Environment Report 2017

ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2017

3. Permitted Offshore Emissions and Discharges

The total volume of produced water discharged to sea under permit fell by 6 per cent The total volume of produced water discharged to sea under permit fell by 6 per cent The emissions and discharges monitored include: produced water, chemical releases, drill cuttings, greenhouse gas emissions, gas flared and vented, and the amount of waste generated by upstream oil and gas operations. More produced water was reinjected into the subsurface than ever before last year In Summary A s a mature basin, the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) strives to continuously improve its environmental performance and efficiency while production of oil and gas becomes more technically difficult. The recent drive to improve efficiency and reduce costs in oil and gas operations does not, and should not, mean a reduction in environmental performance or greater risk to the environment. The Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED), part of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), regulates the industry’s offshore emissions and discharges. UKCS operators must apply for a permit to produce emissions to air or discharges to sea, and these must be reported to OPRED through the Environmental Emissions Monitoring System (EEMS). As part of the permit application, companies must consider the potential environmental effects and any mitigation measures. to 155 million cubic metres in 2016

The total volume of produced water discharged to sea under permit fell by 6 per cent

to 155 million cubic metres in 2016

More produced water was reinjected into the subsurface than ever before last year

to aid hydrocarbon recovery and minimise discharges to sea of production have been falling since 2013

The amount of waste returned to shore decreased by 22% in 2016 – the lowest in a decade Of the chemicals discharged to sea under permit, 72% The average concentra on of oil in produced water fell i

were classified as those that Pose Little Or No Risk (PLONOR) to the environment

of production have been falling since 2013 to aid hydrocarbon recovery and minimise discharges to sea

to 155 million cubic metres in 2016

Production increases outpaced chemical The proportion of associated gas flared continues to fall Acci ental oil releases represented

The average concentration of The amount of waste returned to shore decreased by

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