The Energy Awareness Company
Order Instructions:
See the attached file.
Assessment Task – Scenario –The Energy Awareness Company
You work as a Consultant for a hypothetical organisation named The Energy Awareness Company which specializes in providing presentations to increase awareness in relation to the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of products that are used in today’s society. There is a forthcoming energy event in which The Energy Awareness Company will be required to participate. You have first been requested to write a report which both shows an analysis of the impact of LCA on the environment and also provides strongly justified recommendations of how oil organisations (involved in upstream, mid-stream, and downstream activity) can use their understanding of LCA to lessen their impacts and also possibly encourage their consumers to also lessen their impacts. This report will be submitted to the organizers of the event. You will be required to do the following in your report:
- Provide a critical analysis of the measures which an oil organisation involved in upstream, mid-stream, and downstream activity can put in place to show concern of environmental management and sustainability issues in relation to Life Cycle Assessment;
Assignment outline
Your work must be presented in a report format (2,000 words). It is important that your report is properly structured. Remember that this assignment account for 50% of your module assessment. Hence, poor performance will have a big impact on your overall module grade. An executive summary is not necessary in a report of this size.
Your report should include references to the appropriate environmental management for sustainability and development literature (textbooks, journals and websites) as well as appropriate sources related to the oil industry. Care should be taken when consulting websites, they are not all equally authoritative (for example Wikipedia is not peer-reviewed; therefore is not considered an academic reference website). A minimum of 5 different academic references must be cited, but a well-researched report is likely to cite many more.
You are advised to keep a back-up copy of the report until you receive your grade and regularly back-up your work on a computer storage (Dropbox and GoogleDrive are good examples). A disk crash is not an acceptable reason for late submission.
It is recommended that you review the requirements of the assignment before submitting your work.
Sections like the ones shown below should be included in your report. This is only a guideline so you may diverge as you see fit.
- Title Page
- A relevant specific title that reflects the main points of the report
- Table of Contents
- Introduction and Background
- The case context and the company
- What is the problem or the opportunity?
- What is the purpose of the proposal?
- What are your sources of information?
- The Business Case – a critical analysis of the impacts of Life Cycle Assessment measures which oil companies have put in place to show concern of environmental management and sustainability issues relating to their business operation.
- Recommendations
- Bibliography
- Appendices
- Reflective Log – this should be 500 words in length and must address your reflection of your learning on the Environmental Management for Sustainable Development module. You should consider how your studies on this module has helped you with your academic progression (using the examples of skills which you have developed upon is suggested; please ensure that you use appropriate examples and reflect upon them). Your Reflective Log must be submitted separately from your assignment.
Instructions for the Reflective Log
When writing your reflection you must consider what you have experienced (for example, an academic skill), think about what happened (be clear about how this happened during the module), then detail what you have learned from the experience and how this improved skill will help with your continued studies.
Showing that you understand that of your self-improvement is very important for your reflective writing (self-improvement: learning from experiences and wanting to improve some area of your life).
Marking Scheme
| Indicative Grade | UK% marks | Characteristics. |
| Distinction | 70%+ | Very high standard of critical analysis using appropriate conceptual frameworks.
Excellent understanding and exposition of relevant issues. Clearly structured and logically developed arguments. Good awareness of nuances and complexities. Substantial evidence of well-executed independent research. Excellent evaluation and synthesis of source material. Relevant data and examples, all properly referenced. |
| Merit | 69-60% | High standard of critical analysis using appropriate conceptual frameworks.
Clear awareness and exposition of relevant issues. Clearly structured and logically developed argument. Awareness of nuances and complexities. Evidence of independent research. Good evaluation and synthesis of source material. Relevant data and examples, all properly referenced. |
| Pass | 59-50% | Uses appropriate conceptual frameworks.
Attempts analysis but includes some errors and /or omissions. Shows awareness of issues but no more than to be expected room attendance at classes. Arguments reasonably clear but underdeveloped. Insufficient evidence of independent research. Insufficient evaluation of source material. Some good use of relevant data and examples but incompletely referenced. |
| Pass | 49-40% | Adequate understanding of appropriate conceptual frameworks.
Answer too descriptive and or any attempt at analysis is superficial containing errors and omission. Shows limited awareness of issues but also some confusion. Arguments not particularly clear. Limited evidence of independent research and reliance on a superficial repeat of class notes. Relatively superficial use of relevant data sources and examples and poorly referenced.
|
| PASS MARK=40% | ||
| E | 39-30% | Weak understanding of appropriate conceptual frameworks. Weak analysis and several errors and omissions.
