Net Environmental Benefit Analysis in Planning of Elimination of Oil Spills

Abstract Intense development of oil and gas deposits on sea shelves and inner pools is one of the most powerful factors of negative impact on water environment and biological resources owing to inevitability of emergency spills of liquid hydrocarbons. Now, choice of ecologically suiting technologies and methods of oil spills liquidation in global practice based on net environmental benefit analysis (NEBA). NEBA is a process of decision making in the time of choosing methods of oil spills liquidation, which provide the less negative impact on the environment in every case. The main reason for making such an analysis is a presumption that not only oil spills but also operations for its liquidation could have negative impact on the environment. The decision of using such technologies as dispersion and burning oil on the spot is made only according to NEBA. Order of making this analysis from the point of ecological advantages of applying technologies of oil spills liquidation is presented fully and by stages and also analysis of ecological impact of using these technologies was made. The competent and timely analysis of ecological consequences of application of technologies of elimination of pollution will lead to the minimum negative impact on marine and coastal ecosystems.