Two New Industry Publications Promote Efficient Decommissioning

Oil & Gas UK published two documents to help operators and contractors plan and execute decommissioning activities more efficiently.

The first document is an independent study commissioned by Oil & Gas UK on behalf of industry. “Decommissioning Contract Risk Allocation between Operators and Contractors” was produced by Dundas Consultants and uses a case study involving the removal of a large fixed platform with subsea tie-backs to illustrate risk allocation under different contract types, taking into account factors such as poor weather and restricted access to offshore installations, when agreeing contracts for decommissioning.

The second publication: “Guidelines on Late-Life/Decommissioning Inspection and Maintenance”, provides industry  with a framework that outlines good practice in making an efficient transition from late-life asset management toward cessation of production and decommissioning.

Oonagh Werngren, Oil & Gas UK’s operations director, said:

“The industry is directing all its energies towards improving its efficiency and tackling cost inflation to ensure a long-term future for the UK Continental Shelf. These latest publications align with the sector’s collective efforts to share expertise. The principles are also in line with both the Wood Report recommendations and the priorities of the Oil and Gas Authority, which are to ensure there is a growing focus on sharing good practices and enabling the delivery of cost-effective decommissioning.”