Environment Report 2016

ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2016

F-gases are released from systems gradually over the year by seeping and so are not released in any large quantity at once. Their use is highly regulated and systems are required to be serviced by competent, certified persons. BEIS has implemented a new reporting limit of 250 tonnes per release, below which it is not necessary to report and this may have an impact on future data although it is expected to be minimal.

Figure 18: CO 2

Equivalent Emissions of F-Gases

18,000

250

Hydrofluorocarbons

Number of Platforms Reporting

16,000

200

14,000

12,000

150

10,000

8,000

100

6,000 CO 2 Equivalent (Tonnes)

Number of Platforms

4,000

50

2,000

0

0

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Source: EEMS July 2016

In October this year, the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol set targets for HFC reduction that will come into force from 1 January 2019. The new agreement will set three separate pathways for different countries. Richer economies like the EU, the US and others will start to limit their use of HFCs within a few years and make a cut of at least 10 per cent from 2019. The impact on offshore emissions is still to be determined and Oil & Gas UK is working with members to understand the potential impact on the UKCS.

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