Threat to water quality from oil and gas leaks falls

The threat posed by oil and gas leaks to UK water quality has fallen in the past 12 months, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Figures compiled by the regulatory body have shown that the number of significant hydrocarbon releases linked to offshore leaks stood at 73 in 2010-11, down from 85 the previous year.

Safety across such sites appears to have notably improved in this time, as fewer major injuries to workers have been reported and there have been no fatalities.

Head of offshore safety at the HSE Steve Walker said the industry's recent Step Change initiative has worked well in reducing the number of leaks that may escalate into a serious spill.

"The Gulf of Mexico disaster should continue to be a stark reminder of what can go wrong offshore," he remarked.

"This year's statistics are a step in the right direction."

BP announced recently it has reassessed its practices in the Gulf of Mexico and has introduced a number of safety measures to ensure a repeat of last year's high profile Deepwater Horizon Accident is avoided.

Posted by Claire Manning