Shell's Case for Dumping Oil Platform Flawed

[The.Greenbase@gb.greenpeace.org]

>> SHELL'S CASE FOR DUMPING TOXIC NORTH SEA OIL PLATFORM


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                    GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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>> SHELL'S CASE FOR DUMPING TOXIC NORTH SEA OIL PLATFORM
HOPELESSLY FLAWED - SAYS GREENPEACE

UK, May 2, 1995 (GP) Shell's technical case for the deep sea
dumping of the Brent Spar, the disused North Sea oil installation
currently being occupied by Greenpeace activists, is hopelessly
flawed, said Greenpeace today.

 In a report commissioned by Greenpeace*, independent offshore
engineering consultant, Mike Corcoran, analyses Shell's five main
justifications for choosing the deep sea dumping option. Each
one, including the technical arguments and the level of
engineering detail, is shown to be flawed or inadequately
researched.  Corcoran concludes that any decision based on such
inadequate information must be questioned.

*  Shell says:  "Alternative methods [of disposal} are
technically complex."
*  Corcoran says:  "There are alternatives that are
acknowledged as feasible, and there is experience in
dealing with marine operations that are more complex."  He
adds that feasible alternatives have not been developed
sufficiently even to discount them on technical grounds.
The Aberdeen University Research and Industrial Services
(AURIS) comparison of disposal options, which formed the
basis of Shell's case, also acknowledges this.

*  Shell says:  Deep sea dumping "greatly reduces the risk
to personnel engaged in the abandonment."
*  Corcoran says:  "Scant regard is paid to the use of Best
Available Techniques in the risk analysis for...
alternatives, and that "decontamination work... does not
appear to have been defined, or allowed for in the risk
assessment.  Should these activities be required then the
associated risks will increase."

*  Shell says:  Deep water dumping "offers negligible
environmental disadvantage.
*  Corcoran says:  "A fully developed Onshore Disposal
Option... has a better overall environmental impact than      the
chosen option, and would therefore appear to be the      best
environmental option."  The alternative will also      allow for
controlled disposal of wastes., whereas wastes      cannot be
controlled once dumped.

*  Shell says:  Deep water dumping "is the lowest cost
option".
*  Corcoran says:  "the costings used... are not
sufficiently fixed to allow a sound judgement to be made."
*  Shell says:  Deep water disposal "is acceptable to the
authorities and their consultees."
*  Corcoran says: "The level of information... is not of
sufficiently high enough definition... to allow the
consultees and authorities to be able to take a balanced,
well informed look at the options available."

The Brent Spar is laden with over 130 tonnes of highly toxic and
radioactive substances, including cadmium, arsenic and PCBs.
Many of the contents are persistent and bioaccumulative and will
cause irreparable damage to the marine environment and its
wildlife.

"Government plans to dump the Brent Spar are an environmental
outrage," said Madeleine Cobbing, Greenpeace Campaigner.  "Even
Shell's technical data cannot support deep seas dumping.

"Greenpeace activists will remain on board the Brent Spar.  We
will not allow it to be dumped at sea."

But the Brent Spar is only the tip of a toxic iceberg.  There are
over 400 fixed oil and gas platforms in the North Sea of which
208 are in the UK Sector.  Between them the total toxic inventory
of these installations includes 1,800 tonnes of lead, and 20
tonnes of PCB's which are highly toxic even in minute quantities.

"Dumping it could start a domino effect that will lead to tonnes
of hazardous substances being dumped at sea, and flouts our
international commitments to prevent such substances being
dumped,"  said Madeleine Cobbing.

ENDS

For more information contact:  Sue Cooper - 0171 354 5100.

Editor's Note:
It is likely that the Dutch Government will put pressure on the
UK Government about the dumping of the Brent Spar, as
Parliamentary Questions are expected to be raised in the Dutch
Government at short notice.

* "Brent Spar Abandonment - A Review of the Technical Case to
Support Deep Water Dumping" - Mike Corcoran.