Updated: Approved Decommissioning Programmes added
Overview
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) (formerly the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC)) regulates decommissioning of offshore oil and gas installations and pipelines using legislation under the Petroleum Act 1998.
Under Section 29 of the Act the Secretary of State is empowered to serve notice on a wide range of persons.
In the first instance this would include parties to joint operating agreements for installations, and owners for pipelines.
The notice will either specify the date by which a decommissioning programme for each installation or pipeline is to be submitted or, as is more usual, provide for it to be submitted on or before such date as the Secretary of State may direct.
A decommissioning programme sets out the measures to decommission disused installations and/or pipelines, and will describe in detail the methods to undertake the work. In some cases this process can cover a wide range of activities such as radioactive material handling, removal of debris from the seabed and environmental monitoring of the area after removal of the installation. The department aims to be transparent in its consideration of decommissioning programmes. As a result, other government departments/agencies, non-governmental organisations, members of the public and other bodies are given the opportunity to comment on the proposals set out in a programme.
Table of draft decommissioning programmes under consideration
Field Name
Field Operator
Status
Main points of the programme
Details
Atlantic and Cromarty
BG Global Energy Limited and Hess Limited
Draft programmes under consideration
Manifold and Well head Protection structures (WHPS) to be removed for recycling/disposal. Partial removal of pipelines and remaining section of buried/trenched pipelines to remain in situ.
Atlantic & Cromarty Decommissioning Programmes
(PDF, 1.76MB, 50 pages)
Atlantic & Cromarty Stakeholder Report
(PDF, 1.11MB, 32 pages)
Atlantic & Cromarty Environmental Impact Assessment
(PDF, 4.5MB, 109 pages)
Atlantic & Cromarty Comparative Assessment
(PDF, 2.06MB, 110 pages)
Janice, James & Affleck Fields
Maersk Oil UK Limited
Draft programmes under consideration
FPU to be removed from station for recycling/disposal.
Subsea installations to be removed to shore for recycling/disposal.
Full removal of untrenched pipelines; trenched pipelines to be decommissioned in situ.
Janice, James & Affleck Decommissioning Programmes
(PDF, 2.7MB, 89 pages)
Janice, James & Affleck Comparative Assessment Report
(PDF, 4.66MB, 88 pages)
Janice, James & Affleck Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
(PDF, 7.01MB, 152 pages)
Markham ST-1
Centrica Production Nederland B.V.
Draft programme under consideration
Topsides and jacket will be removed and transported to shore for recycling.
Leg piles will be cut 2m below seabed.
Pipelines will be flushed and left buried in situ
Markham ST-1 Decommissioning Programmes
(PDF, 2.24MB, 39 pages)
Markham ST-1 Comparative Assessment
(PDF, 1.48MB, 33 pages)
Markham ST-1 Environmental Statement
(PDF, 6.49MB, 142 pages)
Viking Satellites CD,DD,ED,GD,HD
ConocoPhillips (U.K.) Limited
Draft programme under consideration
An approved programme for topsides and jackets is in place. Pipelines to remain buried in situ. All mattresses on pipelines to remain in situ to maintain pipeline stabilisation.
