Hydrocarbon Release (HCR)
Hydrocarbon Releases (HCRs) refer to the unintended escape of oil and gas from offshore installations.
These incidents are among the most significant safety concerns in the offshore energy sector due to their potential to cause fires, explosions, and environmental hazards.
The UK offshore oil and gas industry places a strong emphasis on preventing and mitigating HCRs through robust safety measures, strict regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement in operational practices.
Regulatory Requirements and Reporting
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01.
Reporting under RIDDOR and OSDR
- Duty holders are required to report qualifying hydrocarbon releases to the Offshore Safety Directive Regulator (OSDR) under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).
- These releases are also classified as Events under the EU Implementing Regulation No. 1112/2014.
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02.
Classification of Hydrocarbon Releases
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) operates an HCR system that categorizes releases based on severity:
- Major – Potential to cause catastrophic consequences if ignited.
- Significant – Could escalate to a major accident if not controlled.
- Minor – Low-level releases with minimal escalation risk.
Duty holders voluntarily submit data to this system, contributing to industry-wide safety improvements.
Industry Commitment to Transparency
Since 2011, OEUK has actively promoted transparency in HCR data reporting. The industry publicly shares quarterly HCR data, categorized by severity, to support learning and improvement.
Key Facts about HCR Data Reporting:
- Data is published quarterly, with a one-quarter delay to allow for validation.
- The reports include major, significant, and minor HCRs.
- Industry-wide trends help identify opportunities for risk reduction and operational enhancements.
Access Industry HCR Data
Q3 2024
Q2 2024
Q1 2024
Q4 2023
Q3 2023
Q2 2023
Q1 2023
Q4 2022
Q3 2022
Q2 2022
Q1 2022
2021
2020
2019
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2015