UK North Sea Flaring Halves In Four Years

The leading representative body for the offshore energy industry, Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), has today responded to the North Sea Transition Authority’s announcement that UK North Sea flaring has halved in just four years.

OEUK, whose members comprise of offshore oil and gas companies operating in the North Sea, said the progress is a clear indicator of the industry’s commitment to the measures set out in the 2021 North Sea Transition Deal – a sector deal between the UK Government and OEUK, on behalf of its members.

The UK sector has continually been taking the lead on reducing emissions, flaring, and venting. In the past two years, OEUK has signed its commitment to the Methane Guiding Principles, developed methane guidelines for best industry practice, and delivered an action plan to encourage the significant reduction of methane from the production of oil and gas.

OEUK also reported in 2021 that emissions from the UK offshore oil and gas industry fell by 10%, with nearly half of that due to industry action.

OEUK HSE & Operations Director Mark Wilson commented:
“This is positive progress and a clear indicator that the UK offshore oil and gas sector is committed to bringing down emissions and making production as sustainable as possible.

“The sector’s emissions targets, along with its pledge to halve methane emissions by 2030 and stop all routine flaring by the same year, marks the UK industry as one of the most ambitious in the world in terms of reducing greenhouse gases.

“This is just the beginning of our journey. We must now make sure the sector receives enough investment to significantly scale-up solutions like electrification to make production sustainable, and to help decarbonise the whole UK economy.”