Oil & Gas UK Decommissioning Insight 2014

Pipeline decommissioning activity is higher between 2019 and 2021, correlating with the peak years of activity in pipeline ‘making safe’. The spike in ‘making safe’ in 2023 coincides with that of facilities ‘making safe’, suggesting further removal activity outside the survey timeframe. However, activity towards the end of the timeframe can be expected to level out when forecasts are revisited. All of the pipelines to be decommissioned are inter-field connectors, and none are considered to be critical for third party access.

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Pipeline Making Safe and Decommissioning in the Southern North Sea and Irish Sea

The forecast for pipeline decommissioning in the SNS and IS areas has increased significantly since the 2013 report. This is due to increased activity forecasts from existing projects as well as the addition of new projects to the survey. Figure 20: Forecast of Making Safe and Pipeline Decommissioning Activity in the Southern North Sea and Irish Sea from 2014 to 2023

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700

Increased Uncertainty in Forecasts

5

600

500

6

400

300

7

200 Total Length (km)

100

0

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Pipelines Making Safe Umbilicals Other Pipelines (Width <16'')

Trunklines (Width >16'')

Source: Oil & Gas UK

Number 2014 to 2023

Length (km) 2014 to 2023

Total Expenditure 2014 to 2023

Making safe

-

2,200 2,470

£285 million £150 million

Pipeline decommissioning

Umbilicals Trunklines

32 37

220

1,350

Other pipelines

111

900

Peak year of ‘making safe’ activity 2020 -

650

Peak years of pipeline decommissioning activity 2016 37

640 660

2020

15

35