The Decommissioning and Repurposing Taskforce’s (DaRT) objective is to support industry to reduce the cost of decommissioning and assist the Government with meeting its net zero target, by providing strategic direction, oversight and delivery of key projects.

Taskforce Member Organisations

dart logos NSTA BP CNR DECOM North Sea NZTC OPRED OEUK HSE

Co-Chairs are currently Bob Fennell (Harbour Energy) and Alasdair Thomas (NSTA)

Focus Areas

DaRT's key objective for the year is to focus on net zero, raising the profile of repurposing and supporting the reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions whilst continuing to drive cost efficiencies in decommissioning. Throughout our work we will promote decommissioning and repurposing as a key enabler the Energy Transition.

The Government has set a target to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and the OGA has set out expectations (SE11) for the upstream oil and gas industry to reduce, as far as reasonably possible, Greenhouse Gas  Emissions, including in decommissioning.

North Sea industry made great strides cutting the overall cost estimate for decommissioning, by 25%, or £15 billion, between 2017 and end-2021.

The NSTA is now challenging the sector to build on strong progress by lowering the total estimate for decommissioning redundant platforms, wells and pipelines by an additional 10%, from £37 billion to £33.3 billion, between 2023 and end-2028.

Through the North Sea Transition Deal agreed in March 2021, industry set a voluntary target of achieving 50% UK local content across the lifecycle for all related new energy technology projects by 2030, as well as in oil and gas decommissioning. DaRT is supporting the Supply Chain and Exports Task Force on the delivery of this target work.

DaRT is working with the NSTA to promote and embed repurposing into late life decision making within the operating community.

DaRT is working with the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) and the National Decommissioning centre to support the development and deployment of New Technology for Decommissioning.

The North Sea Transition Forum response to the 2019 Call for Evidence into decommissioning identified stakeholder interest in reviewing the impact of “liability in perpetuity” on the UK decommissioning market to assess whether it is a barrier to innovation, or otherwise restrains the market from developing efficient commercial decommissioning offerings.

While the Government has not requested further action on this topic, improving the understanding of which parties are subject to Post Decommissioning Liability remains a priority for industry and it is an area of focus for DaRT. 

Terms of Reference

Purpose

  1. To fill the gap, focussing on things that would otherwise not be delivered by industry.
  2. Provide leadership and support for the development and deployment of the Decommissioning Strategy.
  3. Cost Reduction: Support the delivery of reduced decommissioning costs (from 2017 base).
  4. Supply Chain development: Support growth of competitive decommissioning market and supply chain, to maximise UK benefits including export potential.
  5. Assist the government with meeting its net zero target through supporting integration of net zero in late-life, repurposing and decommissioning
  6. Policy & stakeholders management: Influence policies, legislation and related guidance, and increase stakeholder alignment.
  7. Skills Development: Work with OPITO to support development of decommissioning skills by providing opportunities for wider industry members to get involved with Task Force workstreams.

Membership

  1. The Decommissioning and Repurposing Taskforce will be co-chaired by industry and the NSTA.
  2. Members will include the representatives from operators, contractors, the NSTA, Offshore Energies UK, Decom North Sea, OPRED, HSE and NZTC.
  3. New additional members to the taskforce must be agreed by the majority of taskforce members.
  4. The industry (operators and contractor) representatives and the industry chair will hold their post for a maximum period of two years unless extended with agreement from taskforce members.

How we will work

  1. When participating in task group duties members will represent the UK oil and gas industry as a whole and not their individual companies.
  2. The Decommissioning and Repurposing Taskforce will create and disband subgroups where appropriate.
  3. Taskforce members will highlight any perceived or real conflicts of interest to the chair or secretariat.

Meetings

  1. The Decommissioning and Repurposing Taskforce meetings will be held at least once every two months.
  2. Attendance is strongly encouraged. Members may nominate a suitable replacement to attend a meeting only if they are unable to attend.
  3. The NSTA will provide secretariat support.
  4. Decommissioning and Repurposing Taskforce members should submit any pre-read materials 5 working days prior to meetings to enable the secretariat to issue these to the group a minimum of 3 workings days prior to the meetings.

If you wish to contact the Task Force please email us at correspondence@nstauthority.co.uk