Big firms fund North Sea environmental research

● Move comes in aftermath of increased protests from eco groups

Anew research project looking to determine the effect of oil and gas and renewable energy structures in the North Sea has been kicked into high gear amid growing tensions between energy supermajors and climate groups.

The Insite Programme, an independent venture funded by both oil and gas giants and environmental research groups, announced last night it is taking further steps to increase its understanding of the influence of manmade structures on the ecosystem of the North Sea.

It is also focused on the effect of decommissioning of long standing oil and gas structures on marine life and the effect of new offshore wind turbines.

The announcement comes days after Greenpeace activists scaled two of Shell’s North Sea structures protesting for their removal.

Now into its second phase and the fifth year of research, the programme has been backed by firms such as BP, Shell, Total, Chevron and ExxonMobil to the tune of £2 million.

A further £5m comes from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and £600,000 from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas). The project has also attracted the interest of the UK Government and Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).

While Insite’s initial phase sought to understand the influence of man-made structures in the North Sea, the second phase will determine the effect through energy sector data. It is scheduled to conclude in 2022.

Programme director, Richard Heard said: “This data initiative is crucial to furthering the scientific objectives that we set out in 2014. At the conclusion of a successful Insite Phase 1, the need for high quality data to describe the ecosystem in the North Sea and enhance the scientific outcomes from the research was clear.

“A new tool has been developed to provide a robust process for scientists to identify data collected by industry during their operations, which could be used to further research into the role of anthropogenic structures in the ecosystem.”

Aberdeen-based energy consultancy Xodus Group will facilitate the delivery of the new data collaboration between industry and science.

Leave No Trace is a familiar mantra when it comes to preserving our countryside from human impact.

A similar philosophy lies behind the international agreement that all traces of decommissioned offshore installations should be removed.

Shell appears as convinced it has a sound case to leave huge concrete and steel legs in the North Sea as its opponents are that the science says otherwise.

They include foreign governments preparing to make their case at a summit.

It is a situation that demands the sort of solid, data-based evidence this latest research project appears to promise.

PRESSURE: Recent protests by eco warriors have highlighted fears over the effect the oil and gas sector may be having on our oceans