Decommissioning Insight 2016 - Oil & Gas UK

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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.

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Figure 2: Combined Well P&A Forecast for the UK and Norwegian Continental Shelves

CNS - Platform Wells

CNS - Subsea Wells

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NNS and W o S - Platform Wells SNS and Irish Sea - Platform Wells

NNS and W o S - Subsea Wells SNS and Irish Sea - Subsea Wells

250

NCS - Platform Wells

NCS - Subsea Wells

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Increased Uncertainty in Forecasts

200

150

5

100

Number of Wells

6

50

7

0

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

Source: Oil & Gas UK

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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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