Oil and Gas Exploration as a Crime against Humanity

Should widespread environmental
degradation be prosecuted as a crime
against humanity?
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT
This exploratory research and study
aims to critically analyse and evaluate environmental degradation due to excessive oil
and gas exploration. The six research objectives are defined in a way that analyses the
role of oil and gas industries which causes threats to bio-diversity and life. Thus,
whether their actions are to be prosecuted in the International courts and whether their
actions have increased the procurement of these products and if so, due to that is it a
contributory factor to our environment being damaged?
For executing the study successfully well-defined research methods are
employed in the study. The ethnography in qualitative research is defined as the
observations or the documented data for generating the analysis of research subject.
The ethnography of this research will focus on the epistemological study within the
grounded paradigm by using the mixed research methodological approach. A
qualitative approach will be used to statistically analyse empirical data which is obtained
from the observation and response through a interview within a positive paradigm. The
inductive approach and exploratory design are used for qualitative analysis of the
collected data. For the collection of data, in the report primary data collection methods
(questionnaire)is used. In order to make the study more relevant nonprobability
sampling is used so that data validity can be enhanced.
It can be concluded from the study that there is an imperative high need to create
awareness among oil and gas service providers in order for them to understand their
role and responsibility towards the environment. Thus, upon the study findings, it is

recommended that oil industries must explore new sources of energy to enable them to
reduce the harmful impact on the environment due to excessive exploitation of energy
resources.
However, some authors do have different opinions on this topic, some claim over
exploration kills nature and others opine differ on that, they also state lack of legislation
and laws are the reasons for the harm caused. Effective research methodology is used
to conduct the research by using qualitative design, inductive approach, interpretive
philosophy, collection of data through secondary sources and analysing them in a
thematic presentation. The qualitative design involves the inclusion of theories and facts
instead of statistical analysis.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................8
1.1 Rationale for conducting study .............................................................................................8
1.2 Study background................................................................................................................10
1.3 Definition of key terms .......................................................................................................11
1.4 Aim .....................................................................................................................................12
1.5 Objective .............................................................................................................................12
1.6 Research question ...............................................................................................................12
1.7 Dissertation structure ..........................................................................................................13
1.8 Significance of the study .....................................................................................................14
1.9 Scope of the study ...............................................................................................................15
1.10 Company overview ...........................................................................................................16
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.......................................................................................17
2.1 Environmental degradation .................................................................................................17
2.2 Oil and gas sector and its impact on environment ..............................................................22
2.3 Demonstrating impact of environment degradation through case studies ..........................24
2.4 Legal and financial aspects of environmental sustainability within oil and gas sector ......26
2.5 Concept of sustainability .....................................................................................................30
2.6 Environment management system (EMS): a step towards sustainability ...........................32
CHAPTER 3- METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................35
3.1 Research methods ...............................................................................................................35
3.2 Data collection and analysis methods .................................................................................37
3.3 Critical evaluation of the research methods ........................................................................41
CHAPTER 4- ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS OF FINDINGS..............................................45
CHAPTER 5- CONCLUSION .....................................................................................................60
BIBLIOGRAPHY..........................................................................................................................65
APPENDICES...............................................................................................................................71

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Rationale for conducting study
With the increased growth in population there has been a continuous need of
resources available to each and every individual. Oil and gas service providers are
constantly making improvement in their operational aspects. The exploitation of
natural resources and negligence to the environment has increased and has had
an impact on greenhouse gases on earth. The direct implications of such impacts
are observed in the form of climate changes like sudden changes in the weather
which can be witnessed in various parts of the world.
The oil and gas sectors on the international level are engaged in mining and
exploration of natural resources mainly crude oils and petroleum products. This
sector is engaged I the procurement of finding natural gas and crude oil. The
effect on the environment are made harmful due to their acts, subsequently in
future this will increase and disturb the ecological balances of the planet as well as
the environmental cycle. This research project is based on the critical assessment
on the determination of international standards and laws that will be used against
oil and gas sectors to prosecute them in courts for the environmental damages
done by operating oil and gas organisations on international level. Furthermore,
why should O&G organisations be charged for criminal offences under
international laws and if provisions are made along with any findings, are there
remedies to curb the harmful effect on the environment?
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