§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken in the last three years to ensure that marine pollution by drilling mud and drilling cuttings from production and exploration of oil and natural gas platforms in the North Sea under the United Kingdom's jurisdiction, is avoided where practicably possible.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithIn October 1984 the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971 was amended to include control of the use, on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf, of refined oils used to formulate oil based drilling muds.
In accordance with criteria agreed within the Paris Commission exemptions under the 1971 Act for the use of oil based muds may be issued. These exemptions prohibit the discharge of whole muds, require analysis of oil on cuttings, and for multi-well sites require the operator to carry out sediment monitoring before, during and after drilling.
In general no significant pollution risk arises from the discharge of water-based drilling muds and associated cuttings.
In some particularly sensitive locations the discharges of any muds and cuttings would not be permitted.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Energy at what intervals oil and natural gas platforms within the United Kingdom's jurisdiction are inspected to ensure compliance with regulations for the prevention and reduction of oil pollution.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithOffshore oil production platforms on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf are inspected at least once each year by inspectors from the Department of Energy specifically to ensure compliance with regulations for the prevention and reduction of oil pollution. Other inspectors make more frequent visits and should they, helicopter pilots, or masters of offshore support vessels observe significant oil contamination of the sea, they report it to the Department of Energy.
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for Energy if permits issued by Her Majesty's Government to companies wishing to explore and exploit petroleum and natural gas include mandatory requirements to prevent, on the basis of the best available technology, marine pollution through technical and organisational measures.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithAll licences issued to allow companies to explore and exploit petroleum and natural gas on the United Kingdom continental shelf state that the742W licensee shall not carry out any operation, authorised by the licence, which will interfere unjustifiably with the conservation of the living resources of the sea.
Before any development is approved, the Secretary of State for Energy must be satisfied that the licence operator will employ the best practicable means to minimise oily discharges.