§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what proposals he has to modify the Petroleum Act 1987 in relation to the dismantling and removal of redundant offshore oil and gas structures and submarine pipeline networks; and if he will make a statement; [24032]
(2) if he will list (a) the redundant offshore oil and gas installations which have been dismantled and removed from their sites and (b) the redundant submarine pipeline networks which have been dismantled and removed from their sites in accordance with the relevant provisions contained in the Petroleum Act 1987; and if he will make a statement; [23033]
(3) how many programmes of (a) abandonment of redundant offshore oil and gas structures, (b) abandonment of submarine pipeline networks, (c) dismantlement and removal of redundant offshore oil and gas structures and (d) dismantlement and removal of submarine pipeline networks he has approved in each of the past seven years; and if he will make a statement; [24034]
(4) if he will list (a) the number and location of redundant offshore oil and gas installations which operators have been allowed to abandon and (b) the redundant submarine pipeline networks which operators have been allowed to abandon in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Petroleum Act 1987; if he will detail what measures have been taken, in relation to such programmes of abandonment, to protect the safety and commercial interests of other parties engaged in maritime industries; and if he will make a statement; [23036]
(5) what advice is given to commercial fishermen who fish nearby fishing grounds and other users of the local marine environment in relation to the dismantlement and removal of redundant offshore oil and gas structures and redundant submarine pipeline networks; [23037]
26W(6) if he will list the regulations governing the maintenance and inspection of abandoned offshore oil and gas structures and redundant submarine pipeline networks; and if he will make a statement; [23038]
(7) when Shell UK Exploration, Shell Expro, was given approval under part I of the Petroleum Act 1987 for its abandonment proposal for the Brent Spar, which at present is located in the Brent field; and if he will make a statement; [23377]
(8) what discussions have taken place with Shell UK Exploration and Production, Shell Expro, concerning the removal and disposal of the decommissioned Brent Spar under part I of the Petroleum Act 1987 which at present is located in the Brent field; and if he will make a statement; [23378]
(9) if it is his policy in relation to the Petroleum Act 1987 to allow offshore oil and gas operators to dispose of redundant oil and gas structures and pipeline networks by way of deep-water sinkings; and if he will make a statement; [23379]
(10) how many redundant, or decommissioned, offshore oil and gas structures and pipeline networks have been disposed of under the Petroleum Act 1987 by way of (a) onshore scrapping, (b) deep-water sinking or (c) left in situ in each of the past seven years; and if he will make a statement; [23380]
(11) if he name those persons and companies against whom he has initiated court proceedings in each of the past seven years in relation to offences they were alleged to have committed under sections 2, 5, 9 or 10 of the Petroleum Act 1987, of those so proceeded against how many were found guilty; what were the penalties imposed upon them by the law courts; and if he will make a statement. [24210]
§ Mr. EggarMy right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and his predecessor the Secretary of State for Energy have approved the following abandonment programmes for offshore installations and pipelines:
Year Facilities 1988 Piper Alpha 1991 Crawford1 1992 Argyll, Duncan and Innes Blair1 1993 Angus Forbes Part of Staffa—Ninian pipe-line 1994 Fulmar single anchor leg mooring (SALM) buoy Brent Spar oil storage and tanker loading facility 1 Includes pipe-lines. In each case, except Piper Alpha, two Blair pipelines, a redundant part of the Staffa—Ninian pipeline, and the Argyll Base Manifold, the abandonment programme provided for the complete removal of the facilities. The Crawford, Argyll, Duncan and Innes, and Angus floating production facilities have been re-used elsewhere. The Forbes topsides have been sold for re-use and the jacket has been sold for possible re-use or scrapping onshore. The Fulmar SALM buoy has been removed from the field and the disposal options are under consideration.
In accordance with section 4 of the Petroleum Act 1987 the President of the Board of Trade approved the Brent Spar abandonment programme on 20 December 1994. 27W That programme provides for disposal of the Spar in the deep waters of the north-east Atlantic. That decision was taken following a comparative assessment of the options including an analysis of the best practicable environmental option. My Department had extensive discussions with Shell UK Exploration and Production during the consideration of the abandonment programme and consulted others in Government with an interest in protection of the marine environment and fisheries. Apart from environmental considerations and possible interference with navigation and fisheries, the comparative assessment also examined risk, technical feasibility and cost. Our decision fully meets our international obligations and has been communicated to other countries under the procedural requirements of the Oslo convention.
No regulations have been made in respect of the abandonment provisions of the Petroleum Act 1987. Inspection and maintenance requirements are decided on a case-by-case basis in the light of the circumstances of each abandonment proposal and after consultation with other Government Departments.
In each case, the President of the Board of Trade has required consultations to be carried out with interested parties, including representatives of fishermen's organisations, and that the results of the consultations be reported in the abandonment programme.
Abandonment programmes are considered on a case-by-case basis and their approval must be consistent with our international obligations including the International Maritime Organisations's guidelines and standards for the removal of offshore installations and the London and Oslo conventions.
While decommissioning operations are being undertaken, mariners are advised by notice to avoid the area. An installation which is only partly removed will not be allowed to endanger navigation. The Government are currently considering whether further measures need to be taken to ensure that mariners, including fishermen, are aware of any remains of installations.
Guidance notes for the abandonment of offshore installations and pipelines were issued for consultation on 4 May 1995. A copy of the guidance notes is available in the Library of the House.
I have no proposals at present to modify the Petroleum Act.
I have not initiated any court proceedings in respect of offences under sections 2, 5, 9 or 10 of the Petroleum Act.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions in each of the past seven years he has used his powers, contained in section 4 of the Petroleum Act 1987, to reject an abandonment programme submitted by offshore oil and gas operators; in how many such cases the programmes were replaced by an abandonment programme prepared by himself; and if he will make a statement. [24204]
§ Mr. EggarNo abandonment programmes have been rejected under section 4 of the Petroleum Act 1987.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the President of the Board of Trade when he plans to issue the authorisation anent the laying of the gas pipeline to Premier Transco Ltd. between Scotland and Northern Ireland; when he expects the work to(a) commence and (b) be completed; and if he will make a statement. [24181]
28W
§ Mr. EggarThe authorisation under the Pipe-lines Act 1962 for the onshore section of the pipeline was issued on 27 February this year. It is expected that the authorisation for the offshore section required under the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act 1975 will be issued shortly. Work has already commenced on the onshore section and work on the whole pipeline is expected to be completed by October 1996.