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Schedule ANNEX V OIL AND OILY MIXTURES AND DRILLING FLUIDS AND CUTTINGS

Original text. Later amendments are not shown.

The following provisions shall be prescribed by the Parties in accordance with Article 10:

  1. A..

    Oil and Oily Mixtures

    1. 1..

      Spills of high oil content in processing drainage and platform drainage shall be contained, diverted and then treated as part of the product, but the remainder shall be treated to an acceptable level before discharge, in accordance with good oilfield practice;

    2. 2..

      Oily waste and sludges from separation processes shall be transported to shore;

    3. 3..

      All the necessary precautions shall be taken to minimise losses of oil into the sea from oil collected or flared from well testing;

    4. 4..

      All the necessary precautions shall be taken to ensure that any gas resulting from oil activities should be flared or used in an appropriate manner.

  2. B..

    Drilling Fluids and Drill Cuttings

    1. 1..

      Water-based drilling fluids and drill cuttings shall be subject to the following requirements:

      1. (a)

        The use and disposal of such drilling fluids shall be subject to the Chemical Use Plan and the provisions of Article 9 of this Protocol;

      2. (b)

        The disposal of the drill cuttings shall either be made on land or into the sea in an appropriate site or area as specified by the competent authority.

    2. 2..

      Oil-based drilling fluids and drill cuttings are subject to the following requirements:

      1. (a)

        Such fluids shall only be used if they are of a sufficiently low toxicity and only after the operator has been issued a permit by the competent authority when it has verified such low toxicity;

      2. (b)

        The disposal into the sea of such drilling fluids is prohibited;

      3. (c)

        The disposal of the drill cuttings into the sea is only permitted on condition that efficient solids control equipment is installed and properly operated, that the discharge point is well below the surface of the water, and that the oil content is less than 100 grams of oil per kilogram dry cuttings;

      4. (d)

        The disposal of such drill cuttings in specially protected areas is prohibited;

      5. (e)

        In case of production and development drilling, a programme of seabed sampling and analysis relating to the zone of contamination must be undertaken.

    3. 3..

      Diesel-based drilling fluids:

      The use of diesel-based drilling fluids is prohibited. Diesel oil may exceptionally be added to drilling fluids in such circumstances as the Parties may specify.