A growing number of UKCS assets have already reached, or are approaching, the end of their economic lives. This has resulted in rapid growth of decommissioning activity in the North Sea, estimated to cost GBP 16.9 billion from 2015 through 2024. Plug and abandonment represents 46% of decommissioning expenditure, with over 1,200 wells forecast to be plugged and abandoned over this time period1.

This topic will take centre stage at next month’s SPE Aberdeen 6th European Well Abandonment Seminar which is being held on Wednesday 15 June at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC). Successful well abandonment should be compliant, cost-effective and safe; achieving this is the theme throughout this year’s seminar programme.

Decommissioning is one of the Oil and Gas Authority’s (OGA) priorities and this one day event starts with an introduction to the OGA’s role in well abandonment, including the impact of the Maximising Economic Recovery (MER) strategy on cost effective well abandonment.

In addition there will be an update on the Oil and Gas UK Well Abandonment Guidelines with guideline changes highlighted and reviewed, followed by an interactive question and answer session. Other seminar highlights include presentations and case studies on the leading edge technologies from major operators including BP, Chevron, Talisman Sinopec, Statoil and CNR International. The seminar is completed with a pop-up exhibition of commercial abandonment innovations.

Commenting ahead of the seminar, conference co-chair Kelly Richardson of BP, says, “Well abandonment is an increasingly important aspect of the oil and gas industry and its growth is set to continue rapidly over the next decade, including the demand for expertise in the area both domestically and globally.”

“This event provides an excellent forum to share experience and knowledge in this fast growing area. We have specifically included a number of question and answer sessions in the programme to stimulate knowledge sharing and collaboration. Leading operator and service companies active in this discipline along with OGA and Oil and Gas UK are all participating at this event which will be of benefit to anyone involved or likely to be involved in decommissioning,” continues Richardson.

Plug and abandonment will also feature at the SPE Aberdeen 6th Late Well-Life Integrity Workshop which takes place the preceding day, 14 June at the AECC.

For full programmes and booking details regarding both of these events please visit www.spe-uk.org/aberdeen/events

Tags: SPE Aberdeen