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ENVIRONMENT REPORT
2015
page 16
There has been a net decrease of 35,700 tonnes in the mass of drilling chemicals discharged since 2008, coinciding
with a drop in drilling activity. When compared to the approximately 26 per cent fall in drilling chemicals discharged
from 2013 to 2014, the increase in 2013 due to drilling of multiple wells was unusual
20
.
Of the ten largest drilling chemical discharges last year, eight were from new wells.
Figure 5: Production, Drilling and Pipeline Chemicals Discharged
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
2,000
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
180,000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Production (Million boe)
Chemicals Discharge (Tonnes)
Source: EEMS June 2015
Drilling Chemicals
Production Chemicals
Pipeline Chemicals
Production
20
In 2013, the mass of drilling chemicals discharged increased by 35 per cent from 2012. Analysis of the top ten largest
drilling discharges shows that they are associated with multiple, rather than single, wells at the same site (a main well plus
at least two sidetracks), increasing the overall length of wells drilled and hence the amount of chemicals used offshore.