Decommissioning programme
(PDF, 2.88MB, 49 pages)
Comparative Assessment
(PDF, 3.8MB, 142 pages)
Environmental Statement
(PDF, 17.4MB, 339 pages)
Leman BH
Shell UK Limited
Draft programme under consideration
Removal of topsides, jacket and bridge link from Leman BH to Leman BT
Leman BH Decommissioning Programme (DP)
(PDF, 1.2MB, 35 pages)
Leman Environmental Impact Awareness (EIA)
(PDF, 18.4MB, 86 pages)
## Table of approved decommissioning programmes
Field Name
Operator at approval
Operator following licence / company change
Main installations decommissioned
Approved option
Year of approval
Athena Decommissioning Programmes
(PDF, 3.88MB, 70 pages)
Ithaca Energy (UK) Limited
-
FPSO
Removal for re-use at different location
2016
Subsea Equipment
Removal to shore for either re-use or recycling
2016
Pipelines
All 32 pipeline to be removed and returned to shore for re-use or recycling
2016
Viking Platforms
(PDF, 3.53MB, 40 pages)
ConocoPhillips (U.K.) Limited
-
5 x fixed platforms Viking CD, DD, ED, GD, HD
Removal to shore of topsides and jackets for recycling/disposal
2016
Leadon
(PDF, 1.71MB, 53 pages)
Maersk Oil North Sea UK Limited
-
FPSO
Removal for re-use at different location
2016
Subsea
Removal of 2 x bundle towheads and mid-line structure to shore for disposal; removal of 2 x drill centres to shore for disposal
2016
Pipelines
2 x Pipeline bundles to be left in-situ, partial removal of gas import pipeline
2016
Harding STL
(PDF, 2.61MB, 73 pages)
TAQA Bratani Limited
-
Harding Submerged Turret Loading (STL) System
Harding Submerged Turret Loading (STL) System to be replaced by new Offshore Loading System. STL to be removed to shore for recycling/disposal and shuttle tanker mooring and loading buoy interfaces returned to owner
2015
Thames Area – Horne & Wren
(PDF, 1.57MB, 48 pages)
Tullow Oil SK Limited
-
1x fixed platform
Removal of topsides and jackets to shore for recycling/disposal
2015
Pipelines
To remain buried in situ
2015
Thames Area – Orwell
(PDF, 828KB, 42 pages)
Tullow Oil SK Limited
-
Subsea Installations
Removal to shore for recycling/disposal
2015
Pipelines
To remain buried in situ
2015
Thames Area – Wissey
(PDF, 1.26MB, 43 pages)
Tullow Oil SK Limited
-
Subsea Installations
Removal to shore for recycling/disposal
2015
Pipelines
To remain buried in situ
2015
Thames Area – Thames Complex
(PDF, 15.9MB, 76 pages)
Perenco UK Limited
-
3x fixed platforms
Removal of topsides and jackets to shore for recycling/disposal
2015
Subsea Installations
Removal to shore for recycling/disposal
2015
Pipelines
To remain buried in situ
2015
Thames Area – Gawain
(PDF, 3.8MB, 47 pages)
Perenco UK Limited
-
Subsea Installations
Removal to shore for recycling/disposal
2015
Pipelines
To remain buried in situ
2015
Thames Area – Arthur
(PDF, 4.41MB, 46 pages)
Perenco UK Limited
-
Subsea Installations
Removal to shore for recycling/disposal
2015
Pipelines
To remain buried in situ
2015
Brent - Brent Delta Topside
(PDF, 3.55MB, 72 pages)
Shell U.K. Limited
-
Brent Delta Topside
Removal of topside to shore for recycling and disposal
2015
Rose Decommissioning Programmes
(PDF, 2.87MB, 42 pages)
Centrica Resources Limited
-
Subsea Installations
Removal to shore for recycling/disposal
2015
Pipelines
Removal of sections of un-trenched pipelines; trenched pipelines decommissioned in situ
2015
Stamford
(PDF, 2.71MB, 39 pages)
Centrica North Sea Gas Limited
-
Subsea Installations
Removal to shore for recycling/disposal
2015
Pipelines
Removal of sections of un-trenched pipelines; trenched pipelines decommissioned in situ
2015
Murchison
(PDF, 2.37MB, 70 pages)
CNR
-
Large Steel Platform
Topsides and jacket to top of footings to be removed to shore for recycling/disposal. Footings to remain in situ
2014
Pipelines
Export pipeline decommissioned in situ with remedial rock placement.
Infield Flowlines to be removed for recycling/disposal.
