Pipe-Lines

Petroleum Act 19982020-03-042020-03-052020-03-072020-03-112020-03-122020-03-152020-03-182020-03-192020-03-242020-03-252020-03-272020-04-062020-04-07TSO (The Stationery Office), customer.services@thegazette.co.uk354629728323

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/787 Equinor UK Ltd Mariner AAAMPG Development well 9/11 04/03/2020
DRA/778 BP Exploration Operating Co Ltd Clair Ridge Development Well 206/08a-BS3U5P1 206/08 11/03/2020
DRA/727 Premier Oil UK Ltd Solan P3 Development Well 205/26 15/03/2020
DRA/785 Total E&P UK Ltd Franklin Development Well 29/05b-F13 (FID) 29/05 19/03/2020
DRA/782 CNR International (U.K.) Ltd Razor Beak Development Well 3/03 24/03/2020
DRA/783 CNR International (U.K.) Ltd Lickety Split Development Well 3/03 24/03/2020
DRA/788 Apache Beryl I Ltd Beryl Bravo 9/13a-B45z Development Well 9/13 25/03/2020
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/769 Petrogas North Sea Ltd Brigitta Appraisal Well East 22/19 07/03/2020
DRA/771 Shell U.K. Ltd Pierce A13z Development Well 23/22 12/03/2020
DRA/773 Total E&P North Sea UK Ltd Finzean Exploration Well 12/30 25/03/2020
DRA/784 Shell U.K. Ltd Pierce A14 Development Well 23/22 18/03/2020
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/724 Premier Oil E & P UK Ltd Tolmount export pipeline 42/28 05/03/2020
Main reasons / conclusions on which decision is based Main considerations related to seabed excavation operations and deposit of materials on the seabed. Impacts assessed as localised and not significant.
Mitigation features / measures Excavations and deposits will be the minimum required to achieve objectives, 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/716 Chrysaor Production (U.K.) Ltd Pipeline tie in F5 infill well to Callanish Towhead 15/29 11/03/2020
PLA/729 CNOOC Petroleum Europe Ltd Buzzard Phase II pipelines, bundle & associated umbilicals 20/01 & 20/06 24/03/2020
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
PLA/736 Total E&P UK Ltd Forvie North electrical umbilical replacement 3/15 05/03/2020
PLA/746 Total E&P North Sea UK Ltd Gryphon P23 water injection pipeline 9/18 27/03/2020
Main reasons / conclusions on which decision is based Main considerations related to installation of infrastructure and associated deposit of materials on the seabed, and marine discharges. 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 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/119 INEOS UK SNS Ltd Breagh Production Increase 42/13 27/03/2020
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-196-2020 BP Exploration Operating Co Ltd Schiehallion Field Pipeline Works 204/20
EX-197-2020 Serica Energy (UK) Ltd Rhum Field Pipeline Works 3/29
EX-199-2020 Shell U.K. Ltd Gannet Field Pipeline Works 21/30
EX-200-2020 Dana Petroleum (E&P) Ltd Clapham Field Pipeline Works 21/24

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).