0118 OPPC Permitting

OIL & GAS Offshore Pollution Prevention (OPPC) Permitting Offshore Platforms in the Southern North Sea, UK

Project Summary

Oil Pollution Prevention Control (OPPC) Permitting Offshore Platforms in Southern North Sea, UK

Project Value: £27,000 Key Project Elements  OPPC Permit Variation  Discharge Forecasting  BAT Assessment

 DECC Oil Portal

CRA assisted a major oil and gas production company with preparation and submission of multiple permit variation applications under the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Oil Pollution Prevention and Control) Regulations 2005 (as amended) (OPPC) for production complexes and several normally unmanned installations (NUIs).

CRA prepared a permit variation application under the OPPC Regulations for the produced water overboard discharge, produced water re-injection, drainage system (hazardous and non-hazardous) discharge and sand and scale discharge. The variation application was developed per the newly introduced Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) Oil Portal requirements. As such, the variations also included updating of the information previously included in the permit applications.

The OPPC permit variation applications included a best available techniques (BAT) assessment for each system. Industry recognised best practices and techniques were identified and compared to the systems in place at each complex and NUI to show conformance or identify improvement opportunities. A detailed description of each discharge system present was developed in coordination with the process engineers and operations personnel to ensure accurate recording of activities at each complex and NUI. Piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) were reviewed for each system to identify environmentally critical equipment (ECE) and their function. Historical discharge quantity and oil content were utilised to develop a discharge forecast for the following year, as required by the DECC Oil Portal. A simplified process flow diagram was also prepared for each of the systems on each complex and NUI, which required the review of multiple P&IDs. CRA also coordinated with various departments and personnel to locate supporting documents such as produced water meter uncertainly reports and drainage studies, per the new OPPC requirements.

Following submission of the permit applications, CRA assisted in preparation of response to questions raised by the DECC regulators, and provided support required for the issuance of the permits.

Ref: PS0118