Dumping and derogations: OSPAR rules among top challenges facing UK decommissioning
Operators are waiting years for decisions on the contentious topic of whether they can leave structures in the sea.
Ospar
NSTA faces legal hearing over disclosure of Brent decom paperwork
The UK’s oil and gas regulator is set to face a legal hearing over the disclosure of key documents on the decommissioning of Shell’s Brent oil field in the North Sea.
OSPAR discord leaves Dunlin decom in doubt
Doubt has been cast over decommissioning plans for Fairfield Energy’s Dunlin field, as UK regulators walk back support to leave key pieces of oil and gas infrastructure in place.
Exclusive: UK concedes ground on ‘hazardous wastes’ in Shell Brent legs
It comes as the EU said leaving the thousands of tonnes of oil-sediment contents in place would be “environmentally and socially unacceptable”.
UK in decom spat with EU countries on plan for ‘Brent-light’ North Sea oilfield
The UK is facing opposition from several European nations for its support of Fairfield Energy's plan to leave the huge legs of the Dunlin oilfield in the North Sea.
New questions arise on decom fate for controversial Shell Brent legs
Fresh questions have risen on whether Shell will be allowed to leave the huge legs of the Brent field in the North Sea.
Decom decision finally looms on fate of controversial Shell Brent legs
A decision is finally on the way for whether Shell will be allowed to leave the giant platform legs of the Brent field in the North Sea forever.
Shell questioned over Brent Bravo ‘attic oil’ removal
Work is being carried out to remove “attic oil” from the Brent Bravo installation - which has been the subject of widespread environmental concerns - after Shell estimated none was there.
North Sea decommissioning ‘twice the cost’ of SE Asia, Rystad claims
Rystad Energy has argued that decommissioning an oil platform in the North Sea is “twice the cost” of the same job in South East Asia.
Shell Brent legs: Decom decision ‘postponed’ for giant structures
A decision on whether Shell will be allowed to keep the giant legs of the Brent field in the North Sea forever has been “postponed”.
Decommissioning legislation mishmash
The UK Government recently published updated guidance on Oil and gas: offshore environmental legislation (20 March, 2020). It was a reminder that the OSPAR decommissioning regulations are not consistent with the UK’s Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.
No easy answer for the future of Shell’s Brent field
It was the beginning of an exciting week when Greenpeace announced they had sent activists to the middle of the North Sea to climb the remains of Shell’s Brent platforms, brandishing signs of “clean up your mess”.
Shell chief insists Brent decommissioning plans ‘right thing to do’
A boss at Shell has insisted that leaving the huge concrete legs of the Brent platforms at sea was the “right thing to do”.
Shell Brent decom ‘compromise’ possible, says Germany
Germany’s environment ministry has said a “compromise” on Shell’s Brent decommissioning plans may be possible but leaving any oil remains is “not acceptable”.
Shell’s Brent decom plans are ‘litmus test’ for Ospar – German government
Germany has said a special meeting on Shell’s Brent decommissioning plans will be the “litmus test” for a convention to protect Europe’s marine environment.
Protestors will remain on Shell’s Brent platforms ‘as long as needed’ – Greenpeace
Greenpeace said last night that protestors would occupy two North Sea oil platforms for “as long as needed” to get their message across.
Environmental arguments around Shell’s Brent decom plans
Shell submitted plans in 2017 to leave the giant legs of three of its four Brent platforms and some other infrastructure in the North Sea.
Greenpeace protestors scale Shell’s Brent platforms
Greenpeace has announced it is carrying out “peaceful protests” at Shell’s Brent field in the UK North Sea.
Germany makes formal objection to Shell’s Brent decommissioning plans
The German government has made a formal objection to Shell’s plans to decommission the Brent field in the North Sea.
Addressing the offshore industry skills gap through legal education
Currently, more than a third of global oil and gas production comes from offshore fields. The exploration, development, construction, production, logistics, maintenance and decommissioning operations of these fields are carried out with maritime units, including offshore vessels, installations (fixed, floating and subsea) and pipelines. For many countries, the offshore industry is contributing significantly to the national and global economy.
Decommissioning – whose liability is it anyway?
The mature phase of oil and gas operations on the UK continental shelf is proving to be more complex than we could have imagined even a few short years ago. It has long been recognised that, once a reservoir was depleted and the infrastructure associated with it redundant, decommissioning would be required in accordance with the UK’s international obligations. But it is now clear that, even as some reservoirs reach that point, new discoveries are being made and their development may depend on having access to existing infrastructure which otherwise would be decommissioned. The complex decisions involved in balancing the needs of new and future projects with the expectations of companies who want to decommission infrastructure is a matter for the Oil and Gas Authority working in conjunction with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Opinion: Ospar a very poor deal for the taxpayer
Any industrial or societal endeavor should be subject to a sustainability assessment and decommissioning is no different. The key metrics for the UK’s sustainable future are contained within the Government’s Sustainability Indicator reports published by the Department of Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). There are 35 topics. They are categorised under the three pillars of sustainability; people, planet and profit.