The figures are published by Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Offshore Division (OSD) in its offshore hydrocarbon releases statistics report for 2002, giving details of hydrocarbon releases from offshore oil and gas installations on the UK Continental Shelf. The report covers all hydrocarbon releases notified to HSE from October 1, 1992 to March 31, 2002.

Taf Powell, head of HSE's Offshore Division, said "This is a key report for the offshore industry. HSE is working closely with industry to examine the problem areas highlighted in the analysis, and to try to reduce further the number of releases.

"The statistics are also being used to measure performance against the stated aim of reducing major and significant releases to 50% of the 1999/2000 baseline figure by 2004. The 19% reduction in the past two years compared to the baseline is encouraging (down from 139 to 113), and early indications from current figures are that this rate of reduction is improving, although we'll have to wait and see if this is confirmed in the next statistics report.

"We must also wait and see whether the surge of minor releases two 2 years ago was, as we suspect, because of improved reporting and that we will now see a decline in the numbers of minor releases in line with the major and significant releases that we are targeting in the joint HSE / industry leaks reduction campaign "

"HSE inspectors are now targeting the poorest performing installations to see what is being done. It remains the case that if the poorest performing sites come up to the standard of the best there will be a dramatic decrease in hydrocarbon leaks in the UK sector and hence a significantly reduced risk of a major offshore accident hazard involving fire and explosion."