Oil
pollution may also result from operational discharges during
exploration and production of oil and gas offshore, either
from discharged produced water (oil-contaminated water that
is extracted and then discharged from the production process)
or from drill cuttings using oil-based drilling mud.
Although
the total amounts of oil discharged are relatively large,
the oil is considerably diluted (0.003 per cent).
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Pollution costs |
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Indicators
show the trend in the number of incidents of accidental or
illegal spillage of oil from ships and offshore installations
in UK coastal waters, and operational discharges of oil from
offshore installations. The number of oil spill incidents
reached a peak in 1990, declining thereafter.
As
more oilfields in the UK sector approach the end of their
working lives, there is likely to be an increase in oil spillage.
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...and more costs |
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