UK offshore oil and gas production aims towards net zero

Details are presented in a chapter of trade association Oil & Gas UK’s (OGUK’s) Economic Report 2019 entitled: Roadmap to 2035: A Blueprint for net-zero. This, says OGUK, sets out themes requiring industry, government and regulator action to ensure the sector can continue to provide secure energy supplies, support net-zero ambitions and remain a vital contributor to the UK economy.

The roadmap includes activities to reduce emissions from the offshore production of oil and gas which, says OGUK, currently accounts for 3% of UK total greenhouse gas emissions. This refers to emissions from electricity generation on offshore platforms, plus venting and flaring of excess gas. Clearly, carbon emitted by end users burning oil and gas is not included here; nor emissions from midstream refining activities.

The report also describes how the UK oil and gas industry can play a role in developing and commercialising low carbon technologies including carbon capture, usage and storage and hydrogen.

The roadmap is one of the first major industrial responses to government plans to reduce or offset carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 in the UK and 2045 in Scotland. It reinforces the importance of the sector to the UK’s economy and to meeting the energy needs of consumers, says OGUK. The report shows 75% the UK’s current energy needs are met from oil and gas, with just over half (59%) of oil and gas demand met by domestic production.

OGUK Chief Executive Deirdre Michie said: ‘Roadmap 2035 shows an industry in action with a credible plan for the future. While we don’t have all the answers to the big challenges we face, we have started work on what we know can be done. We now need a comprehensive UK energy strategy which recognises the continued role of oil and gas in a diverse energy mix, and positions us to support net zero.’

Michie continued: ‘Our Economic Report 2019 shows we are already playing an active role in the transition to a more diverse energy mix, with many of our members investing in renewables, developing new technologies and bringing new solutions to market.’