Environmental Statement - Maersk Oil
Environmental Statement - Maersk Oil
Environmental Statement - Maersk Oil
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Balloch Field Development <strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Statement</strong><br />
Section 6 Accidental Spills<br />
eventually disperse as droplets, or aggregate into a viscous mass. The rate of emulsification is<br />
dependent upon the oil type and sea state. In certain sea states, emulsions may increase in volume,<br />
containing up to 70 ‐ 80 % water depending on the oil type, and form a thick layer on the sea surface<br />
reducing slick spreading and natural dispersion. By diminishing the amount of surface area available<br />
to be weathered and degraded, these emulsions can be difficult to break up using dispersants and<br />
some mechanical recovery devices. The light oil encountered in this project is unlikely to form<br />
emulsions. Emulsions normally require the presence of long chain molecules known as asphaltenes.<br />
The impacts of oil spills on marine organisms are well documented. A synopsis of potential impacts<br />
from the proposed operations is summarised in the following sections.<br />
6.6. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITIES AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS<br />
This section provides a summary of key relevant data on the environmental sensitivities and potential<br />
impacts of an oil spill at the Balloch location. Full details of environmental sensitivities can be found<br />
in Section 3 of this ES. Table 6‐8 provides a summary of the risk assessment of the environmental<br />
sensitivities within the Balloch location; these have been derived following the assessment criteria<br />
detailed in Table 6‐6 and Table 6‐7.<br />
Table 6‐8 Summary of risk assessment of environmental sensitivities within the vicinity of the proposed<br />
Balloch location.<br />
Feature Key Sensitivities<br />
present<br />
Impact of Small<br />
Spill<br />
(Tier 1)<br />
Impact of Medium Spill<br />
(Tier 2)<br />
Impact of Large Spill<br />
(Tier 3)<br />
Plankton Low vulnerability Insignificant Insignificant Slight<br />
Benthic<br />
communities<br />
Fish<br />
Marine<br />
Mammals<br />
Offshore<br />
Seabirds<br />
Protected<br />
Sites and<br />
Shore Birds<br />
Commercial<br />
fisheries<br />
<strong>Oil</strong> and Gas<br />
operations<br />
Shipping<br />
Tourism<br />
6.6.1. PLANKTON<br />
Low / moderate<br />
sensitivity, species<br />
specific.<br />
Spawning and<br />
nursery for some<br />
species in winter /<br />
spring<br />
Low/moderate<br />
abundance in area<br />
Overall Moderate<br />
vulnerability<br />
184 km from<br />
nearest shoreline<br />
(UK)<br />
Some commercially<br />
important species<br />
present<br />
Nearest are<br />
MacCulloch FPSO<br />
Northern Producer<br />
FPU and Balmoral<br />
FPSO<br />
Moderate area of<br />
activity<br />
184 km from<br />
nearest shoreline<br />
(UK)<br />
Insignificant Slight Moderate Severe<br />
Slight Slight Moderate<br />
Insignificant Insignificant<br />
Slight<br />
(cetaceans)<br />
Moderate<br />
(seals)<br />
Slight Moderate Slight Moderate Moderate Severe<br />
Insignificant Slight Moderate Moderate Severe<br />
Insignificant Slight Moderate<br />
Insignificant Insignificant Slight<br />
Insignificant Insignificant Slight<br />
Insignificant Insignificant Moderate<br />
Although low concentrations of hydrocarbons (
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