Environment Report 2017

ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2017

3.6 Atmospheric Emissions The extraction, stabilisation and export of hydrocarbons involve several processes that give rise to atmospheric emissions. These include combustion to provide electrical power and drive compressors and pumps; flaring of excess gas for safety and during well testing; and incidental releases from tank loading, as well as firefighting and refrigeration equipment.

Combustion and flaring result in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO 2

), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH 4

), and

oxides of nitrogen (NO x

) and sulphur (SO x

). Small amounts of nitrous oxide (N 2

O) are also emitted. Releases of

volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and CH 4

may occur during tank loading or from firefighting equipment.

Over the last three years, the average emissions per unit of production on the UKCS (carbon intensity) have been falling due to improvements in efficiency and use of new technologies 9 . On average, production efficiency on existing installations has increased from 60 per cent in 2012 to 73 per cent in 2016 without consuming additional energy. Meanwhile, greenfield projects are integrating modern energy efficient technologies for power generation offshore and to reduce routine flaring altogether.

9 See A Pragmatic Approach to Managing Carbon Emissions in the North Sea , Tim Stileman 2017, at www.onepetro.org/conference-paper/SPE-186114-MS

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