A repeat venting violation by Canadian Natural Resources International's North Sea operations led to a £300,000 fine. The company had been fined in 2023 for a breach involving the same area.
At the company's Ninian fields, venting ran 20.9 tonnes above the approved cap, a breach that may sharpen scrutiny of how offshore operators handle pollution controls, The Evening Standard reported.
Here's what to know
For the period from June 15 through Dec. 31, 2024, CNR International had approval to vent 272.2 tonnes. The company went over this limit, admitting Nov. 26, 2024, that it had exceeded it by 20.9 tonnes, so the North Sea Transition Authority imposed the fine.
The violation was tied to the Ninian fields in the Northern North Sea, roughly 100 miles northeast of the Shetland Islands, where CNR had already received a £250,000 fine in 2023 for a similar vent-consent breach, according to the newspaper.
The NSTA reported that CNR ran into multiple problems in October and November 2024, including equipment failure, and expected to apply for a higher vent consent for the remainder of the year. But before that request reached the regulator, the company had already gone over its existing limit.
"It is deeply disappointing that CNR breached its consent again within a year of previously breaching its vent consent for the same area," Jane de Lozey, NSTA director of regulation, said, per The Evening Standard.
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What's being done?
Though CNR self-reported the issue, the NSTA still levied the fine, which is equivalent to $396,778.
"The exceedance was a result of a third-party pipeline equipment failure and weather-related conditions," a CNR International spokesperson said, as The Evening Standard reported. "We take our regulatory responsibilities seriously and have strengthened our monitoring and oversight processes to identify and prevent exceeding consent of vented volumes."
"CNR International remains committed to safe, responsible operations and to supporting the North Sea industry's efforts to reduce emissions."
De Lozey said, "Investors and the public rightly expect this industry is held to high standards and operators must comply with their regulatory responsibilities."
Where can I learn more?
These stories are about offshore oil and gas pollution, methane rules, and industry accountability.
• In the U.K., planned North Sea drilling could outweigh household emissions cuts, researchers warned.
• In Colorado, a new emissions protocol forced oil and gas operators to curb methane pollution.
• In Australia, the Scarborough gas project intensified concerns after estimates of health harms.
• Shell drew backlash after repealing a key promise to cut pollution.
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