Leaders shape technology priorities for late-life asset management and decommissioning

• Decommissioning Solution Centre now in place
• Led by ex-BG decommissioning specialist Andy Clucas
• Field Life Extension and Decommissioning Centre of Excellence on track

Leaders from oil and gas operating companies and the Oil and Gas Authority gathered at the Oil & Gas Technology Centre yesterday for a workshop to discuss priorities for the Decommissioning Solution Centre.

One of five solution centres now up and running within the Oil & Gas Technology Centre, the Decommissioning Solution Centre will identify, co-fund and manage projects to accelerate technologies to drive down the costs of decommissioning.

Workshop participants were drawn from companies including CNRI, BP, TAQA, Marathon Oil, Shell and Respol Sinopec. 

Andy Clucas, Decommissioning Solution Centre Manager said:

“Yesterday’s workshop was an important milestone in the development of our Decommissioning Solution Centre and we were very fortunate to have first-class input and ideas from industry and Oil & Gas Authority colleagues.

“We’ll take this feedback into further discussions with supply chain companies and technology providers, before publishing our focus areas and priorities in the summer. 

“We’ll then work with our partners and members to develop projects designed to bring new technologies to market, supported by the excellent research capabilities of our local universities through our Field Life Extension and Decommissioning Centre of Excellence. 

In January, the Oil & Gas Technology Centre, announced a multi-million-pound joint venture with The University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University to develop a Centre of Excellence for Field Life Extension and Decommissioning in Aberdeen.

This groundbreaking partnership will drive the technology innovation needed to maximise economic recovery, make sure that facilities are decommissioned efficiently and help the UK become a global leader in this growing global market. 

The Centre of Excellence will bring together academic researchers, experts from industry and business partners with the best experience, ideas and equipment to create a unique environment for collaborative research and development. 

Andy commented: “We’re now in conversation with potential anchor companies to co-invest in this exciting new facility and help shape its early research programme. A search has begun to find a suitable location and the recruitment of the team is also underway.”

It is anticipated that the Centre of Excellence will be in place later this year, working with industry, technology providers, governments and trade associations on projects that combine the latest academic thinking with hands-on operational challenges.

Meanwhile, the Oil & Gas Technology Centre is calling for innovative concepts and ideas to transform the way that offshore hydrocarbon wells are plugged and abandoned. With c.£1 million available to fund resulting projects the deadline for submissions is 11 June.

Andy Clucas has joined the Oil & Gas Technology Centre as Decommissioning Solution Centre Manager. Formerly Group Decommissioning Manager at BG Group, Andy will lead the development of the Decommissioning Solution Centre and oversee the creation of the Centre of Excellence.

 

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