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Wytch Farm developments
Marine Pollution Bulletin
sponsored by the anti-pollution specialists Dasic Marine. Other ideas included the possible freezing of a layer of oil just under the tanker's hull again preventing spillage from a damaged tank. Another suggestion revolved around the use of huge inflatable bags which could be placed in the hole and prevent seepage. It was even suggested that it could be feasible to blow oil threatening shores out to sea by ship mounted fans. The suggestions made at the conference showed that there were alternative ways of dealing with tanker safety and that there should be a broader approach to the issues involved. The problems encountered by crews when faced with a spill were also pinpointed. It was concluded that they should be provided with more specific practical roles and equipment hence helping to minimize the effects of an oil spill.
Oil Pollution Curbed in the Bohai Sea Oil pollution in the Bohai Sea has been greatly reduced in the last three years. The concentration of oil found in the water has been reduced from 0.33 mg 1-' in 1975 to 0.013 mg l-~ in 1989. This is a significant achievement considering the rapid growth in coastal populations and industrialization during the last ten years. The credit for this should largely go to the 'Ten Years Reform' (19781988). In the early 1970s the oil pollution problem was growing rapidly. Average oil concentration reached as high as 0.25 mg 1-~ (the first class criterion for seawater is 0.05 mg 1-~) and even up to 0.50 mg 1-~ in some areas. The traditional fisheries, mariculture, and salt industries were very seriously damaged and they suffered enormous economic losses. In response to this the State Oceanographic Administration (SOA) organized a pollution investigation of the Bohai Sea in 1976 to try to solve th problem. It was found that 85% of all pollutants in the Bohai Sea were of land origin and that, of this, 80-85% was transmitted to the sea via rivers. It was also shown that 100% of sewage reaching the sea was untreated and that the oil came from oil refineries and industry along the coast not from tankers or oil exploitation. These findings led to the first marine environmental laws and regulation. In 1979 the Environmental Protection Law of PR China was brought into operation and this laid the foundations for the Marine Environmental Protection Law of PR China in 1983. Since then, further regulations have been added and China is on the road towards protection of its marine environment. The constitution now clearly states that environmental protection is the basic policy of China. Steps to combat oil pollution have proved to be the most difficult to implement. Although contentious and difficult to manage, control of oil refineries and chemical plant effluent is now carried out through discharge permits. The Bohai Sea is still contaminated by other pollutants but not irrevocably. As the coastal population continues to increase so does the need to maintain 368
and upgrade pollution controls, otherwise even the problems with oil pollution could return. f A N ZHIJIE
Wytch Farm Developments BP have opted to develop the extension of the Wytch Farm oil field through the creation of Britain's first offshore artificial island. The island would be constructed 2 km offshore in 6 metres of water and would stand l0 metres above low tide. With an area of 15 acres, it would be able to accommodate 35-40 well heads together with a drilling rig. The scheme comes after BP considered six options (see Mar. Pollut. Bull. 21, 166) and will not be given final approval until a number of outstanding issues are resolved. The well site in Poole Bay will require an Act of Parliament since it affects navigation and fishing rights in the area. Meanwhile, BP has completed the £40 million expansion of its oil terminal at Hamble ready for the first oil flowing from the second phase of the Wytch Farm development. This will bring the output from the field to 60 000 bpd from around the present level of 10 000 bpd. As part of the project, BP has upgraded its pollution response capability, improving its oil spill contingency plans for Poole Harbour and commissioning an anti-pollution vessel, the Good Wytch to deal with any spills in the Hamble River.
North Sea Incident A sunken vessel could cause damage to production pipes in the Dutch sector of the North Sea and urgent measures are being taken to raise it. The 1390 ton vessel Arcola was supplying water and cargo to a production platform in Block K14 when it reportedly hit the platform fender and sank. All crew were saved but the vessel was found to be lying only 500 metres from the platform and it could be a hazard to the nearby production pipes. It is thought to be holed in at least two sections.
Oil Companies Seek Anonymity Texaco are to join the increasing list of oil companies dropping the Company prefix from its ships. The bad publicity from oil spills is making companies wary of having their names indelibly associated with such disasters. Amoco dropped the company prefix from its tankers after the Amoco Cadiz oil spill and Mobil have started to change the names of their ships. Texaco own 31 tankers all of which are being renamed with the prefix Star. The Texaco funnel and insingia, however, will be retained.
