The effect of man-made structures on sedimentary blue carbon dynamics

Continental shelf sediments contain significant carbon stocks while being increasingly subject to anthropogenic pressures such as trawling, oil and gas extraction and more recently the introduction of offshore wind farms. Despite extensive research on the effect of man-made structures on the marine environment, there remains a research gap regarding their effect on shelf sediment carbon storage through their installation, operation and following decommissioning. This is the first study to explicitly study sediment carbon dynamics surrounding man-made structures. This talk presents carbon data from two decommissioned oil and gas platforms (Northwest Hutton and Miller) in the North Sea, from sediment cores taken at increasing distances away from the decommissioned sites. Understanding the carbon dynamics includes presenting the carbon stocks, sediment composition, and carbon accumulations rates using radiochemistry techniques. This research is important for determining the role of MMS on carbon dynamics, and has implications for decommissioning practice across the North Sea.