Protection of the environment by the oil and gas sector has numerous international aspects. Many international environmental agreements also apply to the oil and gas industry. These can be EU directives and guidelines but also international treaties such as the OSPAR Treaty.
European Union
In the context of the EU many regulations and guidelines apply, including:
OSPAR
Fifteen European countries have signed the OSPAR Treaty. This treaty’s primary objective is the protection of the marine environment in the Northwestern Atlantic, including the North Sea. The most important demands set down in the treaty target the prevention and ending of pollution of the seas and achieving sustainable management of the marine environment.
OSPAR established several strategies. One specifically addresses the offshore industry. Over the years many measures have been introduced by the industry to respond to the rules set down in OSPAR. OSPAR rulings for the oil and gas sector are implemented in Dutch national legislation under the terms of the Mining Act or through the environmental covenant.
Examples of OSPAR measures:
- 15% reduction in oil discharges in production water in 2006 compared to 2000. The Dutch sector has already surpassed this generously. (OSPAR Recommendation 2001/1.)
- Removal of all installations after termination of production (decommissioning). There are a few exceptions to this in the case of parts of very large installations and concrete structures. In the Netherlands all installations in principle are removed completely. (OSPAR Decision 98/3.)
- Substitution of chemicals used in the processes of drilling, production and maintenance by less harmful chemicals. Chemicals policy under EU REACH guidelines plays an important role here. In the Netherlands companies have set up plans to replace products with those that are less harmful.
See the OSPAR Commission web site.