Oil & Gas UK Education Information Leaflets Fact Sheet 2 - North Sea Oil and the Environment Introduction The world's demand for energy is growing steadily, and this is accompanied by growing concerns about the impact of human activities on the environment, including emissions from burning fossil fuels. Oil companies recognise these concerns and are conscious of the responsibility they bear as major contributors to the shaping of the way we source and use fuel. The North Sea oil industry has successfully produced economic quantities of oil in a very difficult area since the early seventies. This has had a major impact on the UK economy and contributed significantly towards our self sufficiency in energy. The industry acknowledges that the right way forward is to work continuously for the safest, most efficient and environmentally sound ways of obtaining and using oil. Environmental management forms a key part of the decision making process at every stage of the operations within all oil companies. The environmental research undertaken by companies is enhancing knowledge and understanding of the marine environment around our coasts. In the air Britain's offshore industry (oil and gas) produces some 83% of the country's total primary energy, but generates only 3% of the UK's atmospheric emissions of carbon dioxide and methane. Oil companies constantly invest in new technology to improve their own performance and reduce emissions. Recording wildlife offshore Bird watching is a popular pastime for off duty workers on the platforms, and offshore installations frequently provide an area of shelter and rest far from land for many types of birds. Members of the North Sea Bird Club record not only sightings of a large variety of birds, including land birds such as house martins, swallows, owls, sparrows, robins, starlings and kestrels, but also the occurrence of whales, sharks, porpoises, dolphins and insects! Over two days in November 1994, 300,000 migrating birds of several species used the Maureen platform to wait for a storm to pass before continuing on their journey. Under the sea The oil that is discharged and accidently spilt, as a proportion of production, has been reduced steadily over the years. This has been due to improved equipment, better working practices and an increased proportion (80%) of oil being carried by pipeline rather than by tanker. The small quantities of oil that do go into the sea disperse and degrade through natural processes. However, the industry is well aware of the serious consequences of oil spills and invests heavily in preventive measures. Research is being done into single-celled organisms that eat pollutants and convert them into harmless substances. With whales and dolphins Whales and dolphins are often seen from offshore platforms. A killer (Orca) whale was 'in residence' around a platform in the Brae Field for nearly two years - attracted by the rich marine life. Because there are concerns that the noise of seismic surveys used to find deposits of oil under the seabed may disturb dolphins and whales, oil companies are funding and taking part in surveys to establish the extent of possible disturbance, so that they can reduce it as much as possible. Frequency and timing of seismic surveys, for example, can be crucial in order to avoid times when certain species are in the area or may be particularly sensitive eg. during spawning. In the end When an oil platform reaches the end of its useful life, a full investigation is carried out to decide how to decommission it safely. The majority of installations in the North Sea will be brought to shore to be disposed of, recycled or reused. But for a few of the installations, removal may not be the best option. One of the most exciting possibilities is the idea of turning some of the rigs into artificial reefs, as research has revealed that marine life is actually attracted to these man-made structures in the North Sea. Ninety disused platforms in the Gulf of Mexico are proving to be beneficial as artificial reefs and research is currently being carried out to establish the possible benefits this may offer to marine life in the North Sea. Increasing efficiency for the future More efficient ways of extracting and refining oil are always under review in order to minimise the impact of the industry on the environment. Recent improvements include: introducing more thermally efficient power plants on platforms modifying machinery to increase efficiency investing in new technology to maximise output from existing fields reaching oil fields further from each platform so that fewer platforms need to be erected. Leaflets Index Next Section

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