Pipe-Lines
THE OFFSHORE PETROLEUM PRODUCTION AND PIPE-LINES (ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS) REGULATIONS 1999 (AS AMENDED)
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT DECISIONS
Pursuant to regulations 5A(7) and 5A(8) of the above Regulations, the Secretary of State gives notice of the following decision(s) in respect of the Secretary of State’s agreement to the grant of consent in relation to a relevant project under regulation 5A(1)(c) of the above Regulations.
| Reference | Operator | Project Name | Quad/ Block | Decision Issued |
| D/4225/2018 | Premier Oil E&P UK Limited | Tolmount to Easington Pipeline ES | 42/28d, 47/3i, 47/2c, 47/2d, 47/7, 47/6 & 47/11 | 29/03/2019 |
| Summary of representations received | Consultees confirmed no objections and no representations were received in response to the public notice. | |||
| Main reasons / conclusions on which decision is based | Main considerations related to physical presence, seabed disturbance, marine discharges, noise and atmospheric emissions, but impacts were assessed as localised and not significant. | |||
| Relevant mitigation measures, environmental conditions or monitoring conditions attached to decision | Agreement to the issue of consent is conditional upon all works being undertaken as detailed in the Environmental Statement. Additional conditions attached relating to archaeological surveys, vessel movements in Special Protection Area, spoil tips and pipeline protection in Marine Conservation Zones. | |||
Having regard to the Environmental Statement(s) submitted under the above Regulations, any information provided under regulation 10 of these Regulations and any representations received, the Secretary of State has assessed the project(s) as not likely to have a significant effect on the environment and has agreed to the grant of consent under the Petroleum Act 1998.
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/641 | CNR International (U.K.) Ltd | Rocksteady (S58zRD-E1z) | 03/08 | 19/03/2019 |
| DRA/637 | Total E&P North Sea UK Ltd | Culzean Well | 22/25 | 22/03/2019 |
| 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/615 | Chrysaor North Sea Ltd | Mabel Appraisal Well | 16/29 | 06/02/2019 |
| DRA/628 | Petrofac Facilities Management Ltd | Blackrock Exploration Well | 204/05 | 04/03/2019 |
| DRA/661 | Equinor UK Ltd | Mariner AAMPI development well | 09/11 | 01/03/2019 |
| DRA/666 | Equinor UK Ltd | Mariner AMPJ development well | 09/11 | 05/03/2019 |
| DRA/667 | Equinor UK Ltd | Mariner AAMPB development well | 09/11 | 14/03/2019 |
| DRA/668 | Equinor UK Ltd | Mariner AMIC development well | 09/11 | 12/03/2019 |
| DRA/680 | Equinor UK Ltd | Mariner AMPO development well | 09/11 | 15/03/2019 |
| DRA/677 | Apache North Sea Ltd | Forties Delta Sidetrack well | 21/10 | 20/03/2019 |
| DRA/642 | ConocoPhillips (U.K.) Ltd | Brodgar HD development well | 21/03 | 18/03/2019 |
| DRA/674 | Equinor UK Ltd | Mariner AMPA development well | 09/11 | 19/03/2019 |
| DRA/675 | Equinor UK Ltd | Mariner AMPG development well | 09/11 | 21/03/2019 |
| DRA/676 | Equinor UK Ltd | Mariner ASA development well | 09/11 | 25/03/2019 |
| DRA/631 | Ithaca Energy (UK) Ltd | Cook Water Injection Well | 21/20 | 08/03/2019 |
| DRA/664 | Ithaca Energy (UK) Ltd | Stella Infill Well | 30/06 | 28/03/2019 |
| DRA/639 | Total E&P North Sea UK Ltd | Ballindalloch Well | 09/19 | 01/03/2019 |
| DRA/653 | CNOOC Petroleum Europe Ltd | Buzzard NIT development well | 20/01 | 29/03/2019 |
| DRA/669 | CNOOC Petroleum Europe Ltd | Buzzard NIC development well | 20/01 | 29/03/2019 |
| DRA/670 | CNOOC Petroleum Europe Ltd | Buzzard NT7 development well | 20/01 | 29/03/2019 |
| DRA/671 | CNOOC Petroleum Europe Ltd | Buzzard NT4A development well | 20/01 | 29/03/2019 |
| DRA/672 | CNOOC Petroleum Europe Ltd | Buzzard NP5 development well | 20/01 | 29/03/2019 |
| DRA/673 | CNOOC Petroleum Europe Ltd | Buzzard CPZ5 development well | 20/01 | 29/03/2019 |
| 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/647 | Eni Hewett Ltd | Stabilisation of PL21 | 48/29 | 15/03/2019 |
| PLA/652 | Eni Hewett Ltd | Stabilisation of PL20 | 48/29 | 15/03/2019 |
| 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/614 | Shell U.K. Ltd | Gannet Export Pipeline | 30/11, 30/12 & 30/13 | 27/03/19 |
| PLA/612 | Shell U.K. Ltd | Shearwater FGL Replumb | 22/30, 29/5, 29/10 & 29/03 | 26/03/19 |
| 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 |
| PRA/29 | Perenco UK Ltd | Minerva Increase in Production | 47/03 | 20/03/2019 |
| PRA/29 | Perenco UK Ltd | Wollaston Increase in Production | 42/28 | 07/11/2018 |
| 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-10-2019 | Dana Petroleum (E&P) Ltd | Saxon Field pipeline works | 21/23 |
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).