E036:09 27 April 2009

Changes to the regulation of underground gas storage

A change in the regulation of underground gas storage has taken place. Gas storage in depleted reservoirs is now within the scope of the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH). Previously, storage has been regulated by HSE under the Borehole Sites and Operations Regulations 1995.

The UK became a net importer of natural gas in 2004. However a growing need to increase national storage capacity to secure affordable energy supplies depends, in part, on underground gas storage facilities.

There are two types of onshore, underground natural gas storage facilities currently operating in the UK: man-made salt cavities and depleted (generally oil and gas) reservoirs. While both forms of storage require hazardous substances consent, only salt cavity storage sites have been subject to COMAH in the past.

Gwyneth Deakins, Head of HSE's Major Hazards Policy Unit, said: "COMAH's application in this area is in line with the latest advice from Europe concerning the regulation of underground gas storage. Regulation of this area through COMAH will provide the most appropriate safety standards as storage increases."

Notes to editors

www.hse.gov.uk/comah/gasstorage.htm

The issue of underground gas storage was discussed at the 19th Meeting of the SEVESO Committee of Competent Authorities (CCA) where it was concluded that "the Seveso II Directive should generally be applied to all such forms of storage, including storage in natural gas fields/strata".

This was confirmed at the 20th Meeting of the CCA in Bordeaux, where it was stated that, as regards underground gas storage, "the Commission expects that in the light of the survey and the conclusions at the last CCA the Member States will apply the directive to all such underground storage sites to ensure the same level of safety", i.e. gas storage in both man-made salt cavities and natural strata.

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Rachel McMaster, HSE Public Relations Officer
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