Decommissioning Insight 2015

7.4.2 Southern North Sea and Irish Sea The forecast for pipeline decommissioning in these regions has increased by nearly 1,000 to 3,430 kilometres since the 2014 report, primarily because of more detailed forecasts for existing projects. The spread of activity is forecast to be relatively high across the decade, as illustrated in Figure 25, although it is not evenly distributed. High activity is forecast in 2020 and 2024 and Oil & Gas UK would expect this to smooth out. This reflects operators’ current best estimates and are not sanctioned decommissioning programmes; a complete list of which can be found on DECC’s Project Pathfinder website 18 . The SNS PILOT Rejuvenation Work Group is looking to maximise recovery of reserves in the region and there is ongoing industry discussion about the proposed decommissioning of some critical infrastructure. Figure 25: Forecast of Pipeline Decommissioning Activity in the Southern North Sea and Irish Sea

1

2

3

4

800

Increased Uncertainty in Forecasts

Trunkline (Diameter >16 inches) Other Pipelines (Diameter <16 inches) Umbilicals

5

700

600

6

500

400

7

300

Total Length (km)

200

8

100

0

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

9

Source: Oil & Gas UK

Number 2015 to 2024

Length (km) 2015 to 2024

Total Expenditure 2015 to 2024

Pipeline decommissioning

3,430

£118million

Umbilicals Trunklines

44 19

350 930

Other pipelines

116

2,150

2020 680 Peak year of pipeline decommissioning activity 46

18 The DECC Pathfinder website can be viewed at https://itportal.decc.gov.uk/pathfinder/decommissioningindex.html

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