Examples of environmental harm in Ukraine | return to map
Name: BK-1 stationary gas drilling platform
Location: Ukrainian Black Sea shelf
CEOBS database ID: 10725
Context
BK1 – Block connecter 1 – is a stationary gas drilling platform and part of the key infrastructure of the Black Sea gas fields, which were captured by Russia following its 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Timeline of key incidents
Russia maintained military personnel on Black Sea gas platforms and used them for surface, underwater and air surveillance, providing control over shipping in the Black Sea. It has also been claimed that the Russian navy was hiding ships behind the platforms to evade Ukrainian missiles.
20th June 2022
There were reports of attacks on multiple gas infrastructure sites on 20th June from anti-ship missiles and UAVs. Satellite fire detections indicated that the reported fires were at BK-1. In the days following, weather conditions worsened and search and rescue operations were eventually suspended. By the 4th July Russian media claimed that normal operations had resumed, ignoring the ongoing fire that was still visible from space.
22nd August 2023
The Ukrainian military recaptured gas infrastructure sites, in an operation that included an exchange of fire in very close proximity to a platform. Footage of the mission shows a gas platform being boarded and the removal of surveillance equipment and ammunition. This was likely the nearby Tavrida, as the burning BK-1 platform is visible nearby.
Damage assessment
The ongoing blaze at BK-1 makes it near-impossible to assess the damage from satellite imagery. Even if the blaze were to die down, it would still be difficult to ascertain the extent of damage given the complex structure of girders on the platform, and different perspectives that imagery is collected from. The BK-1 platform would benefit from field assessment but it is unlikely that the conflict dynamics will allow such an inspection any time soon.
Environmental harm assessment
The fire on BK-1 has, astonishingly, burned from 20th June 2022 to the time of publication, April 2024. It is visible from space through fire detection and a large glow in night-time imagery. Assuming the burning is akin to emergency flaring, our estimates show the volume of gas flared from BK-1, if it were a country, would rank 49th out of 87 states, higher than the combined totals of countries like Norway and Bahrain. This translates into substantial GHG emissions – at least 0.34 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent were emitted between 20th June 2022 and 17th November 2023. This likely makes it the single most significant contributor to CO2 emissions in Ukrainian territory during the war. Particulate matter has also been emitted, including black carbon, which is one of the most important short-lived climate forcers: we estimate that around 303 tonnes of black carbon have been released.
There was also a 7 km2 oil spill visible in the vicinity of BK-1 on 21st June 2022. Although the source of oil is unclear, it may have been associated with rescue vessels in the area – two of which were visible on imagery from the 22nd June, dousing BK-1.
It is important to note that BK-1 and Tavrida sit in Zernov’s Phyllophora Field. These areas of red algae on the seafloor are habitats, nurseries and refuges to endangered species of algae, fish, invertebrates and crustaceans. This ecologically important area in the Black Sea has been threatened by a number of incidents linked to the conflict.
Longer-term implications
We have no indication where on the platform the point of combustion is, how intentional or safe the burning is, how long it may continue into the future, and what changes may happen. The fire on the BK-1 platform clearly needs to be extinguished, after which an assessment of the environmental safety of the rig should be carried out, together with any remedial actions. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that the conflict dynamics will allow for such an inspection any time soon.
There is also an unanswered question on whether BK-1 or the surrounding platforms are or have been leaking gas; one early report did mention how platform workers “let off the gas”. Given the higher global warming potential of methane, emissions from the release of this gas could be even more significant than those from the flaring; unfortunately we can only acquire limited insight remotely.
External resources
Ukraine conflict and environmental briefing: The climate crisis | CEOBS and Zoï Environment Network
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