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The spread of activity across the timeframe is less consistent than in 2014, with peak years of removal activity
forecast in 2017 and 2020 (16 and 14 NUIs, respectively). Oil & Gas UK expects activity to smooth out as forecasts
are revisited. As seen last year, removal activity is forecast to decline towards the end of the survey timeframe.
Years with high numbers of removals often coincide with greater pipeline decommissioning activity seen in
section 7.4.
Some of the platforms included in the surveymay represent key processing hubs for the region. Tomeet government
and industry objectives of maximising economic recovery from the UKCS, it is important that key infrastructure is
not decommissioned prematurely. As such, a Southern North Sea PILOT Rejuvenation Work Group was established
to carry out a joint industry project to understand the remaining reserves and resource base in this region and
to identify how best to protect reserves and enable maturation into development opportunities. The work aims
to create a blueprint of what the area will look like in ten years’ time and assess whether incentives are required
to extend the region’s life. The next phase of work will be led by the Oil and Gas Authority’s area manager for
the SNS.
Figure 18: Forecast Number of Topside Modules and Topside Weight to be Removed
in the Southern North Sea and Irish Sea by Facility Type
0
5
10
15
20
25
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Number of Topside Modules
Tonnes to be Removed
Platforms
NUIs
Number of Topside Modules
Increased Uncertainty in
Forecasts
Source: Oil & Gas UK
Weight (Tonnes)
2015 to 2024
Number
2015 to 2024
Total Expenditure
2015 to 2024
Topside removal
78,900
66modules on 57 platforms
£250million
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