Greenpeace bids for U.K. frontier acreage

Environmental activist group Greenpeace has taken the U.K. offshore industry by surprise through submission of a bid to operate all acreage offered in U.K.'s 17th offshore licensing round. The round was opened at yearend 1995 and includes 68 license areas covering 275 frontier blocks, with many in the West of Shetland area and southwest of Britain (OGJ, Dec. 18, 1995, p. 32). A Greenpeace official told OGJ the group has submitted a proper application just before the bid deadline, containing

March 31, 1997

2 min read

Environmental activist group Greenpeace has taken the U.K. offshore industry by surprise through submission of a bid to operate all acreage offered in U.K.'s 17th offshore licensing round.

The round was opened at yearend 1995 and includes 68 license areas covering 275 frontier blocks, with many in the West of Shetland area and southwest of Britain (OGJ, Dec. 18, 1995, p. 32).

Greenpeace objectives

A Greenpeace official told OGJ the group has submitted a proper application just before the bid deadline, containing details of an intended management structure and work program for the acreage.

"The application is being taken seriously," said the official, "and we think it should be. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has refused to dismiss our application, and we will be invited in for further discussions."

The application is unlikely to be seen as any more than a protest, however, because Greenpeace's proposed work program consists of a scientific study of marine life in the area, particularly whales.

Chris Rose, deputy executive director of Greenpeace, said, "Our plan is to do what government should do and set aside these 22,000 sq miles instead of drilling for oil.

"Human-made climate change has to be stopped, and meeting eco-limits means placing a limit on fossil fuels. Opening 22,000 sq miles of pristine ocean for new oil development is hardly a limiting exercise; it's madness fueled by greed."

Rumor-mongering charge

Meanwhile, Greenpeace has accused BP Exploration Operating Co. Ltd., which is developing the first two oil fields in the West of Shetland area, of spreading rumors.

The environmental group claimed BP told newspapers it fears a protest, along the lines of the overrunning of Brent spar by activists in 1995, to halt development work in Foinaven field.

A BP official said Greenpeace has tried to organize a boycott of the company's gasoline stations and contends it is planning a campaign against BP.

Rose said, "It appears the oil industry has an obsessive fear of another Brent spar, and they keep asking us for an undertaking not to run a campaign of nonviolent direct action.

"We never comment on such matters, and I find it ridiculous that multinational companies are reduced to fevered speculation and cranking up the rumor mill in the media, rather than looking seriously for positive alternatives and at climate science."