2014
Rubie & Renee
(PDF, 2.47MB, 50 pages)
Endeavour Energy UK Limited
-
Subsea Installations
Removal to shore for recycling/disposal
2014
Pipelines
Selective Recovery
2014
Miller
(PDF, 6.57MB, 198 pages)
BP Exploration (Alpha) Limited
Large Steel Platform
Footings to remain in place, steel topsides and jacket to top of footings to be removed to shore
2013
Schiehallion & Loyal Phase One
(PDF, 1.84MB, 60 pages)
Britoil Limited
-
Schiehallion FPSO
Removal for potential re-use
2013
Pipelines
Recovery where possible. Production flowlines to be left in situ.
2013
Ivanhoe, Rob Roy
Hess limited
-
FPSO
Removal for re-use at different location
2013
Subsea installations
Removal to shore for recycling/disposal
2013
Pipelines
Selective recovery
2013
Camelot
(PDF, 488KB, 39 pages)
Camelot Close out report
(PDF, 2.27MB, 41 pages)
Energy Resource Technology (UK) Limited
-
Small Steel Platform
Removal to shore for recycling / disposal
2012
Pipelines
Pipelines decommissioned in situ
2012
Fife, Flora, Fergus, Angus: decommissioning programme
(PDF, 8.36MB, 135 pages)
FFFA Close Out Report
(PDF, 1.49MB, 33 pages)
Hess Limited
-
FPSO
Removed for re-use at different location
2012
Subsea installations
Removal to shore for recycling / disposal
2012
Pipelines
Full removal of un-trenched pipelines; trenched pipelines decommissioned in situ
2012
Don
Britoil Public Limited Company
-
Subsea installation
Removal to shore for recycling / disposal
2011
Pipelines
Decommissioned in situ with selective recovery
2011
Welland
Perenco UK Limited
Perenco UK Limited
Small Steel Platform
Removal for re-use outside of UK waters
2010
Pipelines
Decommissioned in situ with selective recovery
2010
Tristan NW
Close out report
Silverstone Energy Limited
Bridge Energy UK Limited
Subsea installation
Removal to shore for recycling
2010; close-out report received January 2011
Pipelines
Production pipeline with piggy-backed umbilical - leave in situ; jumpers, spool pieces and associated pipeline equipment - remove to shore for re-use or recycling
2010; close-out report received January 2011
Shelley
Close out report
Premier Oil
-
Sevan Voyageur FPSO
Tow away for future use at another location
2010; close-out report received February 2012
Manifold and Wellhead
Remove to shore for re-use, recycling or disposal
2010; close-out report received February 2012
Pipelines
Production pipeline - leave in situ; umbilical - remove in sections
2010; close-out report received February 2012
Kittiwake SAL Export System
Close out report
Venture North Sea Oil Limited
-
Kittiwake SAL Assembly
SAL Assembly - removal to shore for re-use. Revision to approved decommissioning programme: Completion of the removal of the SAL Assembly extended to 31 July 2012
2009; close-out report received July 2012
Pipelines
Pipeline - flexible flowline removed to shore for re-use
2009; close-out report received July 2012
MCP-01
Close out report
Total E& P UK Limited
-
Manifold & Compression Platform
Permit granted for the disposal in-situ of the concrete substructure; topsides to be removed to shore for re-use, recycling or disposal
2008; close-out report received March 2013
Kittiwake Loading Buoy
Venture North Sea Oil Limited
-
Exposed Location Single Buoy Mooring System (ELSBM)
Removals to shore for recycling or disposal
2008
Linnhe
(PDF, 2.25MB, 66 pages)
Linnhe Close Out Report
(PDF, 1000KB, 22 pages)
Mobil North Sea LLC
-
Wellhead Protection Structure
Removal to shore. Revision to approved decommissioning programme: completion of the removal of the Wellhead Protection Structure extended to 30 June 2010
2008; year of revised approval: 2010
Pipelines
Decommissioned in situ; pipeline sections outside trenches removed to shore. Revision to approved decommissioning programme: completion of the abandonment of the pipelines extended to 30 June 2010
