ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2013
page 18
6.4 Oil and Chemical Spills
In 2012, 246 oil spills were reported with a total of 86 tonnes released. Although this is the largest quantity of
oil spilled since 2002, almost 70 per cent of this figure is attributable to a single incident. In contrast, a total
of 272 chemical spills were reported with 306 tonnes released. This is a modest reduction of ten tonnes over
the volume spilled in 2011 but a more significant reduction of 994 tonnes against that spilled in 2009.
Oil and chemical spills that reach the marine environment are of concern to stakeholders and the number of
spills, when reported with no supporting information, can appear significant. The numbers are high because
all spillages, however small, are reportable. To put the data in context, the industry produced some 41,482,257
tonnes of oil and gas during 2012 and in doing so used approximately 324,000 tonnes of chemicals. The spills
for 2012 were 86 tonnes of oil and 306 tonnes of chemicals – a very small percentage. The industry is not
complacent about any spill, however small, and all incidents are analysed to determine their cause.
Figure 6: Chemical and Oil Spills on the UKCS from 2000 to 2012
6.5 Carbon Dioxide Emissions Offshore
In 2012, 14.22 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO
2
) were emitted offshore. This follows a general decline
in CO
2
emissions since 2000. The combustion of fuels for energy production on board installations accounts
for 79.3 per cent of the total offshore CO
2
emissions, flaring and venting account for 20.5 per cent and direct
processes less than one per cent (see Figures 7 and 8 right).
Carbon dioxide emission reductions are difficult to achieve because, as fields mature and reservoir pressures
decline, more energy is required to extract the remaining hydrocarbons and this requires more fuel gas to be
used. Reductions are being achieved as a result of energy efficiency studies undertaken on installations that
are permitted under the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations 2001.
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Tonnes
Source: EEMS August 2013
Chemical Spills
Oil Spills
