OEUK asks the UK to unblock oil and decarbonisation projects

The 2022 Emissions Report of Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), a trade association for the UK marine energy industry, confirmed that the oil and gas sector is outperforming its emissions target with a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of the production, transport and processing of hydrocarbons from the North Sea of ​​more than 20% since 2018.

The report highlights that the industry needs the UK to create the right conditions to invest in large-scale emission reduction projects. This is essential for the industry to meet the North Sea Transition Agreement’s 2030 target of achieving a 50% reduction.

“As the North Sea Transition Authority emissions monitoring report confirmed, the oil and gas sector has reduced its emissions, but more needs to be done if we are to achieve further reductions,” said the manager of energy policy at OEUK, Will Webster.

“We must build on the good progress we have made through actions including platform modifications. OEUK will continue to secure input from operators and the supply chain to accelerate this change and ensure abatement, flaring reduction and ventilation technologies are widely applied across all production facilities on the UK continental shelf.” .

According to Webster, “for companies to replace gas and diesel with electricity to power offshore platforms and thus reduce emissions is going to require government support, timely grid connection for electrification of oil and gas platforms . Both will play an important role in driving improvements in emission reductions.”

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The key findings of the report

• Since the base year 2018, carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane emissions have decreased from 18.8 million tons of CO2 equivalent (CO2 e) to 15.03 million tons of (CO2 e);
• In 2020, the industry has achieved a 12% reduction, marking the second year in a row that emissions have decreased;
• Since the 2018 base year, methane emissions are down 36%, and the Methane Action Plan helps companies improve performance;
• Greenhouse gas burning and venting is down 36% from the baseline year of 2018;
• Overall carbon intensity (total UK oil and gas production divided by total carbon emissions), although rising slightly in 2021 from 20.07 kg CO2/boe to 20.81 CO2/boe, remains below the 2018 baseline intensity.

The report outlines how the majority of emissions from the oil and gas sector come from power generation from hydrocarbons to power offshore platforms, including security systems, as well as electricity and heat for the workforce to ensure a reliable power supply.

The report highlights that the industry needs the UK to create the right conditions to invest in large-scale emission reduction projects.

“The challenge for the industry is to ensure it delivers a controlled transition to a lower carbon economy,” said Deirdre Michie, chief executive of trade body Offshore Energies UK.

“New investments resulting from the recently announced 33rd licensing round by the North Sea Transitional Authority will also contribute to these goals. New developments will have a lower emission intensity than the resources they replace and most imported sources of oil and gas,” he concluded.