2008; year of revised approval: 2010
Indefatigable (Shell)
(PDF, 11.6MB, 224 pages)
Close Out Report
(PDF, 2.47MB, 64 pages)
Shell U.K. Limited
-
6 x fixed steel platforms
Removal to shore
2007
Pipelines
2 x hose bundles removal to shore; 5 x infield + export decommissioned in situ
2007
NW Hutton: decommissioning programme
(PDF, 14.9MB, 320 pages)
Close Out Report
(PDF, 2.52MB, 32 pages)
Amoco (U.K.) Exploration Company - now a subsidiary of BP plc
-
Large Steel Platform
Footings to remain in place, steel topsides and jacket to top of footings to be removed to shore
2006
Pipelines
Decommissioned in situ
2006
Ardmore
British American Offshore Limited
-
Mobile Jack-Up Rig
Re-use
2005
Ardmore
Ugland Nordic Shipping AS
-
Single Anchor Loading Systems
Re-use/removal to shore
2005
Pipelines
Re-use
2005
Ardmore
Acorn Oil & Gas Limited
-
Subsea equipment including guide frame
Removal to shore
2005
Brent
Shell
-
Brent Flare
Removals to shore for recycling and disposal
2004
Beatrice
Talisman Energy (UK) Limited
-
Fixed Steel Platforms
Re-use
2004
Forbes and Gordon Infield Pipelines
BHP Billiton
-
Infield Pipelines
Decommission in situ - retrench any area of pipeline with less than 0.4m depth of cover
2003; close-out report received May 2005
Frigg TP1, QP & CDP1
Close out report
Total E&P Norge AS
-
Treatment Platform 1 (TP1), Quarters Platform (QP) and Concrete Drilling Platform 1 (CDP1)
Concrete substructures to remain in place; concrete topsides to be removed to shore; steel installations to be removed to shore; infield pipelines to be removed to shore
2003
Durward and Dauntless
Amerada Hess
-
Pipelines
Decommissioned in situ
2002
Hutton
Kerr-McGee
-
Tension Leg Platform
Re-use
2002; close-out report received July 2004
Pipelines
1 x removal to shore; 1 x decommissioned in situ (with future monitoring programme)
2002; close-out report received July 2004
Camelot CB
ExxonMobil
-
Fixed Steel Platform
Re-use or removal to shore for recycling. Revision to approved decommissioning option: removal to shore for dismantling and recycling
2001. Year of revised approval: 2002
Blenheim and Bladon
Talisman
-
FPSO
Re-use
2000
Pipelines
Removal to shore
2000
Durward and Dauntless
Amerada Hess
-
FPSO
Re-use
2000
Subsea Facilities
Removal to shore
2000
Maureen and Moira
Phillips
-
Large Steel Gravity Platform
Removal to shore for re-use or recycling
2000
Concrete Loading Column
Removal to shore for re-use or recycling
2000
Pipelines
2 x removal to shore;1 x decommissioned in situ
2000
Brent Spar
Shell
-
Oil Storage and Loading Facility
Re-use as part of quay extension. Revision to approved decommissioning option: Brent Spar Anchor Blocks - removal to shore for reuse, recycling or disposal 1998
Year of revised approval: 2004
Donan
BP
-
FPSO
Re-use
1998
Fulmar SALM
Shell
-
Single Anchor Leg Mooring Buoy
Removal to shore
1998
16” Pipeline
Decommissioned in situ
1998
Emerald
MSR
-
FPSO
Re-use
1996
Pipeline
Decommissioned in situ
1996
Frigg FP
Elf Norge
TotalFinaElf Norge
Flare Column
Removal to shore
1996
Leman BK
Shell
-
Fixed Steel Platform
Removal to shore
1996
Staffa
Lasmo
-
Pipelines
Removal to shore
1996
Viking AC, AD, AP & FD
Conoco
-
4 x Fixed Steel Platform
Removal to shore
1996
Esmond CP & CW
BHP
-
2 x Fixed Steel Platform
Removal to shore
1995
Gordon BW
BHP
-
Fixed Steel Platform
Removal to shore
1995
Angus
Amerada Hess
-
Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Vessel
Re-use
1993
Forbes AW
Hamilton
BHP
Fixed Steel Platform
Removal to shore
1993
Argyll, Duncan and Innes
Hamilton
BHP
Floating Production, Facility (FPF)
Removal to shore
1992
Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring (CALM) Buoy
