Environment Report 2015

ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2015

In 2014, approximately 61 per cent (66 tonnes) of all accidental chemical releases on the UKCS fell into the low and PLONOR hazard categories from 170 incidents (see Figure 31 below). Nine incidents and 37 per cent (40 tonnes) of the mass of chemicals accidentally released fell into the higher hazard category. This demonstrates that high hazard accidental releases were less common than low hazard and PLONOR releases in 2014, and tended to be larger, singular events. The majority (95 per cent) of these high hazard releases in 2014 is attributable to one spill of approximately 38 tonnes of Oceanic HW540 2, a water-based hydraulic fluid that holds a SUB and is currently being phased out of use on the UKCS. It is important to note that this product is largely composed (94 per cent) of PLONOR substances but includes 0.8 per cent OCNS category A substances, which give it its high hazard category status.

Figure 31: Total Mass of Chemical PON1s Reported in 2014 by Hazard Category

0.3 tonnes, <1%

PLONOR

20.1 tonnes, 19%

Low

40.2 tonnes, 37%

Medium

45.5 tonnes, 42%

High

Unattributable

1.7 tonnes, 2%

Source: DECC July 2015

Please note: this graph has been created from raw data and percentages have been rounded accordingly.

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