FUGITIVE EMISSIONS FROM NORWEGIAN OIL AND GAS-PRODUCTION

Fugitive hydrocarbon emissions from oil and gas production, always a safety concern, are currently a growing environmental and economic concern. Fugitive emissions from the offshore industry comprise mainly methane, which has an atmospheric warming contribution of approximately 14 times that of CO2, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which have an atmospheric warming contribution of around twice that of CO2. Current studies indicate that fugitive emissions are approximately equivalent to 0.02% of the total gas produced in 1992 on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. A positive downward trend in fugitive emissions from oil and gas production has been identified and attributed to advances in technology and changes in design and operating philosophy.