Climate / Higher than usual methane emissions after two faults at oil terminal
FAULTS at Sullom Voe Terminal caused emissions of a potent greenhouse gas to nearly double last year, data published by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have shown.
The terminal released 422 tonnes of methane in 2023, more than it has in any year since 2015, according to SEPA figures. In 2022 the site emitted 226 tonnes of the gas.
Methane is a powerful climate pollutant and emissions of it have the potential to heat the climate 80 times faster than carbon dioxide, although it lasts for a shorter period of time in the atmosphere.
Short term reductions in methane are viewed by the UN as “the fastest way we have to avoid the worst effects of climate change”.
SEPA said the increase in methane emissions at Sullom Voe was a result of two issues with the flare which burns off excess gas at the site.
“We were notified of both issues at the time they occurred and worked closely with the operator to explore options to minimise the impact and seek a resolution to the problems identified,” a spokesperson for the watchdog said.
“We can confirm that both issues have been resolved.”
But one veteran environmental campaigner described two incidents in one year as a “particular embarrassment” for EnQuest, the company that runs the terminal.
“Methane releases are an Achilles’ heel for the oil and gas industry,” former SEPA board member and Friends of the Earth Scotland director Richard Dixon said.
“That means EnQuest should have been extra vigilant when it comes to possible sources of methane releases, and extra responsive when any such releases started happening”.
EnQuest has been approached several times over recent weeks, but the company declined to comment on the data.
Fast action to reduce methane pollution is seen as “essential” to slowing global warming and keeping climate targets within reach. Limiting methane pollution was a key part of discussions at the COP29 climate summit held in Azerbaijan last month.
The oil and gas industry has been accused of disguising the extent of its methane pollution and emissions of methane from the energy sector have reached record highs in recent years.
Other than landfill sites – which produce methane when organic waste breaks down – Sullom Voe Terminal was the second largest producer of the gas in Scotland last year.
Shell’s St Fergus gas plant in northeast Scotland emitted more methane than Sullom Voe, but its emissions decreased between 2022 and 2023.
Note: this story has been jointly produced by The Ferret and Shetland News. The Ferret is an independent, not for profit news agency. It is owned by its writers and readers and can be joined here.
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