RNNP Acute spills 2014

Figures from Trends in risk level in the petroleum activity - Acute discharges (RNNP-AU) show that the number of acute discharges of crude oil and the number of near-misses that could have produced acute oil discharges declined in the period 2001-2014. The fall occurred against an increase in the number of oil-producing facilities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf in the same period.

"The trend is a positive one, but in this period we did not observe any reduction in the volume of actual or potential discharges. This gives cause to debate the effect of the barriers in preventing acute discharges and staunching the development of incidents", says Finn Carlsen, technical  director at the PSA.

The figures also show that the reduction in the number of actual acute crude oil discharges in the period was more evident in the North Sea than in the Norwegian Sea. The trend in the number of near-misses is also more uniformly positive in the North Sea, whereas the Norwegian Sea saw greater fluctuations.

The annual volume of crude oil discharge in the North Sea increased substantially in 2014. This is due to three recorded incidents in the 10-100 tonne discharge category, of which two were among the 10 largest acute oil discharges in the period 2003-2014. Both the incidents were discharges of produced oil from the drainage systems of older facilities. One of the facilities was approaching shutdown.

The PSA investigated both incidents:

Report of the investigation into a hydrocarbon leak on Statfjord C

Report of the investigation into an oil discharge on the Eldfisk complex

Three acute oil discharges of this magnitude in a single year had not previously been recorded in the North Sea.

Acute chemical discharges dominate

Acute chemical discharges are the dominant type of discharge and are often greater than 1 m3 in volume. Around 25% of acute chemical discharges are greater than 1 m3, based on combined data from 2001 onwards.

The number of acute chemical discharges on the Norwegian Continental Shelf has fluctuated around a relatively stable level throughout the period since 2001. The trend since 2009 has been one of less variation around a high level.

Comparing the Norwegian Sea and the North Sea for the period, we can see that the discharge volume per facility year is more than twice as large in the Norwegian Sea (9.3 m3 in the Norwegian Sea against 3.99 m3 in the North Sea).

"The results show that prevention of acute chemical discharges is a safety issue that deserves attention", says Carlsen.

"At the same time, the RNNP main report indicates that personnel risk as a result of chemical exposure also demands attention. This demonstrates some of the breadth of challenges associated with the use of chemicals in the petroleum industry, and the importance of looking at safety, environmental and health aspects in correlation."

The Barents Sea

In 2013 and 2014, there were more acute discharges in the Barents Sea than in previous years. There was a marked increase in activities in the region in this period.

"Petroleum activities in the High North will increase in the years ahead – on both the Norwegian and foreign shelves. Key decisions will be taken about activities in the High North in the near future, and with this in mind it is important to address the safety challenges specific to these areas", says Carlsen.

"In practice, activities in the Barents Sea will involve the same participants, with the same experience, expertise and technologies as on other parts of the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Experiences from the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea may therefore tell us something about how the industry might operate in the Barents Sea. Results from RNNP-AU for the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea may therefore be useful for discussing safety issues in the High North too."