The Telegraph: Leaks from UK offshore oil industry rise by a fifth

Total number of spills of oil and gas in North Sea up by 19pc but major leaks decline, Oil & Gas UK report reveals. Leaks and spills in Britain’s offshore oil and gas industry rose by almost a fifth last year, with 115 reported incidents of hydrocarbons escaping from oil rigs and pipelines.

Data from the industry body Oil & Gas UK (OGUK) revealed that in the 12 months to March 2014, the number of releases occurring in Britain’s North Sea and Continental Shelf rose by 19pc.

This reverses three years of declines following the offshore industry’s commitment in 2010 to reduce leaks. This pledge set a target of cutting releases by 50pc from the then current level of 187.
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