UKOOA Drill Cuttings Initiative Issue No3 Spring 2000

The UKOOA Drill Cuttings Initiative has reached an important milestone. The initial phase of research and development has been completed, the results assessed by independent scientists and the findings discussed by stakeholders at a seminar in February. Now we are about to move on to the next phase, one which will further sharpen our understanding of the technical and environmental issues which need to be considered before any decisions are taken.

Initiative moves into final stage

A proposal to press forward with the second and final stage of research to determine how best to deal with old accumulations of drill cuttings on the seabed has received wide support across the UK oil and gas industry. So far, £3.5m has been raised by 17 UK operators, in addition to the £1m allocated for the initial phase, to fund the concluding programme of research due to start in May and finish in the summer of next year.

This next phase of work will maintain the momentum towards the initiative’s objective - to identify the best environmental practice and the best available techniques for dealing with drill cuttings in accordance with the principles set out by the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (1992).

The new programme will build on the findings of the initial research and development work, filling in some of the identified gaps in knowledge.

A representative range of oil and water-based cuttings with different physical characteristics will be selected so that potential courses of action for each can be assessed and compared.

The programme will include specific projects to:

* Assess the current environmental impacts of representative cuttings accumulations;

* Determine how the accumulations’ characteristics change over time through the natural processes of degradation, erosion, sedimentation and recolonisation;

* Adapt and evaluate the mathematical disturbance prediction model developed in Phase I to incorporate the impact of these natural processes;

* Assess the feasibility of two potential “in-situ” solutions:

- covering over the cuttings

- enhancing the natural process of bio-remediation;

* Co-ordinate a pilot lifting operation planned for BP Amoco’s North West Hutton platform;

* Evaluate the options for treating and disposing of the lifted cuttings, both on and offshore.

A number of companies were approached to provide equipment to use in the cuttings lifting trial this summer but many of the proposed systems were insufficiently advanced to meet the programme. However, one system has been selected and if the trial goes to plan, it is hoped that valuable information will be gathered about the effectiveness and efficiency of such equipment and the likely impacts on the environment.

Once again, the independent Scientific Review Group will assess the science and stakeholders will be invited to discuss the issues raised as an integral part of the process of bringing the initiative to its conclusion.

For further information, please contact Trisha O’Reilly on 020 7802 2422 or Email: toreilly@ukooa.co.uk

30/05/00