities of production there are twelve problems with
highly significant about the construction of the facilities, gas
burning and flaring and the transport of the petroleum, this
alteration the flora and fauna, increase the gas emissions and
generate social conflicts.

Production
Higly Significant
≥6,5
6%6%11%
Significant ≤ 6,5;
≥4,5
Figure 2. Impact on drilling activities DESPRECIABLES ≤
77%
4,5
3.3 Production Phase
In this phase we find twelve highly significant activities Benefits +

Figure 4. Impacts on production activities

Production
3.8 Impacts on Workover
Higly Significant In the workover activities there are 2 problems with a
≥6,5 significant grade about consumption water and social
6%6%11%
Significant ≤ 6,5; conflicts.
≥4,5

77% DESPRECIABLES ≤
4,5
Benefits +

Figure 3. Impact on Production activities

3.4 Workover and EOR-IOR

In the workover activities there 2 activities with
significant impact

Workover & EOR Strategies

Higly Significant The best strategies to improve and include in a greenfield is
≥6,5 described in the table one to four in the annexes table 1 to table
0%
6%
1% 4 of this paper.
Significant ≤ 6,5;
≥4,5
DESPRECIABLES ≤ 4. CONCLUSIONS
93%
4,5 • The principal environmental impacts are in the
building the field, facilities and the lines to transport
Benefits +
the oil, for that reason is necessary used the new
technology for example Smart Building to optimize
the area and the building operations.
3.5 Impacts on Exploration • The new fields must be including this operations and
The principal impacts in these activities are build platforms, technology to improve the productivity, economic
ways and civil works alteration the landscape, flora and fauna and environmental.
and there a incorrect production waste. • The sustainable development of technology is an
opportunity for that reason is make more
3.6 Impacts on Drilling investigation to apply this technology in Ecuador.
The principal impacts in these activity are in the construction • After evaluating each of the activities according to
the fields and plattforms, execute the drilling program the Leopold matrix, it was established that water
generate impacts and alterating the landscape, flora, flauna collection should be carried out using subway pipes,
and generating social conflict problems. in order to avoid the need to use trucks to transport
3.7 Impacts on Production water.
 M. G. 1999. “National natural capital accounting with
• Another alternative analyzed for water collection is the ecological footprint concept”, Ecological
to collect rainwater and pre-treat it before using it in Economics, no. 29, pp.375-390.
the water utilization systems.

• In relation to the gas transportation activity, one of

the main elements analyzed based on all the
information gathered is that the Internet of Things
IOT can be used, i.e. converting to an intelligent
system monitored by sensors whose information is
collected and sent to a common access source where
several people can perform the corresponding
analysis to provide a preventive or maintenance
solution.
• The gases that are burned in the combustion plant to
avoid emitting directly to the environment, be
analyzed to perform an analysis to give it a use for
power generation.
Bayar, Yilmaz. Greenfield and Brownfield Investments and
Economic Growt: Evidence fron Central and
Eastern European Union Countries. Turkey, 2017.
EP PETROECUADOR. «El petróleo en el Ecuador la nueva
era .» El petróleo en el Ecuador la nueva era , 2013:
146.
Jose Condor, Gustavo Pinto, Achig Merino, Javier Romo.
Identification of Enhanced Oil Recovery Potential in
Ecuador. Quito, Ecuador: SPE , 2021.
Trabajo, Organización Internacional del. «Objetivos de
Desarrollo Sostenible.» Manual de referencia
Sindical sobre la Agenda 2030 para el Desarrollo
Sostenible, 2017: viii.

• In the drilling activity, noise is the cause of the

destruction of flora and fauna, for which it is ANNEXXES
proposed to make an acoustic insulation with
materials from the area or using earth.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We thank to Engineers Adolpho Souza and Annalyn Azancot

for the time spent and the knowledge imparted for the
completion of this project also we thank to Schlumberger and
Society of Petroleum Engineering (SPE) for make educational
projects that increase the skills from the students.

