LNG

The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), the UK regulator that is launching renewed oil and gas activities in British territorial waters that will affect future import needs for pipeline gas, LNG and oil has issued an Area Plan for cross-licence and cross-Hub collaborative frameworks to ensure maximum recovery of oil and gas in six areas.

The six areas where oil and gas activities will take place are the Central North Sea, the Northern North Sea, the Southern North Sea, West of Shetland, East of Shetland and the East Irish Sea.

The NSTA, formerly known as Oil and Gas Authority, had previously drawn up a “Maximising Economic Recovery of UK Petroleum (MER UK) Strategy” with added “behavioural Guidelines” written by the industry for the industry and aimed at helping all participants.

The report estimates that the effective use of Area Plans has the potential to unlock around 4 billion barrels of resources.

Working with operators

“The NSTA is working closely with operators, licence holders and other interested parties to develop Area Plans across the oil and gas life cycle,” said the report.

“These integrate exploration, development, production, and decommissioning to ensure operations ensure economic recovery with the optimum use of infrastructure to extend asset life,” the NSTA added.

The NSTA explained that Area Plans, like industry, are evolving with scopes of work now incorporating energy integration and net-zero considerations.

“Area Plans represent a shared view amongst industry participants of the optimal way to ensure economic resource recovery,’ said the report.

“For the majority of Area Plans, the NSTA will normally expect industry to lead on developing and delivering the plans,” it stated.

The NSTA has developed Guidance (revised in November 2023) to aid the industry’s understanding of their responsibilities for developing Area Plans and help improve collaboration across the UK Continental Shelf.

Updates

“As experience and practice develop, the NSTA will update and review this guidance,” it said.

Under the leadership of Steve Phimister, Industry Cultural Change Champion, the “Behavioural Guidelines” have been created to help those involved in Area Plans.

These Guidelines provide advice, share insights from existing Area Plans groups and signpost to relevant tools and resources.

The Guidelines are categorised into four “Area Plan Essentials”: 1.) Create the Right Environment; 2.) Secure the Right People at the Right Time; 3.) Clarify the Boundaries for Collaboration; and 4.) Agree an Appropriate Decision Process.

The full report is available on the NSTA Web site.