BEST AVAILABLE TECHNIQUES IN OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION: OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION

The concept of Best Available Techniques (BAT) encompasses a set of technological, technical, and organizational solutions for preventing and controlling negative environmental impacts while improving resource efficiency. Within key technological processes, built-in solutions play a crucial role in pollution prevention, while end-of-pipe measures are applied to control emissions that cannot be prevented by primary solutions. In most countries, BAT applies to key resource-intensive sectors, including hydrocarbon exploration and production in the oil and gas industry. The scope of BAT implementation is estimated via assessing (1) the share of industries obtaining Integrated Environmental Permits (IEPs) and (2) the gradual enhancement of sectoral environmental performance and resource efficiency. In contrast to BAT Reference Documents developed by other countries applying BAT approaches to regulate the oil and gas industry, Russia has established compulsory BAT-associated emission levels (BAT-AELs) and target BAT-associated resource efficiency parameters. The main challenge lies in the need to phase out outdated and inefficient production techniques and ensure a transition to modern, cost-effective, and environmentally sound solutions. This research analyzes the current status of BAT implementation based on existing and prospective techniques in the oil and gas industry and synthesizes data on IEPs. An assessment of sectoral BAT compliance helps to evaluate the effectiveness of BAT-based policies in terms of (1) the modern techniques implemented and (2) improvements in environmental performance and resource efficiency. BAT-based assessments of the oil and gas industry are relevant to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and BRICS countries that have either adopted or are planning to develop Reference Documents and BAT-AELs for this sector.