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ENVIROMENTAL STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES IN MAERSK OIL

GORM (excluding

9. ENVIROMENTAL STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES IN MAERSK OIL

9.1 Environmental management system

Maersk Oil operates with a ISO 14001 certified environmental management system /106/. The objectives of the environmental management system is to minimise the impact on the

environment by continually improving the environmental performance.

The objective shall be achieved by:

 Maintaining a complete and effective environmental management system

 Providing timely and effective innovative actions to reduce environmental impact

 Promoting the awareness of environmental matters at all organisational levels

 Minimising environmental impact through principles of best available technology (BAT) and best environmental practice (BEP).

9.2 Environmental and social impact in project maturation

An Environmental and Social Impact Assessment standard /143/ that lays out the process for managing risk of environmental and social impacts of new large projects has recently been implemented in Maersk Oil. The standard provides a framework embedded within the Maersk Oil project maturation process which will be used from start and throughout the different

development phases of future devolpment projects.

9.3 Demonstration of BAT/BEP

The OSPAR Convention of 1992 requires contracting parties to apply best available techniques (BAT) and best environmental practice (BEP) including, where appropriate, clean technology, in their efforts to prevent and eliminate marine pollution.

As defined the OSPAR convention BAT means the latest stage of development (state of the art) of processes, of facilities or of methods of operation which indicate the practical suitability of a particular measure for limiting discharges, emissions and waste. BEP is defined as the application of the most appropriate combination of environmental control measures and strategies.

It follows that BAT and BEP for a particular source will change with time in the light of

technological advances, economic and social factors, as well as changes in scientific knowledge and understanding.

BAT has also been implemented in the EU IPCC directive 96/61/EC, and the IE directive

(2010/75/EU). What constitutes BAT is identical in the two directives, but Articles 13 to 16 of the IE directive require that BAT reference documents are prepared as a reference for setting permit conditions. The BAT principle is illustrated in Figure 9-1

Figure 9-1 Illustration of best available technique.

It is a Maersk Oil objective to implement the principles of BAT and BEP in an effort to minimize the potential environmental impacts of activities in the North Sea. This entails that environmental concerns are adressed and encompassed in the planning phase. The BAT/BEP principle has been used in the design and operation of the installations and process equipment of Maersk Oil as well as for the selection of materials and substances.

Examples of how Maersk Oil applies BAT and BEP include measures to

 Improving energy efficiency

 Monitoring and minimising emissions

 Optimising the use and discharge of chemicals

 Supporting the development of chemicals with less environmental impact

 Use of efficient equipment during well test

 Continuous review and assessment of projects and applied equipment

For example, Maersk Oil and gas use several technologies such as hydrocyclones, induced gas flotation units, compact flotation units for treatment of produced water, which are included in the OSPAR background document concerning techniques for the management of produced water from offshore installations, an overview from 2002 of BAT for handling produced water.

9.4 Oil spill contingency plan

Maersk Oil's emergency preparedness in connection with serious incidents offshore on and around Maersk Oil's installations and in Danish concession areas held by A.P. Møller-Mærsk is centred around and coordinated by permanently established emergency committees.

Maersk Oil has developed an oil spill contingency plan /106/, which describes how to combat possible oil spills. Oil spill scenarios up to and including the worst credible case discharge scenario for Maersk Oil facilities and wells have been considered to ensure an appropriate tiered capability is established.

 Tier 1: e.g. small operational spills

 Mobilise oil spill monitoring/surveillance vessel.

 Oil spill drift modelling.

 Use in-field vessel with boom/skimmer equipment mobilised within 8 hours.

 Tier 2: medium spill volume

 Tier 1 measures.

 Use of additional resources (boom, skimmer and transfer pump/hoses) mobilised from Esbjerg or from the Danish National stockpile within 20 hour.

 Waste removal is done by dedicated tanker.

 Tier 3: e.g. blow out

 Tier 2 measures.

 Mobilise additional vessel with 1200m boom, skimmer and transfer pump/hoses within 30 hour. Mobilise trained personnel and additional equipment from Oil Spill Response Ltd (OSRL).

 Waste removal is done by dedicated tanker.

 Mobilise relief well contractor.

 Consult NGOs regarding wildlife response.

Maersk Oil has access to oil spill equipment offshore and in Esbjerg that can be mobilised to an oil spill location immediately. If necessary, additional equipment will be mobilised from the Danish stock pile and OSRL. Maersk Oil is a participant member of OSRL and has access to their

world-wide pool of personnel and equipment. OSRL’s main equipment stockpile in Europe is based in Southampton in the UK but additional equipment is also available in Stavanger.

The use of dispersant chemicals to increase oil dispersion, dilution and natural breakdown will be evaluated when relevant. The use of dispersant chemicals is regulated and dispersant may only be used after approval by DEPA.

Regular emergency exercises (oil spills) are carried out as a minimum every three years to train and motivate personnel, test the equipment and to ensure plans as described are effective Relevant authorities participate in the exercise.

9.5 Ongoing monitoring

Maersk Oil has flowmeters measuring the volume of discharged produced water, and water samples are regularly obtained for analysis of oil and chemical content. The nature, type and quantities chemical used and chemicals and oil discharged to sea are reported to the

Environmental Agency.

Monitoring of sediment quality and benthic fauna is undertaken at regular intervals around Maersk Oil platforms /6/.

 The physical and chemical analyses included grain size analysis, dry matter (DM), loss on ignition (LOI), total organic carbon (TOC), metals (barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), mercury (Hg) and aluminium (Al)), Total

hydrocarbons (THC), Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and oil specific group of alkylated aromatic hydrocarbons (NPD).

 Samples obtained for identification and quantification of the benthic fauna

In addition, Maersk Oil monitors underwater noise and marine mammals through passive acoustic monitoring and an offshore sighting program in which offshore staff reports sightings of marine mammals near platforms.

Figure 9-2 Acoustic monitoring of marine mammals (Photo: Aarhus University, DCE).