The industry’s goal to reach zero discharge is a response to the national goal established by the Norwegian government in White Paper No. 58 issued in 1996/97. The objective of the zero discharge strategy is to identify environmentally harmful chemical components of discharges so that cost effective measures can be developed and implemented to remove the risk of adverse impacts to the marine environment. The Environmental Impact Factor (EIF) is used as a tool for environmental risk assessment and further identification of the most efficient technology to reduce the risk. All companies operating in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea are currently working to reach the goal of zero discharges to sea within 2005. Plans for meeting the goal were reported to the Norwegian Pollution Control Authorities by June 1 2003. Several oil companies have already implemented new measures to reduce the risk of environmental harmful effects from discharges to sea. Based on the discharge reduction from implemented and planned measures, a prognosis for total reduction of discharges to sea in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea are presented. Results show that for fields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, the total environmental risk (expressed as EIF) will be reduced by approximately 80% in 2006 compared to 2002. Results on volume reduction of produced water and dispersed oil to sea are also be presented, and compared with the new goals set by OSPAR.
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