OGUK Decom Insight Report 2021

New technology plays a key role in realising these ambitions with the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) providing a hotbed for innovation. But we need to accelerate the deployment of technologies so we can realise the full benefits they will deliver. OGUK’s Decommissioning Forum Steering Committee is prioritising the implementation of new technologies while our Well Decommissioning Operators Network (WDON) is supporting an NZTC initiative to accelerate the implementation of alternative well barriers. As one of the world’s most mature oil and gas basins, the North Sea has become the incubator of significant decommissioning expertise, with UK services and goods, regulation and guidance in demand around the globe. Other countries around the world, including Australia, have based much of their own decommissioning strategy on the UK’s experience. OGUK’s well decommissioning guidelines, and the UK’s decommissioning work breakdown structure (WBS) are being widely adopted globally. This market-leading capability is recognised by the government’s Department for International Trade (DIT) and given the need to capitalise on early mover advantage in the market, DIT is developing an export strategy for decommissioning, which will help maximise the potential of the UK supply chain. In the year of COP26, this industry continues to play a vital role in the energy transition to a low carbon economy as the UK strives to cut its greenhouse gas emissions at pace. We’re focusing on greener ways to decommission and identify circular economy opportunities. That means re-purposing offshore infrastructure for hydrogen and carbon capture & storage projects,

encouraging industries to re-use components and promoting creative solutions for recycling decommissioned materials. This growing and broadening decommissioning expertise means our industry is becoming a powerful global brand. It has a crucial role to play in helping deliver the UK’s net zero ambitions, as outlined in the North Sea Transition Deal, while supporting the establishment of the low-carbon energy industries that will deliver the diverse energy mix of the future.

Katy Heidenreich Supply Chain & Operations Director, OGUK

DECOMMISSIONING INSIGHT 2021

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