REFERENCIAS

Cortés, H. G., & Peña, J. I. (2014). Modelo de desarrollo

sustentable para su implementación en políticas y
proyectos. Rev.Esc.Adm.Neg., Enero-Juni(78), 40–55.
https://doi.org/10.21158/01208160.n78.2015.1189
SA
Pierri, N. (2001). Chapter II: history of the concept of
sustainable development.In N. sustainability?
Disagreements over development sustainable (pp. 287-
81) Uruguay: Labor and Capital.

Soberanis, A. N. (2004). Matrix methodologies for

Environmental Assessment for developing countries: Leopold
Matrix and Mel-Enel method. Guatemala.

Tarco, J. A., Arteaga, G. R., Merino, S. Achig, and J. M.

Estrella. "Identification of Enhanced Oil Recovery
Potential in Ecuador." Paper presented at the SPE Latin
American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering
Conference, Quito, Ecuador, November 2015.
doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/177105-MS

Wackernagel, M., Onisto, L., Bello, P., Callejas, A., López, I.

S., Méndez, J. Suárez Guerrero, A. I., Suárez Guerrero,
 TABLA 1. MATRIX SOLUTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON EXPLORATION

PHASE ACTIVITY FACTOR IMPACT DESCRIPTION MEASURES SOLUTION RESOURCES

• Life on land, ecosystem • Species preservation and Environmental plans

Disappearance of
management, biodiversity reseeding Plan and activities of IPIECA
vegetation cover
offset, UN SDGs 15 Supervision and maintenance of
and soil erosion
actions
• Sustainable construction
response, biodiversity focus, Use surrounding vegetation for Wire mesh buried 20 to 40 cm
impact reducing, Un SDGs 11 fencing systems below the earth's surface

Climate action resilience & Flashing lights and sensors Infrared sensors and light signals
adaptive capacity, Un SDGs adapted installed near speed signs
Highly
10
significant
EXPLORATION

Avoid animal Industry, innovation and Efficient waste management, lean Green bridges
Landscape
Construction, Alteration of crossings on the infrastructure, Un SDGs 9 and green program, research & Metal culverts and square
9,35
civil works landscape, road Life on land, ecosystem innovation concrete culverts
Flora
and adaptation flora and management, biodiversity Emulate surrounding habitat Opening ratio: (width * height /
7,31
work areas fauna offset, Un SDGs 15 conditions length)
Fauna
Fences that guide animals to Length: 70 or 80 m
7,31
crossings and restrict road Width:> 12 m
access Height: 4 m
Fund conservation projects Analyze threatened species

• Locate forest curtains from

• Attenuate the visual impact,
Visual Impact integrate the platform into the
landscape according Un SDGs
13, 15
north to south on the edge of
the platform
• Forest curtain • Secure water supply
• Study for the number of rows
according to the sectors to
protect
 TABLA 2. MATRIX SOLUTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON PERFORATION

PHASE ACTIVITY FACTOR IMPACT DESCRIPTION MEASURES SOLUTION RESOURCES

• Life on land, ecosystem • Build more well in a pad • Multi Well Pad Drilling
The drilling field management, biodiversity as low reasonable. • More Horizontal and
need an extended
Highly offset, Un SDGs 15 • Reduce the number of directional wells
Alteration area for that reason
significant • Climate action resilience well and increase the • IA to optimize the well design
of flora and is necessary remove
fauna
7,50
de flora and fauna is
& adaptive capacity Un scope in the reservoir • Optimize the drilling
consequence of this
SDGs 10 • Use and storage data in operations
activity real time
Execution of
• Sustainable • Reduce the noise from Use acoustic barriers and acoustic
the drilling encapsulation
communities, Un SDGs activities from the
campaign
PERFORATION

The drilling 11 equipment Implement shock absorbers and

Highly activities cause a lot • Quality Education, Un • Make social activities to anti-vibration inertia benches
Social significant of drawbacks, SDGs 4 increase the economic Virtuality of the fields and pads to
conflicts 8,39 because generate • Partnerships for the activities projects in the universities.
noise, waste, goals dialogue & • Reduce the waste from
invasion areas. coordination, Un SDGs activities
17

