Decommissioning Insight 2018

5.3 Knowledge and Skills The decommissioning sector is unlikely to require an entirely new skillset but will instead involve the development of both skills and knowledge from within the oil and gas industry, with education and training being key. The UK operator and service sectors are already applying their extensive project delivery, engineering and offshore construction skills to deliver decommissioning projects on the UKCS. Soft skills, greater collaboration, innovation and technology will also prove key to driving down costs. To help inspire and educate the future decommissioning workforce, various initiatives have been introduced. Recently, 2017 saw the introduction of the world’s first MSc in Decommissioning, offered by the University of Aberdeen. Designed in collaboration with operators, supply chain companies and regulators, it is a positive step forward in educating those who wish to pursue a career in decommissioning. Furthermore, Robert Gordon University, also located in Aberdeen, provides a short course on ‘Planning for Decommissioning’. This has been developed with the OGA, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to provide students with a detailed understanding of the legislation. With support from the Scottish Government, the University of Aberdeen is also home to the newly established National Decommissioning Centre. The Centre aims to facilitate partnerships between academia and industry to develop and deploy new technology that can assist with streamlining late-life operations and decommissioning, further establishing the UK as a global leader in decommissioning practices.

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