Decommissioning Index

First Section

Decommissioning Overview The oil and gas industry has brought enormous benefits to society, not only in the areas of transportation and energy for our homes but also as the basis of many other essential everyday products, such as plastics, pharmaceuticals and fibres. Currently the industry supports almost half a million jobs in the UK, of these, 290,000 involve direct employment in oil and gas companies and the supply chain, and 100,000 are involved in the export of oilfield goods and services. Since the 1960s nearly £240 billion has been invested in the UK oil and gas industry and new projects should attract a further £18 billion by the end of this decade. Since 1968 the UK economy has benefited from £230 billion (in 2006 prices) in tax revenues from the industry. This close integration with society has led to a growing sense of responsibility on the industry's part to conduct all its operations, including the decommissioning of disused offshore oil and gas facilities, with proper regard to the environment. As we approach 2008 many of the structures which have been producing oil and gas in the North Sea for almost forty years are coming to the end of their useful lives. Over the next couple of decades or so, we will see a growing number of redundant oil and gas installations taken out of service or, to use the Industry term, "decommissioned". It is a process which raises complex issues. There has been much debate in recent years about the impact of these operations on the environment, on the health and safety of workers, the costs involved and the technology required, particularly when removing very large structures from the harsh, deep waters of the Northern North Sea. The industry needs to develop solutions that balance these factors for the overall benefit of the environment and society. A strict legal framework of national, regional and international regulations governs how disused offshore facilities are decommissioned.

Decommissioning Overview Introduction Technical perspective Legislative framework Project management, engineering & safety Commercial perspective Public perspective: legacy management Other sources of information Case studies Conclusions Oil & Gas UK Decommissioning Work Group 4 Decommissioning Cost Provision Deed - Version 1 29 August 2007 Search for Press Releases and Briefings regarding decommissioning Click here for latest report and guidelines