Environment Report 2014

ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2014

In 2013, 1.2 million tonnes of gas was flared on the UKCS and the volume has remained consistent over the past five years. Flaring is necessary offshore for maintenance, well testing and, most crucially, for the safety of offshore workers. Gas venting and flaring are both subject to consent under the Petroleum Act 1998, which aims to conserve gas by avoiding unnecessary wastage during hydrocarbon production.

Figure 10: Comparison of Offshore Fuel Gas Used and Gas Flared on the UK Continental Shelf from 2008 to 2013

6

Flare Gas Fuel Gas

5

4

3

2

Million Tonnes

1

0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Source: EEMS June 2014

Despite declining production, it is difficult to reduce emissions as hydrocarbon extraction from mature reservoirs necessitates the use of more energy intensive techniques, such as the reinjection of produced water. Furthermore, as some equipment ages (for example turbines), their efficiencies can drop. The steady decline in emissions witnessed over the past decade can therefore be attributed to reduced fuel gas use as well as the implementation of energy efficiency measures, continued maintenance, and optimisation of equipment and processes.

Low NO x turbines can be effective in reducing NO x experienced offshore leading to increased downtime 14 .

emissions, however, operational difficulties have been

14 More detail can be found in the Oil & Gas UK Technical Note on Offshore Gas Turbines and Dry Low NO x

Burners at

www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/publications

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