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The region with the highest number of wells of all types forecast for P&A within the survey timeframe is the
central North Sea where 35 per cent (644) of the wells are located. The region with the least amount of activity is
the Norwegian Continental Shelf where 362 wells are due to be plugged and abandoned of which there is only a
single well in the Norwegian Sea.
Figure 2: Combined Well P&A Forecast for the UK and Norwegian Continental Shelves
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50
100
150
200
250
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Number of Wells
CNS - Platform Wells
CNS - Subsea Wells
NNS and W o S - Platform Wells
NNS and W o S - Subsea Wells
SNS and Irish Sea - Platform Wells
SNS and Irish Sea - Subsea Wells
NCS - Platform Wells
NCS - Subsea Wells
Source: Oil & Gas UK
Increased Uncertainty
in Forecasts
There are a variety of factors that affect the timing of well P&A activity, including but not limited to changes to the
CoP date, alignment of well activity with other fields, available rig slots and the availability of capital to carry out
the work. Where the following forecasts by region indicate high peaks in activity, Oil & Gas UK would expect these
to smooth out as operators further develop and define their projects.
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