Establishes a few relevant points but superficial and confused exposition of issues. No evidence of independent research and poor understanding of class notes or no use of relevant data, sources and examples and no references. |
Guidance on using TURNITIN Text matching software
Introduction
The purpose of this guide is to provide a brief explanation for students on how to use Turnitin. Students are required to include a Turnitin report with all their coursework assignments before they are submitted for marking by their tutors. In order to produce a Turnitin report, students are required to understand and to utilise the Turnitin facility in the Student Portal.
Accessing Turnitin
To access Turnitin, students must have a unique user profile in the Student Portal. The user profile comprises a username and a password both generated by GSoM. To request your username and password, please just email portal@greenwich-college.ac.uk
To obtain a Turnitin report:
- Visit – www.greenwich-college.ac.uk
- Click on Students – Log in to the Student Portal
- Enter your student username and password
- Select MY STUDIES, TURNITIN – and choose the submission area for the subject/ module, assignment and lecturer
- Click on the SUBMISSION AREA button and follow the instructions on screen
- If you are in any doubt, contact the Portal Services team who will be only too happy to help you.
- We also run seminars most Monday evenings during each semester to demonstrate how to use the Portal and TurnItIn.
A text match (Originality Report) will usually be produced within 24 hours.
Accessing the Originality Report
- Login to the Student Portal as before
- Click on MY STUDIES, TURNITIN
- Again choose the submission area for the subject/ module, assignment and lecturer
- Click on SUBMISSION HISTORY
- Click on REPORT link against the top entry in the list. This is your latest TurnItIn report.
Now you have generated the originality report your submitted work should be showing on the left hand side with the matching websites on the right hand side.
Scroll through the work and review the highlighted areas.
The originality index will give you a percentage indication of the proportion of your work that matches others sources. If TURNITIN indicates a high percentage score overall, (for example 15% or higher) then you should consult your module leader or dissertation supervisor as appropriate. As a guide, matches against individual sources should not normally show more than 1%, unless, there are very good reasons for this practice, such as the need to keep the contents of the originating sources in their exact formats to meet the requirements of the assessment tasks.
If your text match is higher please see your respective module leader for precise guidance in preparing assignments.
SAMPLE ANSWER
The Energy Awareness Company
Table of Contents
Introduction and Background…………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
Purpose of the Report…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
Importance of the Report……………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
Scope of the Roport…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3
The Business Case…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
The LCA Assessment…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
Oil Exploitation LCA Assessment…………………………………………………………………………………. 6
Natural Gas Exploitation LCA Assessment…………………………………………………………………….. 7
Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8
References……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9
Appendix……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 11
The Energy Awareness Company Business Report Particularly of an Oil and Gas
Organisation and Their Impact on LCA (Life Cycle Assessment)
Introduction and Background
Awareness of the significance of environmental concerns has become a key consideration to the operations of the oil industry and regulations in the last decades. There is a greater realization that sustainable exploitations can only be realized through environmental protection; as an integral part (Vallero, 2014, n.p). Gas companies should rely more on guidelines on environmental management across the field of oil exploration and production. The continued adoption of the best practices as well as the implementation of comprehensive and eco-friendly technologies and systems by oil companies and contractors is essential.
Purpose of the Report
The aim of the EcoFriedly Consultancy Company is working closely with other likeminded organizations like The Energy Awareness Company in addressing the issue of environment protection through identifying potential risks and remedies, developing appropriate mechanisms for improvements, and raising awareness on the same.
Importance of the Report
In recent times, the ecological side effects of oil exploration activities has been an area of concern attracting attention across the different stakeholders in the industry. In this regard, the Energy Awareness Company has been actively engaged in addressing the environment protection challenge through creation of awareness. The company recognizes the major issues faced by the oil companies as marine and freshwater discharges, oil spills, habitant protection and biodiversity, and soil and groundwater contamination.
The report used reports from the UNEP as a basis for integrating protection and regulation of environment issues that control the exploration of oil (Geraldes Castanheira et al., 2014, p.681). Deriving from the rich experience of UNEP in environmental issues concerning the oil industry, the information gained will be a good starting point in the improvement of programmes, policies, and regulations in minimizing the environmental impact of these activities (Carvalho et al., 2014, p. 37).
