A mixture of oil, water and gas is produced from reservoirs and these components are usually separated in the production train. However, not all the oil can be removed from the water and as a result a small quantity of oil will be discharged with the produced water.

The discharge of oil-contaminated produced water from offshore installations is permitted by an exemption granted under POPA, and the oil content must not exceed 40 parts per million. It has proved to be difficult for a few installations; in particular those operating in mature fields, to meet this target. In 2002 of 74 installations discharging produced water, 3 exceeded this target when averaged over the whole year. The average content of oil in produced water for the year, for the UKCS as a whole, was 21 parts per million. This is in line with previous years figures and remains the lowest value yet recorded in the UKCS.

Recent improvements in produced water management have been maintained. The improvements in this area are an achievement for the offshore oil industry as the amount of water produced with oil increases as fields mature. This highlights the considerable efforts being made by both Government and industry in minimising the oil in produced water discharges. Each installation's produced water discharge is different and as such there is no single solution to reducing the oil discharges.

Hazel Brodie
email: hazel.brodie@dti.gsi.gov.uk
phone: +44 (0) 1224 254027
fax: +44 (0) 1224 254018

Back | Title | Table of Contents
Appendix 1 | Appendix 2 | Appendix 3 | Appendix 4 | Appendix 5 | Appendix 6 | Appendix 7 | Appendix 8 | Appendix 9
Appendix 10 | Appendix 11 | Appendix 12 | Appendix 13 | Appendix 14 | Appendix 15 | Appendix 16 | Appendix 17
Index Map | Plate 1 | Plate 2W | Plate 2E | Plate 3W | Plate 3E | Plate 4W | Plate 4E | Plate 5 | Plate 6
Plate 7 | Plate 8W | Plate 8E | Plate 9W | Plate 9E | Plate 10W | Plate 10E | Plate 11 | Plate 12 | Legend