Environment Report 2016

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ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2016
Figure 3: Breakdown of NORM Discharged in Produced Water
0
0.001
0.002
0.003
0.004
0.005
0.006
0.007
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Concentration (Bq/ml)
Total NORM Activity Discharged to Sea (MBq)
Pb-210 (MBq) Ra-226 (MBq)
Ra-228 (MBq) Ra-226 Concentration (Bq/ml)
Total NORM Concentration (Bq/ml)
Source: EEMS July 2016
3.2 Chemicals
Discharge of chemicals into the marine environment is regulated in the UK through the Offshore Chemical
Regulations 2002 (as amended 2011)18. The offshore oil and gas industry uses chemicals in the exploration and
production of hydrocarbons. Usage is kept strictly to the amounts required for the designated task to avoid waste
and to reduce environmental impact. BEIS must permit all discharges in advance.
Only chemicals that have been registered with the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science’s
(CEFAS) Offshore Chemical Notification Scheme (OCNS) are permitted for use and discharge. The OCNS applies
the OSPAR Harmonised Mandatory Control Scheme (HMCS), developed through OSPAR Decision 2002/2
(as amended by OSPAR Decision 2005/1) and its supporting recommendation. The OSPAR HMCS contains a list of
chemicals that it considers to pose little or no risk (PLONOR) to the environment, as well as those for which there
is a substitution warning (SUB) 19 and a less environmentally hazardous alternative should be used if practicable.
Further information on chemical use regulation is given in the appendix.
18 The Offshore Chemical Regulations are available to view at The 2011 Amendment is available to
view at
19 SUB chemicals are those classified under OCNS as harmful and should be phased out and substituted with a less
harmful substance. See