Emissions of pollutants into the sea occur as a result of the activities. These emissions ( spills ) may affect nature. Emissions to water occur mainly during the drilling and production phases.
In the drilling phase, this is water-based drilling mud and cuttings, and in the production phase, the production water that is released during gas treatment. In both phases, the sanitary water and rainwater that washes off the decks is also discharged into the sea. The Mining Regulations sets rules for discharge of pollutants into the sea, such as a maximum oil concentration in discharged water. ONE-Dyas and the operator of the drilling platform ensure that the requirements are met.
No significant effects
Turbidity and sedimentation as a result of the discharge of drilling mud and drill cuttings can have an effect on nature and have been investigated in the Nature Assessment. This study shows that there are no significant effects due to turbidity, because the effect is small and temporary and the area is naturally dynamic. Sedimentation of the drilling mud does not have significant effects either.
The coarse fraction of drilling cuttings will sediment quickly. Per drilling, a maximum layer thickness of approximately 23 cm is expected within a radius of 95 metres from the platform. In twelve drillings, taking the worst-case situation into account, the joint layer thickness of one and a half centimetres is only exceeded within a distance of approximately 105 metres from the discharge pipe. Beyond that, there is no or a negligible amount of additional sedimentation.