Environmental Baseline and Impact Management of Jambu-1 Witaitonga Island - Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

ABSTRACfOF JAMBU-l Conoco Buton Ltd. had operated the Buton Production Sharing Contract in Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia on behalf of Pertamina-BPPKA from 1987 until 1992 During that time, one wildcat exploration well was drilled, Jambu-I.The location of the Jambu-l well is in the mangrove and rainforest island of Witaitonga which in 1988 was reoommended for designation as a "Nature Conservation area". Site observation there have Anoa (Buba/us depressicomis), Rosa deer (Cervus timorensis), Brahminy kite (Ha/iastur indus) as protected species in tbe island. This condition leaves no significant environmental restriction on the industry. Mangrove eoosystems itwe.a..large reservoir and refuge for thousands of flora and fauna. They are heavily dependent on this unique eoosystem. They spawn and breed only by sensitive ecological processes occurring within this complex environment.The innovative breakthrough was carefully planned and implemented to secure overall environmental management. Firstly, regarding drilling waste management, all water based mud and cuttings were discharged into a lined settling pond where settlement of suspended solids took place. After further processing and settling in a seoond lined pond, clear and carefully monitored water was reused or discharged into the lagoon. The seoond innovative approach involved all operating personnel in the process of post-operations by implementing clean-up, restoration and reforestation programs. Prior to abandoning the site about 7,000 new native seedling and wildlings established in three nursery areas were replanted without any chemical fertilizer throughout the site once the rig had been demobilized. The functional facilities were left intact for forestry monitoring and use and for supporting public needs at the village. One full time forester was contracted during the construction. During the nursery establishment he had secured the selection of native species for seedlings and wildlings to replace those few selectively cut for this project. .The Environmental management plan was specially developed for the BUlOn Jambu-l well site operation. Impact monitoring and management were implemented by the field personnel in the absence of local legislative requirements. Specific action plans were proven practically and instrumentally for Conoco to ensure the project would "Leave No Footprints".The objectives of the environmental baseline and impact management study are to identify activities that could generate any unacceptable environmental impact in the overall wildcat well drilling activities and to pre-assess any significant environmental consequence happening as a result.