Wireline Issue 48 - Summer 2020

management and intervention operations. “Initially these were produced by OSPRAG’s Well Life Cycle Practices Forum. That work continues under the banner of OGUK’s Wells Forum whose members are drawn from both the operator and contractor community. This is where industry meets regularly, to share good practice and lessons learned and to discuss well life cycle cross-industry issues. The Wells Forum also provides a place for industry to come together with key stakeholders like the Competent Authority, the HSE, the Oil & Gas Authority and the UK’s Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED).” LOM: “Ensuring that sufficient financial arrangements are in place to cover the response to any spill was a key priority for the OSPRAG team, who produced the Financial Liability Guidelines and studies to estimate the cost of clean-up and third party compensation should a spill occur in the UK North Sea. In 2018, we published a new edition of these under the title of The Liability Provision Guidelines for Offshore Petroleum Operations. They cover exploration, appraisal and production assets and aim to simplify the process and increase transparency for operators by establishing an industry-agreed level of expectation. We’ve used the latest 3D modelling techniques, to

model theoretical hydrocarbon releases using eight UKCS locations under different conditions for a range of release volumes, enabling us to more accurately gauge the level of financial provision licensees need to have in their preparedness plans should an oil release occur.” CB: “The lasting impact of Macondo has come in many shapes and forms including improved understanding of the marine environment and datasets such as offshore seabird data, shoreline habitats and met ocean data. We now have stronger links with local authorities and the international community to increase awareness of response arrangements, make connections and understanding of shoreline response plans.” KH: “OSPRAG was only active for 16 months, but it had a major impact in its relatively short lifetime. Created with a single purpose in mind, it focused on ensuring that drilling operations on the UKCS were robust, safe and fit for purpose. We must never become complacent but instead strive to take every effort to minimise accidental releases to sea, through our continued work alongside industry and key stakeholders. In this way, along with our efforts to reduce our emissions, oil and gas can continue to underpin a diverse energy mix while supporting the UK in delivering a lower-carbon economy.”

Above: One of the central responses to Macondo on the UKCS is the ground-breaking OSPRAG Cap, designed to swiftly seal off an uncontrolled well.

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