Environment Report 2019

Understanding source trends for past release data allows operators to develop plans to target operational areas where accidental releases have been more frequent. However, the limited information included in the PON1 database on the circumstances leading to releases means they are allocated to broad categories. In addition, the impact of individual high-mass releases on the data makes trending difficult. The reported masses are the worst-case estimations for each incident and so the actual amount released is likely to be less. The totals for all oil releases are shown in Figure 34, with outlier releases (those greater than 50 tonnes) shown cross-hatched. The following analysis includes direct causation information where this is attributable from the source data. Environmental incidents are complex and usually result from a combination of factors, as demonstrated in the Swiss cheese model. Therefore, the analysis first identified whether the direct cause of releases was a result of a breach in asset or operational integrity. Asset integrity breaches are the direct cause associated with most of the oil released across the period.

Figure 34: Accidental Release Breakdown by Direct Cause

600

Unspecified

Operational

Asset

500

5

400

300

200

Mass of Oil Releases (Tonnes)

100

0

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Source: OPRED, May 2019; OGUK

47

Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker