ENVIRONMENT OVERVIEW GROUP
7TH OCTOBER 2004
REPORT BY THE HEAD OF PLANNING DESIGN AND CONTROL SERVICES
INFORMATION
2003 BP WYTCH FARM ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
Every year BP sends a review of the previous year’s activities to those Local Authorities and other interest groups around their Dorset oil field. These are part of the public reporting requirements of the European Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).
Of twelve targets set for Environmental Performance in 2003, covering issues such as Environmental Management, Communications, Waste Management and Pollution Prevention and Control, six targets were met and two are ongoing projects.
Against a target of no statutory non conformance for air emissions, spills, noise or waste there were five reported incidents. Greenhouse gas emissions exceeded the target of 65,000 tonnes by 14%. Flaring of gas was almost double the expected daily average because of operational problems with the gas plant and refrigeration system.
On the positive side, 80% of the previous audit programme was achieved, the amount of HCFCs released from the site was 27% below the target figure and 0.9 hectares of heathland was restored.
Targets for 2004 include achieving 85% of all Audit actions, a reduction in the target figure for the number of complaints, a reduction in the volume of waste going to land fill but, conversely, a higher target for greenhouse gas emissions (an increase of 10% over the 2003 target).
Key elements of work planned for 2004 include the commissioning of a new larger rig which will enable drilling in the off-shore field areas from existing wells, new facilities at the gathering station to enable LPG to travel by road as decreasing production levels can no longer sustain the operation of the rail based facility.
Some headline figures, which may be of interest, include:
CO2 – 173,000 tonnes
HCFCs – 7.25 tonnes
Waste to landfill – 2,200 tonnes
NOx – 27,900 tonnes
The Wytch Farm production levels peaked in about 2000 and are now on a declining slope with 40,600 barrels of oil per day being achieved in 2003. It is anticipated that this will tail off to below 20,000 barrels per day by 2015 unless additional resources can be found/accessed.