Environment Report 2018

Figure 33 provides a more detailed breakdown of release source for 2017.

Hydraulic systems were the main source of releases in the period (199 tonnes, 78 per cent), with production systems contributing a much smaller 20 tonnes (under 8 per cent). Most of this is attributable to three of the four large single releases, which involved the release of hydraulic fluids.

Figure 33: Accidental Chemical Release Mass by Source, 2017

8.29 tonnes

Hydraulic Systems

4.46 tonnes

1.53 tonnes

Containment

19.52 tonnes

10.46 tonnes 1.28tonnes

Bulk Transfer Systems

Drainage Systems

11.44 tonnes

5

Production Systems & Related Equipment

Pipework Infrastructure

Subsea Systems & Related Equipment

Other

198.68 tonnes

Source: BEIS July 2018

Chemical Releases 2010–17 From 2010 to 2017, 3,501 tonnes of chemicals were reported in PON1s on the UKCS, representing a total of 1,563 incidents. PLONOR and low hazard category chemicals make up the majority (2,715 tonnes, 78 per cent) of the mass released. High and medium hazard category chemicals contributed 6 per cent (208 tonnes) and 3 per cent (100 tonnes) by mass respectively, with the remainder (478 tonnes, 14 per cent) falling into the unattributable category. In 2017, only 5 tonnes could not be categorised from the available data. There has been a 60 per cent decrease (just over 380 tonnes) in the mass of chemicals accidentally released between 2010 and 2017. The total number of incidents has increased since 2010, up to 198 in 2017, which shows that the releases are generally of smaller amounts than in previous years. The average reported release size has fallen from 3.93 tonnes in 2010 to 1.3 tonnes in 2017. Continued efforts within industry to raise awareness of the reporting requirements and encouragement to report accidental releases may result in an increase in the number of the accidental chemical releases recorded. The causes of releases are investigated by operators and the regulator.

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