The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has launched a search for operators to voluntarily participate in a multi-operator, well plug and abandonment (P&A) optimisation programme.
The objective of the pilot programme is to demonstrate the cost savings which can be achieved through collaborative working, stimulate work-sharing campaigns and adopt improved execution and contracting models.
Those selected will work alongside the OGA and appointed project manager for the selection phase, LRQA, to examine the opportunity for a collaborative well P&A programme to be executed in 2018/19. This project will be managed by Julie Copland, Head of Production Technology, LR.
Jim Christie, OGA Head of Decommissioning, said: “Targeted cost efficiency programmes, extensive knowledge sharing and best practice adoption is a priority of our decommissioning strategy. We expect that this programme will encourage further collaborative working practices across well P&A scope and into other areas of decommissioning.
“While estimates of cost, scale and scope vary, there is no doubt that the decommissioning effort facing our basin is significant. We must act now to capitalise on the opportunity it presents for innovation, cost reduction and further development of our skilled supply chain.”
Steve Gilbert, VP Operations, LRQA continues: “There is huge potential to realise cost savings across most stages of the decommissioning cycle if industry work together to share best practice, expertise and resource. Multi-operator well campaign projects are a great place to start. This will undoubtedly lead to efficiencies in the process and significant cost savings.
“LR is well placed to project manage the selection phase of the OGA’s well P&A optimisation programme. Our extensive expertise and experience in well engineering, operations and risk management will help ensure the success of this initiative. We also have longstanding relationships with all the operators and a good understanding of their assets.”
Prerequisites for participants include;
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Identified well(s) which fall within the execution window
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A desire to work collaboratively with the OGA and other operators to minimise costs in an appropriate manner
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A desire to engage in multi-operator collaboration to test other factors which may reduce costs further than is possible through economies of scale and repeatability alone. Factors may include; technology application, different contracting and business model adoption, regulatory simplification and long term liability management
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Transparency in the sharing of data and lessons learnt from the project with the wider decommissioning community.
Those interested in applying to be involved in the pilot programme should contact papilot@ogauthority.co.uk by 10 March 2017.