The field include • Responsible consumption • Smart Building

residential area, and production efficient, • Sensors for the activities in the
Design and Highly equipment, PADs, Un SDGs 9 rig, field and in residential
Alteration • Reduce the area
construction significant rig area, this area • Action resilience & areas.
of flora and • Smart fields
of camps and 7,50 generate problems adaptive capacity, low
platforms
fauna
when a well is near • Reduce the waste
carbon footprint, facilities
of protective areas management, Un SDGs
like as: ITT 10
 TABLA 3. MATRIX SOLUTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON PRODUCTION

PHASE ACTIVITY FACTOR IMPACT DESCRIPTION MEASURES SOLUTION RESOURCES

The construction of • Life on Land Un SDGs 15 • Reduce the area of the
the platforms • Energy Efficiency Un platforms. • Smart Building
generates SDGs 7 • Optimize the area of • Predesign - Virtual reality
Design and Alteration Highly
construction of of flora, significan
environmental • Responsible operations and • Rainwater harvesting
impacts such as Consumption and residence. systems
facilities of fauna y t
invasion of flora production Un SDGs 9 • Minimize energy
production landscape 9,68
and fauna, • Climate action resilience consumption.
generation of noise & adaptative capacity Un • Optimal use of
and waste. SDGs 10 resources.
Increase the carbon • Minimizar la emisión de • Energy optimization Electricity generation
footprint, energy gases • Storage with combined cycle
inefficiency, social • Partnerships for the goals • Optimize production generators
Gas Highly
conflicts with legal Un SGDs 17 • Match the Zero Routine EOR with gas injection
PRODUCTION

Gas handling demands • Energy Efficiency Un Flaring by 2030 Construction of lines to

emissions significan take advantage of gas
(Gas burning SDGs 7 guidelines
and social t
and flaring)
conflicts 10 • Zero gas flaring 2030 and • Use of gas by the accumulated in the ring
economic projects community
• Climate action resilience • Use in the electrical,
& adaptative capacity Un industrial or residential
SDGs 10 sectors
• Life on land, ecosystem • Affiliate to Professional
management biodiversity Petroleum Data
offset, sustainable cities, • Preventive Management (PPDM)
Desde 1972 hasta la communities and • Intelligent lines
Alteration Maintenance
Highly actualidad 2021, se
of flora, factories, Un SDGs 15 • Ensure the integrity and • IA to design the way
Transport of significan registra 758MBP
fauna and and 11 operability of the lines • IOT
and gas t derramado en las •
social
9,25 rutas de los
Affordable and clean • Anticipate operational • 4G Technology
conflicts
oleoductos.
energy, energy efficiency, problems • Digitally the facilities of
impact reducing • Monitoring production
technology portfolio Un • Sensorizing valves,
SDGs 7 tubing, etc.
 TABLA 4. MATRIX SOLUTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON WORKOVER, EOR &IOR

PHASE ACTIVITY FACTOR IMPACT DESCRIPTION MEASURES SOLUTION RESOURCES

• Underground pipe
EOR consumes • Clean water, responsible • rainwater storage and
large amounts of consumption and treatment
Water
Alteration
Significant
water, this is production, Un SDGs 6
• Water strategy • Projects with
of obtained from and 12 universities to
catchment 5,24 • Water use efficiency
landscape water sources • Life on land optimize and
close to the recycling the
WORKOVER, EOR &IOR

facilities resources available in

the field.
This activity • Water use efficiency, • Integrate community • Foundation
consumes a lot of recycling and integrate • Social projects • IPIECA
amount of water, water solution. Un SDGs • Knowledge divulgation • University,
also there are 6. • Investigation community and
myths about • Partnerships for the goals • Social with the factory
Fracking
Social
Significant
hydraulic dialogue & coordination community • Make social projects
conflicts fracturing. Un SDGs 17 • Monitoring activities to increase economic,
4,84
to integrate
community in sports
activities and
educational activities
• Data in real time