Environment

The UK onshore oil and gas industry is committed to protecting and working with the natural environment to meet some of the most stringent environmental regulation anywhere in the world.

We work transparently from the start, ensuring that all sites are monitored to understand the natural baseline condition of the land, water, soil, ecology and air, before any activities take place. This ensures we are fully accountable to both the public and our regulators, who consist of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Environment Agency (EA), the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) and the local minerals planning authority.

Where required through planning, we undertake site specific Environment Impact Assessments, and for shale sites Environmental Risk Assessments as well, in consultation with local communities and the statutory consultees. Where we wish to stimulate the flow of hydrocarbons through the use of high-volume hydraulic fracturing, we will carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment.

Sites are monitored throughout their operational life and for several years after decommissioning, ensuring that there are no legacy issues and the environment is protected from harm.

Whenever possible, we also look to include environmental enhancements on and around our sites, benefiting local biodiversity and the communities within which we operate.

You can find more information out about how we meet our regulatory standards by clicking the options on the left.