Environment Report 2017

UKCS Carbon Dioxide Emissions Production increased by almost 16 per cent from 2014-16, when over the same period, CO 2 4 per cent increase. 2016 maintained the longer-term trend of falling CO 2

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emissions saw a

emissions on the UKCS with a minor

decrease from 13.2 million tonnes to 13.1 million tonnes.

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Offshore installations are not connected to the national grid for power supply. Power is generated offshore to run pumps, equipment used in production processes, for electricity used for cooking, lighting and heat, as well as for compression equipment so that gas can be transported onshore. CO 2 is also emitted during flaring and venting offshore, which are necessary for maintenance, well testing and, crucially, for the safety of offshore workers. Seventy-four per cent of CO 2 emissions (9.7 million tonnes) in 2016 were generated from fuel consumed by combustion equipment to provide electrical power and drive compressors for gas export.

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Figure 11: Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Generation Source

Heaters 1%

Venting 1%

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Engines 8%

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14 )sennoT noilliM( snoissimE

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Flaring 24%

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13.1 Million Tonnes

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4 Total CO 2

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Turbines 66%

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

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Source: EEMS July 2017

The UKCS is often referred to as a mature basin, but the level of maturity varies across the different regions with a wide age range in the installations and new projects continuing to come on-stream. For example, many larger and younger fields dominate the west of Shetland region, while the southern North Sea (often referred to as the Southern Gas Basin) hosts many older fields that have been on-stream since the North Sea began producing in the late 1960s. emissions than the newer facilities, relative to total UKCS production. This is due to a number of reasons. Chiefly, operators use the most up to date technology available at the time when designing an installation. Much of the equipment found on UKCS infrastructure is therefore reflective of what was available many decades ago. Post-2000 especially, energy efficient technology has become more prominent and is considered in detail during the commissioning process. Furthermore, over the lifespan of the UKCS, the carbon agenda and need to reduce emissions have moved to the forefront of international discussion. Operators must continuously review how they might reduce their carbon footprint and consider the best available techniques. Figure 12 overleaf shows that these older installations contribute more CO 2

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