EEC Objects to Subsidizing Manure Control A major problem in agriculture is the excessive use of animal manure in intensive animal husbandry areas
sponsored by the anti-pollution specialists Dasic Marine. Other ideas included the possible freezing of a layer of oil just under the tanker's hull again preventing spillage from a damaged tank. Another suggestion revolved around the use of huge inflatable bags which could be placed in the hole and prevent seepage. It was even suggested that it could be feasible to blow oil threatening shores out to sea by ship mounted fans. The suggestions made at the conference showed that there were alternative ways of dealing with tanker safety and that there should be a broader approach to the issues involved. The problems encountered by crews when faced with a spill were also pinpointed. It was concluded that they should be provided with more specific practical roles and equipment hence helping to minimize the effects of an oil spill.
Oil Pollution Curbed in the Bohai Sea Oil pollution in the Bohai Sea has been greatly reduced in the last three years. The concentration of oil found in the water has been reduced from 0.33 mg 1-' in 1975 to 0.013 mg l-~ in 1989. This is a significant achievement considering the rapid growth in coastal populations and industrialization during the last ten years. The credit for this should largely go to the 'Ten Years Reform' (19781988). In the early 1970s the oil pollution problem was growing rapidly. Average oil concentration reached as high as 0.25 mg 1-~ (the first class criterion for seawater is 0.05 mg 1-~) and even up to 0.50 mg 1-~ in some areas. The traditional fisheries, mariculture, and salt industries were very seriously damaged and they suffered enormous economic losses. In response to this the State Oceanographic Administration (SOA) organized a pollution investigation of the Bohai Sea in 1976 to try to solve th problem. It was found that 85% of all pollutants in the Bohai Sea were of land origin and that, of this, 80-85% was transmitted to the sea via rivers. It was also shown that 100% of sewage reaching the sea was untreated and that the oil came from oil refineries and industry along the coast not from tankers or oil exploitation. These findings led to the first marine environmental laws and regulation. In 1979 the Environmental Protection Law of PR China was brought into operation and this laid the foundations for the Marine Environmental Protection Law of PR China in 1983. Since then, further regulations have been added and China is on the road towards protection of its marine environment. The constitution now clearly states that environmental protection is the basic policy of China. Steps to combat oil pollution have proved to be the most difficult to implement. Although contentious and difficult to manage, control of oil refineries and chemical plant effluent is now carried out through discharge permits. The Bohai Sea is still contaminated by other pollutants but not irrevocably. As the coastal population continues to increase so does the need to maintain 368
and upgrade pollution controls, otherwise even the problems with oil pollution could return. f A N ZHIJIE
Wytch Farm Developments BP have opted to develop the extension of the Wytch Farm oil field through the creation of Britain's first offshore artificial island. The island would be constructed 2 km offshore in 6 metres of water and would stand l0 metres above low tide. With an area of 15 acres, it would be able to accommodate 35-40 well heads together with a drilling rig. The scheme comes after BP considered six options (see Mar. Pollut. Bull. 21, 166) and will not be given final approval until a number of outstanding issues are resolved. The well site in Poole Bay will require an Act of Parliament since it affects navigation and fishing rights in the area. Meanwhile, BP has completed the £40 million expansion of its oil terminal at Hamble ready for the first oil flowing from the second phase of the Wytch Farm development. This will bring the output from the field to 60 000 bpd from around the present level of 10 000 bpd. As part of the project, BP has upgraded its pollution response capability, improving its oil spill contingency plans for Poole Harbour and commissioning an anti-pollution vessel, the Good Wytch to deal with any spills in the Hamble River.
North Sea Incident A sunken vessel could cause damage to production pipes in the Dutch sector of the North Sea and urgent measures are being taken to raise it. The 1390 ton vessel Arcola was supplying water and cargo to a production platform in Block K14 when it reportedly hit the platform fender and sank. All crew were saved but the vessel was found to be lying only 500 metres from the platform and it could be a hazard to the nearby production pipes. It is thought to be holed in at least two sections.
Oil Companies Seek Anonymity Texaco are to join the increasing list of oil companies dropping the Company prefix from its ships. The bad publicity from oil spills is making companies wary of having their names indelibly associated with such disasters. Amoco dropped the company prefix from its tankers after the Amoco Cadiz oil spill and Mobil have started to change the names of their ships. Texaco own 31 tankers all of which are being renamed with the prefix Star. The Texaco funnel and insingia, however, will be retained.
EEC Objects to Subsidizing Manure Control A major problem in agriculture is the excessive use of animal manure in intensive animal husbandry areas