The shelf in 2007 – Environment
14/01/2008 Emissions and discharges from the petroleum activities largely follow production volumes. Increased emissions and discharges occur as a consequence of longer distances to the market, tail production and extended field lifetime.
Emissions to air consist mainly of exhaust gases from combustion of gas in turbines, gas flaring and combustion of diesel. These exhaust gases contain components such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
The petroleum sector accounts for about one-fourth of Norway's total greenhouse gas emissions. Most of the emissions from this sector are linked to energy production on the offshore facilities.
Generally speaking, emissions vary from field to field as well as over the course of the field's lifetime. According to the NPD's forecast, emissions of CO2 will continue to increase up to 2013, and then decline. The most important reasons for the increase are extended lifetime and higher energy needs associated with tail production, in addition to longer transport distances for gas to the market.
Key emission sources for both CO2 and NOx include burning of gas in turbines and motors, gas flaring and diesel consumption on the facilities.
Updated: 04/09/2009