Title: Oil production in Mexico's highly diverse ecosystems: the importance of environmental indicators

Authors: E. Soto-Galera, M.A. Amezcua-Allieri, D. Lopez-Veneroni, F.M. Reyes-Villegas

Addresses: Programa de Investigacion en Integridad de Ductos, Instituto Mexicano del Petroleo, Eje Central L. Cardenas No. 152, Col. San B. Atepehuacan, C.P. 07730, D.F., Mexico. ' Direccion de Seguridad y Medio Ambiente, Instituto Mexicano del Petroleo, Eje Central L. Cardenas No. 152, Col. San B. Atepehuacan, C.P. 07730, D.F., Mexico. ' Direccion de Seguridad y Medio Ambiente, Instituto Mexicano del Petroleo, Eje Central L. Cardenas No. 152, Col. San B. Atepehuacan, C.P. 07730, D.F., Mexico. ' Programa de Investigacion en Integridad de Ductos, Instituto Mexicano del Petroleo, Eje Central L. Cardenas No. 152, Col. San B. Atepehuacan, C.P. 07730, D.F., Mexico

Abstract: The oil industry is one of the main sectors of wealth generation and development in Mexico, however, the environmental impacts that it has caused have led to an ongoing assessment of its performance. In addition, the facilities of the oil industry are usually located in complex tropical ecosystems of high biodiversity, including some recognised as highly fragile and inside protected areas, thus causing public concern. This article addresses the issue of environmental indicators as a tool to enable oil industry to assess its interactions with ecosystems, particularly with highly biodiverse ones. Some important environmental performance indicators are mentioned and discussed for water, air, soil, social and ecosystem functioning. [Received: September 21, 2009; Accepted: December 7, 2009]

Keywords: Petroleos Mexicanos; PEMEX; environmental indicators; environmental performance; wastewater treatment; oil spills; air quality; greenhouse gas; fragmentation; high diversity ecosystems; oil industry; Mexico; oil production; environmental impact; biodiversity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2010.032471

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2010 Vol.3 No.1, pp.4 - 18

Published online: 03 Apr 2010 *

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