Environment Report 2014

3.5.3 Potential Environmental Impacts

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Atmospheric emissions have several potential environmental impacts:

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• Contributing to anthropogenic global warming – which is attributable to greenhouse gas emissions, notably CO 2 and CH 4 • Stratospheric ozone depletion – caused by halon and CFCs, which are known collectively as ozone depleting substances (ODS) • Ground level ozone formation – caused by reactions between VOCs and NO x • Acidification – caused by emissions of acid gases such as NO x and SO x Emissions fromoffshore oil and gas production, however, only form a small proportion of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions (less than three per cent in 2012). Although ODS have the potential to have a global impact, they are used in closed systems offshore. Furthermore, the prospect of ozone formation and acidification is minimised by the geographical location of most offshore installations. 3.6 Waste The offshore oil and gas industry generates a number of waste streams during exploration and production activities. Waste is stored on the installation and returned to shore for recycling and disposal. These waste materials include: • Cuttings (rock fragments) from drilling wells • General inert wastes, such as segregated recyclables (paper, glass, cardboard, aluminium cans), food waste, scrap metal, non-hazardous paints and chemicals • Special wastes, such as oils, hazardous chemicals and drums/containers containing hazardous residues, batteries and electrical equipment • Other wastes such as asbestos, explosives and clinical wastes The volume of waste generated varies according to the level and type of maintenance, drilling and production activities taking place offshore. Scrap metal is generated during shutdown, construction and/or refurbishment, while plastic and metal drums are employed to supply and use chemicals offshore. Special wastes arise from drilling, workover and platform maintenance activities. Operators have a duty of care to manage and monitor all wastes generated offshore and their subsequent handling and disposal through an environmental management system. These volumes are recorded in the EEMS database annually.

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