WIRELINE ISSUE 27 SPRING 2014

NEWS ROUND-UP

OIL&GASUK

10. REVISEDSUPPLEMENTARYGUIDANCEONREPORTING HYDROCARBONRELEASES The revisionof hydrocarbon release (HCR) guidance clarifieswhen smallHCRs should be reportedunder theReportingof Injuries,Diseases andDangerousOccurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).The RevisedSupplementaryGuidance on theRIDDORReporting of HydrocarbonReleases intends to resolve inconsistency in reportingbyhelpingdutyholders to assess theirobligations to reportHCRs.Thepublication aims todo this in amanner that is unambiguous, easilyunderstood and fully alignedwithRIDDOR.HCRs remain akey majorhazardmanagement concern for the industry and robustmeasuresmust be inplace toprevent, detect, control ormitigate such releases. It is important tonote that thenew guidancewill typicallyonly affect reportingof ‘lowerorder’ releases (that is other than majoror significant releases)where theremaybe somedoubt as to the requirement for statutory reporting. Havingbeen subjected to industryandHealthandSafetyExecutive review, these guidelineswill bepublishedon1April to come into immediateeffectandwill be available fordownloadatwww.oilandgasuk.co.uk/publications/publications.cfm.

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11. DECOMMISSIONINGRELIEF DEEDSHELPCOMPANIESFIRM UP INVESTMENTPLANS Over100 attendees turnedout tohear HelenDickinson, deputydirector at HMTreasury, elaborateon the importance ofDecommissioningReliefDeeds (DRDs) atOil&GasUK’s breakfast briefing on13February inLondon.TheDRDs are contracts betweengovernment and industry that provide certaintyof tax relief ondecommissioning costs, freeing up capital for investment.PeterThomas, chief financial officer atTAQABratani, also spoke at theevent anddescribed the commercial benefits of fiscal certainty in this area,whichmake theUKContinental Shelf amore attractivedestination for investment. Thepresentations canbedownloadedat www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/events/archive. cfmandwebcasts from theevent canbe viewedatwww.oilandgasuk.co.uk/news/ The_Decommissioning_Relief_Deed.cfm.

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L-R:PrimeMinisterDavidCameron,business secretaryVinceCableMPandchief secretary to theTreasuryDannyAlexanderMPvisited industry siteson24February

12. UKCABINETMINISTERSVISIT INDUSTRYSITES On24February, in theweek that both the WoodReport and Activity Survey werepublished (seep6), thePrimeMinisterbrought hisCabinet toAberdeen.Before this regional Cabinetmeeting, held at Shell’sAltens headquarters,UKMinisters visited industry sites acrossAberdeen.PrimeMinisterDavidCameron toured aBPoil platform,whileDeputy PrimeMinisterNickClegg, energy secretaryEdwardDaveyMP and scottish secretary AlistairCarmichaelMPvisited thePeterheadgas-firedpower stationoperatedbyScottish andSouthernEnergy.Thepower station is at the centreof the carbon capture and storage project steeredbyShell.Business secretaryVinceCableMP touredGlobal Energy Group’sNiggEnergyPark, looking around thedrydock and facilities, including its Skills Academywherehe spokewith someof its trainees.And chief secretary to theTreasury DannyAlexanderMPvisitedTransocean’s newoffice and training centre inKingswell. In addition to theirdiscussions about the findings in theWoodReview,MrAlexander tested the crane,marine anddrilling simulators, successfully tripping adrill pipe in the latter. Thesevisitsare important to raiseawareness of thevital economic contributionmade by theUKoffshoreoilandgas sector.Oil&GasUK is oftenapproachedby ministerial teams looking for companies tohost suchvisits. If youareamemberof Oil&GasUKand interested inhostingapolitical sitevisit, please contact JennyStanningon jstanning@oilandgasuk.co.uk orAshleyShackletononashackleton@oilandgasuk.co.uk.

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HelenDickinson,deputydirectorat HMTreasury,andMikeTholen, Oil&GasUK’seconomicsand commercialdirector,at thebreakfast briefingonDecommissioningReliefDeeds

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THE MAGAZ I NE FOR THE UK OF F SHOR E O I L AND GA S I NDUS TRY