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Methane and Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions
Last year, 41,200 tonnes of CH
4
were emitted, a 30 per cent net reduction since 2000. In 2015, 37,200 tonnes of
VOCs were emitted from offshore installations, a net reduction of over 53 per cent since 2000. Values for CH
4
and
VOCs in 2015 are consistent with those emitted since 2012.
Figure 10: Offshore Emissions of Methane and Volatile Organic Compounds
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Emissions (Tonnes)
CH₄ Emissions
VOC Emissions
Source: EEMS July 2016
CH
4
or natural gas is a potent GHG and so Oil & Gas UK has carried out further analysis to identify the offshore
sources of CH
4
emissions, as well as VOCs.
Figure 11 shows that the largest sources of VOC emissions in 2015 were gas flaring and venting (66 per cent) and
oil loading (28 per cent), while the majority of CH
4
emissions were generated from venting.
Figure 11: Offshore Emissions Sources of Methane and Volatile Organic Compounds in 2015
Emissions Source
CH
4
VOCs
Fuel consumption
7%
3%
Fugitives
4%
3%
Gas flaring
34%
38%
Gas venting
53%
28%
Oil loading
1%
28%
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