BP given approval to start drilling for oil in North Sea

Environmental groups condemn government's 'reckless' decision following UN warning on climate change

An oil rig in the North Sea (PA Wire/PA Images)

BP has been granted approval to drill for oil in the North Sea in a move described by environmental groups as “reckless” and “absurd”.

The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) rubber-stamped development of the Alligin field, 87 miles west of Shetland, which is expected to produce up to 12,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day.

Last month the government regulator also approved BP’s development of the Vorlich field 150 miles east of Aberdeen, which is expected to yield up to 20,000 barrels a day.

The latest decision comes two weeks after the UN warned that the world faced environmental catastrophe unless greenhouse emissions were cut in half by 2030.

“It is absurd that further fossil fuel developments are being nodded through on the basis of out-of-date thinking from the UK government,” said Dr Doug Parr, chief scientist for Greenpeace UK.

“Instead of continuing to give tax breaks to the oil industry to wring every last drop of oil from the North Sea, government should be re-directing that money towards a transition for the many workers in the oil and gas sector who must not be left high and dry when we make a delayed and hasty exit from fossil fuels as the costs become bigger and clearer.”

Friends of the Earth Scotland director Dr Richard Dixon said the approval of the new North Sea oilfield was “a reckless decision that is incompatible with efforts to tackle climate change.”

“The world cannot afford to burn even a fraction of the fossil fuels we already have, never mind approving the extraction of another 20 million barrels of oil,” he added.

“The strategy adopted by UK and Scottish Government’s of ‘maximising economic recovery’ from the North Sea means maximising destruction of the climate.

“The Scottish and UK Government need to work together to end further oil and gas exploration in the North Sea. They should be planning for a rapid and orderly transition away from fossil fuels in a way that is fair to the workers and communities currently dependent on these industries.”

“This development one again punctures the persistent greenwashing of BP that they are moving beyond petroleum or are honest actors in the fight against climate change.”

The Alligin and Vorlich sites, which are believed to hold a total of 50 million barrels of oil equivalent, are both expected to become operational in 2020.

“We are modernising and transforming how we work in the North Sea to fully realise the potential of our portfolio,” said BP North Sea regional president Ariel Flores. “Alligin is part of our advantaged oil story, rescuing stranded reserves and tying them back into existing infrastructure.

“Developments like this have shorter project cycles, allowing us to bring on new production quicker. These subsea tiebacks complement our major start-ups and underpin BP’s commitment to the North Sea.”

The Alligin field, at a depth of 475 metres, is operated in a 50/50 joint partnership with Shell and will be drilled by the Deepsea Aberdeen oil rig.

Vorlich is a £200m project that will be operated in partnership with oil and gas operator Ithaca.

“The Oil and Gas Authority is pleased to consent to the development of the Alligin field,” said Brenda Wyllie, West of Shetland and Northern North Sea area manager at OGA.

“This fast-tracked project will maximise economic recovery through utilising capacity in the Glen Lyon FPSO and is a good example of the competitive advantage available to operators from the extensive infrastructure installed in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).”

Amelia Womack, deputy leader of the Green party of England and Wales, said investment should be made in renewable alternatives.

“As Greens, we find it troubling that BP’s focus is on ‘rescuing stranded reserves’, when the UN report this month made it clear that what needs rescuing is our planet.

“Humanity has just 12 years to prevent the worst effects of climate change and the 1.5 degree increase in global temperatures that could destroy life as we know it.

“It should go without saying that BP’s profit margins are infinitely less important than the future of life on Earth.”

Additional reporting by PA