Environment Report 2016

ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2016

Figure 3: Breakdown of NORM Discharged in Produced Water

Pb-210 (MBq) Ra-228 (MBq)

Ra-226 (MBq)

Ra-226 Concentration (Bq/ml)

Total NORM Concentration (Bq/ml)

0.007

800,000

700,000

0.006

600,000

0.005

500,000

0.004

400,000

0.003

300,000

Concentration (Bq/ml)

0.002

200,000

0.001

100,000

Total NORM Activity Discharged to Sea (MBq)

0

0

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

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 http://bit.ly/OCreg02. The 2011 Amendment is available to view at http://bit.ly/OCamend11 19 SUB chemicals are those classified under OCNS as harmful and should be phased out and substituted with a less harmful substance. See http://bit.ly/SUBchemicals

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