Gas leaks dip as North Sea drillers 'up game'

THE number of potentially catastrophic gas releases on North Sea installations has fallen significantly - a year after the UK government's safety watchdog ordered the industry to "up its game" in countering the threat of leaks offshore.

Twelve months ago the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a wake-up call to the oil giants to get their houses in order following revelations that the number of "major and significant" releases of gas and oil had increased by a third to its highest level since 2003. But yesterday it praised the industry for taking a "step in the right direction" after a new report showed the number of releases had fallen to 73 from 85 the previous year.

The new offshore safety statistics show that the total number of "dangerous occurrences" - including hydrocarbon releases, adverse weather damage and equipment failure - had also fallen.

For the fourth year running, no workers were killed during offshore activities and the past year also saw a fall in the number of major injuries, with 42 reported compared with 50 the previous year.