A report reveals that a proposed expansion of the oil and gas site in Wressle, North Lincolnshire, could lead to over 900,000 tonnes of carbon emissions throughout its operational life.
Egdon Resources, the company behind the project, claims these emissions are not significant on a local or national scale.
They plan to add two new wells near Scunthorpe, along with a system to pipe away the gas that is produced alongside the oil. Following a Supreme Court ruling last year, Egdon must assess the climate impact of their operations, particularly the emissions from burning the oil and gas.
To better understand the emissions expected from this expansion, Egdon collaborated with the Sustain:able consultancy. Their reports detail the anticipated emissions from both the new and existing wells at the site.
These findings were shared with the North Lincolnshire Council, which must decide if a detailed environmental impact assessment (EIA) is necessary for the expansion. Egdon argues that due to the project’s size and nature, it is unlikely to cause significant environmental harm.
Currently, a consultation is underway, allowing public feedback until March 17, 2025.
The two additional wells are projected to yield approximately 1,039,733 barrels of oil (about 137,594 tonnes) by 2039. The existing Wressle-1 well is expected to contribute around 311,580 barrels (41,233 tonnes) until 2034.
Sustain:able calculated that the emissions from burning oil and gas from these wells would fall under what they term “category 11 scope 3 emissions.” The total estimated emissions for the current Wressle-1 site range from 121,216 to 129,885 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). If the expansion is approved, combined emissions from all three wells could reach up to 918,000 tCO2e.
Egdon has pointed out that even with this increase, these emissions would represent a small fraction of the UK’s overall carbon budget. They estimate that emissions from the use of oil from Wressle would account for only about 0.0216% to 0.0224% of the UK’s fifth carbon budget between 2028 and 2032, with total emissions from the expanded site being about 0.0241% of that budget. For North Lincolnshire, this expansion would constitute about 0.6% of their sixth carbon budget from 2033 to 2037.
Egdon maintains that these emissions are minor and that the proposed development does not necessitate an EIA, emphasizing that it is unlikely to have significant environmental effects.
In 2024, Egdon first submitted a planning request for the expansion, which gained approval from planning officers in September. However, a legal challenge from environmental activist Sandie Stratford led to this decision being quashed later that year due to oversights in assessing the emissions estimates.
To stay informed about Egdon’s plans and any developments, updates will be provided as the consultation and planning process unfolds.
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