Surveys

This year’s survey has been enhanced based on feedback from Operators and Licensees. A detailed report of the changes can be found below and was updated on 22/09/2021

A reminder of the main changes are listed below:

• This year there will be additional section in the survey named ‘GHG Emissions’. The NSTA is collecting data on future greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which will facilitate the estimation of carbon costs to be included in the assessment of economic recoverability of existing and future oil and gas developments. The NSTA is also collecting these data to supplement emissions performance benchmarking to assist in Asset Stewardship engagements and also to monitor the industry’s progress in reducing its GHG emissions.
• All sections will have reviewed section guide notes, including the GHG Emissions.
• Most sections will have improved QC to further enhance data quality – with some requiring clarification comments to try and reduce the correction requests returned.
• Master data (wells, fields, etc) continues to be improved, but still comes with a request for Operator review prior to Survey Launch.

The UKCS Stewardship Survey created a single source of aligned, robust data. Its analysis underpins all aspects of our work. It continues to be used to inform asset stewardship reviews and provide meaningful insights of UKCS fields and hubs, helping to build regional strategies and area plans and aids benchmarking. This approach to data collection also creates a virtuous cycle of data quality improvement over time which was our primary focus for the 2021 launch.

The requests in the UKCS Stewardship Survey are linked to the obligations set out in the Strategy. Areas covered by the survey include:

• Licensing/Exploration and Appraisal
• Reserves & Resources
• Operator activities, including production and costs
• Wells
• Production Efficiency
• Decommissioning
• Technology
• Supply Chain
• GHG Emissions

The 2021 UKCS Stewardship Survey launched on 1^st November 2021 and closed on 25^th February 2022.

Please Note: As in previous years the Activity section closed on 14^th January 2022. This section closes earlier than the rest of the Survey so that up-to-date data can be used to inform the NSTA’s estimates and projections of expenditure and production which it provides to the Office for Budget Responsibility ahead of the Spring Statement.