Scope of the Report
The purpose of this LCA impact analysis presentation is to evaluate the environmental impact of the entire production chain of oil and gas production. Firstly, the analysis presents the environment impact of the LCA and recommendations on how oil organisations can implement their understanding of LCA to minimize their impacts on the environment. The principal aim of the presentation is to raise awareness on the potential impacts of oil and gas companies on the environment as a foundation for informed decision making.
The Business Case
The LCA Assessment
Through the use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) oil and gas companies would be better equipped in making more informed and sustainable decisions by better understanding of the environmental effects of exploitation processes and activities. LCA is an effective technique for assessing the environmental aspects and potential implications associated with the process, product, or service. Such an outcome is achievable through establishing an inventory of relevant material and energy inputs in relation to their environmental releases (Führ et al., 2010, n.p). It also investigates the likely environmental implications associated with identified releases and inputs. In addition, it interprets the outcomes to assist companies in making more informed decisions. As such LCA is undertaken through a four-stage process involving goal and scope definition, inventory evaluation, impact assessment, and the interpretation. Companies stand to benefit greatly by incorporating environmental performance based on the LCA concept into their decision making process.
LCA analysis framework
(Adopted from Carvalho et al., 2014, p. 38).
LCA tools are wired to assess the ecological implications associated with certain processes and products. With development of technology and science, there are new demands from the society concerning company’s responsibilities with their activities (Ismail et al., 2013, p. 3401). As such, the algorithms used in every category must be verified for accuracy and data input improved. Assumptions, input data, and algorithms must be accountable enough to allow third-party user reviews. The proper role of LCA in the process of decision making ought to be out rightly defined and presented in a manner that is appropriate in environmental preservation. As such, the LCA technique is designed such that it adds crucial information on environmental impact in the oil industry. LCA comprehensively offers a system’s potential environmental impacts which include all inputs and outputs (Carvalho et al., 2014, p. 38).
Conventional liquid fuels exploitation technologies have previously been developed using the simple pathway averages in full-fuel-cycle models like the GHGenius and GREET models (Menten et al., 2013, p. 111). However, these models are seen as too coarse for the modern LCA applications. The unconventional fuels sources such as oil shale deposits in Utah and Colorado and the shale oil and gas resources of North America are important given the depleting trend of these resources.
The big question for the employees on the basis of the LCA tool is how to do operations and projects can be done sustainably. This is a key starting point for embedding sustainability in the company. Sustainability alternatives should be through investigations using life-time cost benefits to identify the most sustainable approaches that are also cost effective for the organization. It is important that companies adopt sophisticated information systems that deliver timely and accurate data such that they are capable of sharing information on accidents and incidents even globally. For companies in the oil industry to achieve social licenses to operate in ecologically sensitive areas then they must exhibit superb record of environment responsibility (Geraldes Castanheira et al., 2014, p.684).
LCA analysis has also identified that many oil projects get delayed as a result of adverse reaction from the local community. A ‘tick box’ approach to consultations with the community is a dangerous starting point for any company. The LCA recommends that early professional and well directed consultations with the community to achieve long-term positive outcome for the company (Menten et al., 2013, p. 112). The likelihood of hydrocarbons presence under the seabed is investigated using high-intensity sound.
Oil Exploitation LCA Assessment
During the drilling process, mud is normally circulated between the platform and the well through a riser pipe. Mud is also helpful in maintain well pressure and the stability of the wall, to lubricate and cool the drill, as well as to carry the chips generated during the drilling process. Through this drilling, two types of mud are produced; the water based muds and the oil based muds. Discharging the water based muds to the sea bed with their residual oily mud contamination has been found to cause changes to the seabed through a combination of smothering, toxic and organic enrichment effects and are not allowed.
The drilling process also generates large amounts of water recovered with the hydrocarbons (Carvalho et al., 2014, p. 38). Through stringent standards of cleaning, some of the water is re-injected to maintain reservoir pressure. However, the bulk of it is often discharged to sea. Notably, in the recent past has been characterized by maximum recovery of oil in the UK North Sea fields. With the low levels of oil produced water the overall amount of oil discharged with the water within UK will continue to rise in the next coming years despite the improvements in technology (Kelly et al., 2014, p. 190). In this context, there is an increased attention in terms of regulation in production water discharge. Attention in monitoring in the oil and gas industry is currently focused on detecting more subtle changes in contamination trends.
