Pipe-Lines

Petroleum Act 19982019-07-312019-08-012019-08-022019-08-052019-08-062019-08-072019-08-082019-08-092019-08-132019-08-152019-08-162019-08-192019-08-202019-08-212019-08-232019-08-282019-08-292019-08-302019-09-052019-09-06TSO (The Stationery Office), customer.services@thegazette.co.uk33806098188

Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning

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/719 Apache Beryl I Limited 9/13a – B65Z Sidetracked development well 09/13 08/08/2019
DRA/718 CNOOC Petroleum Europe Ltd Buzzard 20/06a-B2 Well 20/06 08/08/2019
DRA/707 TAQA Bratani Ltd North Cormorant 211/21-N83 well 211/21 05/08/2019
DRA/720 CNR International (U.K.) Limited Ninan South 3/08-s89 03/08 13/08/2019
DRA/724 CNR International (U.K.) Limited Ninian South 3/08-S75 03/08 29/08/2019
DRA/722 Total E&P North Sea UK Ltd Culzean 22/25a-C7 22/25 30/08/2019
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/687 Premier Oil E & P UK Limited Tolmount E Appraisal Well 42/28 31/07/2019
DRA/712 Apache Beryl I Limited 9/18a-41 Garten 2 Development Well 9/18 01/08/2019
DRA/714 Apache North Sea Limited 21/10-A11 Forties A Sidetrack well 21/10 01/08/2019
DRA/701 Equinor UK Ltd 22/10b - I Lifjellet Exploration Well 22/10 09/08/2019
DRA/723 Equinor UK Ltd 211/30c - B33/12-B-29 A Barnacle Development Well 211/30 15/08/2019
DRA/702 BP Exploration Operating Co Ltd Loyal Water Injection Well 204/20-L12 204/20 16/08/2019
DRA/703 BP Exploration Operating Co Ltd Loyal Water Injection Well 204/20-L13 204/20 16/08/2019
DRA/704 BP Exploration Operating Co Ltd Schiehallion Water Injection Well 204/20-C32 204/20 16/08/2019
DRA/711 Petrofac Facilities Management Ltd Liberator Appraisal Well 13/23c-LPt-02 13/23 19/08/2019
DRA/690 CNOOC Petroleum Europe Ltd Howick 206/21-A Exploration Well 206/21 23/08/2019
DRA/732 Shell U.K. Limited Penguins C-UpDip Development Well 211/13 20/08/2019
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/690 Britoil Ltd Foinaven Anode Skids Installation 204/24 13/08/2019
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/686 BP Exploration Operating Co Ltd Glen Lyon PLU4719 Installation 204/24 06/08/2019
Main reasons / conclusions on which decision is based Main considerations related to installation of infrastructure and associated 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
PRA/39 Shell U.K. Ltd Penguins East 211/13 07/08/2019
PRA/39 Shell U.K. Ltd Penguins West 211/13 07/08/2019
PRA/25 Spirit Energy Production UK Limited South Morecambe 110/03 21/08/2019
PRA/81 Spirit Energy Production UK Limited North Morecambe 110/02 21/08/2019
PRA/45 Apache North Sea Limited Maule Field 21/10 28/08/2019
PRA/43 Apache Beryl I Limited Ness Field 09/13 28/08/2019
PRA/43 Apache Beryl I Limited Buckland Field 09/13 28/08/2019
PRA/93 Apache North Sea Limited Tonto Field 21/10 28/08/2019
PRA/45 Apache North Sea Limited Forties Field 21/10 28/08/2019
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 Exclusion Date
EX-56-2019 CNOOC Petroleum Europe Ltd Buzzard Water Injection Manifolds Jumper Installation 20/1 & 20/6 02/08/2019
EX-57-2019 BP Exploration Operating Co Ltd Schiehallion Central Jumper Installation 204/20 05/08/2019
EX-58-2019 EnQuest Heather Ltd Goosander Electrical Flying Leads installation 21/12 28/08/2019
EX-60-2019 Equinor UK Limited Mariner Production Increase Extension 09/11 13/08/2019
EX-61-2019 Chevron North Sea Limited Alder Development Project. Replacement of umbilical tree jumper 15/29 20/08/2019

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).