Removal to shore
1992
Pipelines
Removal to shore
1992
Blair
Sun Oil
AGIP
Pipelines
1 x Re-use; 1 x Decommissioned in situ
1992
Crawford
Hamilton Oil
BHP
Floating Production, Facility (FPF)
Removal to shore
1991
Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring (CALM) Buoy
Removal to shore
1991
Subsea Facilities
Removal to shore
1991
Piper Alpha
Occidental
Talisman
Fixed Steel Platform
Toppling
1988
## Notification of disused pipelines
(the DPN form has been amended – September 2016)
During the course of a field’s life, pipelines/sections of pipelines may be taken out of use, e.g. due to corrosion, problems with reservoir pressure, damage to the pipeline, etc. When this happens, under the Petroleum Act 1998 the Secretary of State has the option of immediately calling for a full decommissioning programme. This is not always considered an appropriate option however, and so it has been agreed consideration will be given to handling suitable pipelines, under an informal decommissioning regime, thereby deferring a formal programme until the end of the field’s life.
If a formal decommissioning programme is not immediately deemed suitable, details of the out of use pipeline(s) will be circulated to other government departments for comment. Following this, BEIS will decide one of the following:
* we are content with the proposals for monitoring and maintaining the out-of-use pipeline
* we request additional information or further remedial action
* we request a formal decommissioning programme
The Interim Pipeline Regime is intended to ensure out of use lines do not pose a risk to other users of the sea or the environment and that they are covered by an appropriate surveying and maintenance regime from the point when they are taken out of use until approval of the formal decommissioning programme, which is usually at the end of field life. It should be noted that any interim solution should not prejudice the final decommissioning options for that line, including complete removal. The department expects Operators to submit details of out of use pipelines/sections of a pipeline as soon as they are taken out of use.
Operators are reminded that any works that are proposed on any pipelines under the Pipeline Works Authorisation regime, as per their Terms and Conditions of the PWA, must have a Legal Consent in place before works can commence which includes but is not exclusive to any proposed decommissioning works. Consents are issued by the Oil & Gas Authority and Operators are requested to contact [Claire Grant](mailto:claire.grant@oga.gsi.gov.uk) on any queries that they may have relating to Legal Consents. Further Guidance can also be found on the Oil & Gas Authority website: [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/oil-and-gas-infrastructure#guidelines-for-the-completion-of-pipeline-works-authorisations](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/oil-and-gas-infrastructure#guidelines-for-the-completion-of-pipeline-works-authorisations)
Once the necessary legal consent has been issued by OGA, Consents & Authorisations Section, Operators are to email a completed
Disused pipeline notification form
(MS Word Document, 64.6KB)
to [Claire Thomson](mailto:claire.thomson@beis.gov.uk), BEIS, Offshore Decommissioning Unit.
If you are an Operator, aware of any out of use pipelines that have not been referred to the department, please submit a completed DPN form at your earliest convenience.
Following confirmation a pipeline has been accepted under the Interim Pipeline Regime, the Offshore Decommissioning Unit will continue to monitor the condition of the pipeline by asking the Operator to confirm the status of the pipeline remains unchanged following future surveys.