In risk management and safety for every project it is crucial that risk is identified, assessed, and managed from the very onset since this will direct the success of the same. LCA analysis has also identified that strong safety culture delivers greater efficiency and productivity. Besides, when standards are ignored, and less attention is paid to working safety, it is very likely that incidents and accidents start to be experienced. Maintaining high standards of safety requires discipline and reinforcement from all angles and at all times.
Natural Gas Exploitation LCA Assessment
LCA major environmental sustainability analysis findings in natural gas exploitation include air emissions, water missions, solid waste, energy requirements, and resource consumption. The basis for analysis chosen was the functional unit. In terms of air emissions, the gas emitted in greatest quantities is CO2 which accounts for 99wt% of the overall air emissions (Menten et al., 2013, p. 114). The overall level of greenhouse gases produced should be quantified to establish the global warming potential (GWP) of the exploitation processes. The GWP of the process is a combination of CO2, N2O, and CH4 emissions. CO2 remains the major contributor to GWP accounting for about 89.3% (Laurent et al., 2014, p. 580). In regard to resource consumption, fossil fuels, minerals, and metal are used in the exploitation process. Oil and natural gas are the main consumption requirements followed by iron, and limestone. LCA analysis places water emissions as small compared to other emissions. Water pollutants are primarily from the material manufacturing used for plant and pipeline construction. The solid waste from the system LCAs has been found to be the miscellaneous non-hazardous waste with total solid waste standing at 201.6lt/Kg gas (Al-Sarkal and Arafat, 2013, p. 56).
Recommendations
It is recommended that companies consider a process-based LCA method in assessing the environmental burdens of their life cycle assessment. In this approach, the company itemizes the inputs in terms of the materials and energy resources as well as the outputs in terms of the wastes and emissions to the environment. The main issue with the process-based LCA is in defining components of the analysis and that which will be excluded. Oil and gas companies should be proactive in evaluating and producing new engineering and operational techniques focused on pollution prevention (Menten et al., 2013, p. 124). Improved management and operational techniques well implemented would assist in preventing and reducing pollution.
Al-Sarkal, T, & Arafat, H 2013, ‘Ultrafiltration versus sedimentation-based pretreatment in Fujairah-1 RO plant: Environmental impact study’, Desalination, 317, pp. 55-66
Carvalho, A, Mimoso, A, Mendes, A, & Matos, H 2014, ‘Review: From a literature review to a framework for environmental process impact assessment index’, Journal Of Cleaner Production, 64, pp. 36-62
Führ, M., Lechner, S., & Kilian, B. (2010). The European Impact Assessment and the Environment. Heidelberg: Springer.
Geraldes Castanheira, É, Grisoli, R, Freire, F, Pecora, V, & Coelho, S 2014, ‘Environmental sustainability of biodiesel in Brazil’,Energy Policy, 65, pp. 680-691
Ismail, Z, Tai, J, Kong, K, Law, K, Shirazi, S, & Karim, R 2013, ‘Using data envelopment analysis in comparing the environmental performance and technical efficiency of selected companies in their global petroleum operations’, Measurement, 46, pp. 3401-3413
Kelly, K, Wilkey, J, Spinti, J, Ring, T, & Pershing, D 2014, ‘Oxyfiring with CO2 capture to meet low-carbon fuel standards for unconventional fuels from Utah’, International Journal Of Greenhouse Gas Control, 22, pp. 189-199
Laurent, A, Bakas, I, Clavreul, J, Bernstad, A, Niero, M, Gentil, E, Hauschild, M, & Christensen, T 2014, ‘Review: Review of LCA studies of solid waste management systems – Part I: Lessons learned and perspectives’, Waste Management, 34, pp. 573-588
‘Life Cycle Analysis Perspective on Greenhouse Gas Savings’ 2012, Credo Reference Collections
Menten, F, Chèze, B, Patouillard, L, & Bouvart, F 2013, ‘A review of LCA greenhouse gas emissions results for advanced biofuels: The use of meta-regression analysis’, Renewable And Sustainable Energy Reviews, 26, pp. 108-134
Vallero, D 2014, Environmental Impacts Of Energy Production, Distribution And Transport, n.p.
We can write this or a similar paper for you! Simply fill the order form!
