Pipe-Lines

Petroleum Act 19982019-02-052019-02-062019-02-072019-02-122019-02-132019-02-162019-02-252019-02-272019-02-282019-03-19TSO (The Stationery Office), St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1PD, 01603 622211, customer.services@tso.co.uk323580928158

THE OFFSHORE PETROLEUM PRODUCTION AND PIPE-LINES (ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS) REGULATIONS 1999 (AS AMENDED)

DIRECTION DECISIONS

Pursuant to regulations 6(11) and 6(12) of the above Regulations, the Secretary of State gives notice of the following decision(s), in respect of application(s) made under regulation 6 of the above Regulations requesting a direction confirming that a relevant project need not be accompanied by an environmental statement and confirming the Secretary of State’s agreement to the grant of consent.

Reference Operator Project Name Quad/ Block Direction Issued
DRA/613 BP Exploration Operating Company Ltd Clair Ridge BS3U5P2 Well 206/08 25/02/2019
DRA/651 Apache North Sea Ltd Forties Delta D45 Well 21/10 06/02/2019
DRA/588 Total E&P UK Ltd Franklin F2 Well 29/05 05/02/2019
Main reasons / conclusions on which decision is based Main considerations related to marine discharges and atmospheric emissions. Discharges assessed as no risk to marine environment, and atmospheric emissions rapidly dispersed to background levels. Impacts assessed as localised and not significant.
Mitigation features / measures Any cuttings contaminated with oil-based mud will be treated offshore prior to discharge or shipped to shore for treatment and disposal. Appropriate controls will be in place to reduce the likelihood of accidental events.
Reference Operator Project Name Quad/ Block Direction Issued
DRA/623 BP Exploration Operating Company Ltd Alligin PX200 Well 204/20 12/02/2019
DRA/625 BP Exploration Operating Company Ltd Alligin IX200 Well 204/20 12/02/2019
DRA/600 Equinor UK Ltd Pip Well 15/15 13/02/2019
DRA/601 Equinor UK Ltd Verbier Well 20/05 28/02/2019
Main reasons / conclusions on which decision is based Main considerations related to marine discharges, atmospheric emissions and interference with other users of the sea. Discharges assessed as no risk to marine environment and atmospheric emissions rapidly dispersed to background levels. Impacts assessed as localised and not significant.
Mitigation features / measures Any cuttings contaminated with oil-based mud will be treated offshore prior to discharge or shipped to shore for treatment and disposal, and works will be undertaken in accordance with applicable navigational conditions. Appropriate controls will be in place to reduce the likelihood of accidental events.
Reference Operator Project Name Quad/Block Direction Issued
PLA/651 Perenco Gas (UK) Ltd Inde Leman PL22 Emergency Pipeline Deposits 49/27 25/02/2019
Main reasons / conclusions on which decision is based Main considerations related to deposit of materials on the seabed and interference with other users of the sea. Impacts assessed as localised and not significant.
Mitigation features / measures Deposits will be the minimum required to achieve objectives and designed to prevent unnecessary interference with other users of the sea. Works will be undertaken in accordance with applicable navigational conditions and appropriate controls will be in place to reduce the likelihood of accidental events. Agreement was given to the issue of consent providing works are undertaken as specified in the application.
Reference Operator Project Name Quad/Block Direction Issued
PLA/607 EnQuest Heather Ltd Scolty Crathes Pipeline Replacement 21/08, 21/12, 21/13 & 21/18 27/02/2019
PLA/630 EnQuest Heather Ltd Dunlin By-pass Pipeline 211/12, 211/13 & 211/18 27/02/2019
PLA/622 Total E&P UK Ltd Edradour - 2" Service Line Blockage Repair 206/03 & 206/04 07/02/2019
PLA/636 Premier Oil E&P UK Ltd Balmoral 2019 Subsea Campaign 16/21 & 16/21 28/02/2019
Main reasons / conclusions on which decision is based Main considerations related to installation of infrastructure and associated deposit of materials on the seabed, marine discharges and interference with other users of the sea.  Discharges assessed as no risk to the marine environment, and impacts assessed as localised and not significant.
Mitigation features / measures Deposits will be the minimum required to achieve objectives and designed to prevent unnecessary interference with other users of the sea. Works will be undertaken in accordance with applicable navigational conditions and appropriate controls will be in place to reduce the likelihood of accidental events. Agreement was given to the issue of consent providing works are undertaken as specified in the application.
Reference Operator Project Name Quad/Block Direction Issued
IP/1637 Ithaca Energy (UK) Ltd Cook Field Increase in Production 21/20 16/02/2019
Main reasons / conclusions on which decision is based Main considerations related to marine discharges and atmospheric emissions.  Discharges assessed as no risk to the environment and atmospheric emissions rapidly dispersed to background levels. Impacts assessed as localised and not significant.
Mitigation features / measures Appropriate controls in place to reduce the likelihood of accidental events and agreement was given to the issue of consent, providing increase is as specified in the application.

Having regard to the relevant application(s) for direction(s) submitted under the above Regulations, the Secretary of State has assessed the project(s) as not likely to have a significant effect on the environment and has given a direction that the application for consent under the Petroleum Act 1998 need not be accompanied by an environmental statement. The main reasons and considerations on which this decision is based are summarised above and have taken full account of the characteristics of the project, the environmental sensitivity of the areas likely to be affected by the project and the nature and significance of the potential impacts, as set out in Schedule 1 to the Regulations.

Excluded Activities

Pursuant to regulation 5(10) of the above Regulations, the Secretary of State gives notice that, having regard to the matters set out in regulations 5(2) and/or 5(2A) and Schedule 1 to the Regulations, the Secretary of State has decided that the operations in respect of which consent is sought would not be likely to have a significant effect on the environment and accordingly no environmental statement need be prepared in respect of the relevant project.

Reference Operator Project Name Quad/ Block
EX-04-2019 Spirit Energy North Sea Oil Ltd Chestnut Field Pipeline Works 22/02
EX-05-2019 Perenco UK Ltd Apollo Field Production Extension 47/03
EX-06-2019 Perenco UK Ltd Indefatigable South West Field Production Extension 49/23
EX-07-2019 Serica Energy (UK) Ltd Bruce Field Production Extension 09/09
EX-08-2019 Serica Energy (UK) Ltd Keith Field Production Extension 09/08
EX-09-2019 Serica Energy (UK) Ltd Rhum Field Production Extension 03/29

Further information in relation to all the decisions detailed in this notice can be found on the GOV.UK website at:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/oil-and-gas-environmental-data.

If you have any questions in relation to this notice or the decisions, please contact the Environmental Management Team, Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED), AB1 Building, Crimon Place, Aberdeen AB10 1BJ (e-mail: emt@beis.gov.uk).