## Further information
A list of all installations on the UKCS and their current status is available from the OSPAR Website
At the first ministerial meeting of the Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic (OSPAR) in 1998, a binding decision was agreed that set rules for the disposal of offshore installations at sea. Under the decision the dumping and leaving wholly or partly in place of offshore installations is prohibited. Decision 98/3 recognises it may be difficult to remove the 'footings' of large steel jackets weighing more than 10,000 and concrete installations. As a result there are derogations for these categories of installations if the internationally agreed assessment and consultation process shows leaving them in place is justifiable.
BEIS has been trialling a streamlined decommissioning programme template for non-derogation cases during 2013 and 2014. Operators will therefore have a choice whether to submit a decommissioning programme in the existing format (see Annex C of the Guidance Notes ‘Format and Content’) or adopt the streamlined decommissioning programme template. Operators should discuss individual cases with BEIS.
A streamlined decommissioning programme template for derogation cases is also now available. This will be trialled during the remainder of 2014 and 2015.
Further details on the decommissioning process, including the role and content of a decommissioning programme, are available in the
Guidance notes for industry on the decommissioning of offshore installations and pipelines under the Petroleum Act 1998
(PDF, 755KB, 140 pages)
A
Streamlined Decommissioning Programme Template (Non-Derogation Cases)
(PDF, 1.36MB, 33 pages)
is available - (December 2015).
A
Streamlined Decommissioning Programme Template (Derogation Cases)
(PDF, 1.5MB, 36 pages)
is also available (December 2015).
A word version of these templates can also be requested from BEIS. Please email [Susan Laing](mailto:susan.laing@beis.gov.uk) for further details.
## Cost recovery
BEIS will now charge a fee in respect of offshore (oil and gas) installations and pipelines decommissioning programmes under the Petroleum Act 1998. Guidance, including the indicative fee structure, is available in [Guidance – charging a fee for offshore (oil and gas) installations and pipelines under the Petroleum Act 1998](https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/43418/5796-decomm-fees.pdf).
##Recommendation 2006/05
Recommendation 2006/05 was adopted at the 2006 OSPAR Commission meeting, which introduces a management regime for offshore drill cuttings piles. Drill cuttings consist of rock fragments that have been contaminated in some instances with the drilling mud used to lubricate the drill bit in drilling operations. In some cases these cuttings have been discharged to the seabed, where they can accumulate around the base of installations and at remote subsea drilling locations to form what is known as drill cuttings piles.
The management regime for drill cutting piles is based on the results of the work carried out under the UKOOA Joint Industry Project on drill cuttings between 1998 and 2004. The OSPAR recommendation, which the department implements through the provisions of the Petroleum Act 1998, introduces a two-stage approach to identify those cuttings piles that may require further investigation and to assess the best means of dealing with them. Further details, including a copy of the OSPAR recommendation, can be found in the
Guidance notes for industry on the decommissioning of offshore installations and pipelines under the Petroleum Act 1998
(PDF, 755KB, 140 pages)
.
In recent years there has been a significant and increasing number of UKCS licence assignments from large companies to smaller ones. The introduction of innovative licensing schemes has also brought a number of new companies to the UKCS. Ministers have agreed such activity should be encouraged and as well as new developments, there should be free trade in mature offshore oil and gas assets to extend field life and maximise economic recovery. At the same time, the government has a duty to ensure the taxpayer is not exposed to an unacceptable risk of default in meeting the costs associated with decommissioning.
To enable these 2 goals to be achieved, a policy was developed to ensure adequate security for decommissioning costs is maintained on a field-by-field basis. The details of this policy, including the circumstances in which the government may require the owners of offshore installations and pipelines to provide security or enter into a Decommissioning Security Agreement (DSA), are set out in annexes F and G of the
Guidance notes for industry on the decommissioning of offshore installations and pipelines under the Petroleum Act 1998
(PDF, 755KB, 140 pages)
.