• Operators must consider greenhouse gas reduction at every stage of oil & gas lifecycle
  • New Expectation cements revised OGA Strategy into operators’ everyday activities

 

The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has today (15 March 2021) launched its ‘Stewardship Expectation 11 – Net Zero’ setting out how the oil and gas industry should reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and support delivery of the UK’s net zero target.

In 2016 the OGA introduced a set of Stewardship Expectations across the oil and gas lifecycle. These were designed in consultation with industry, to give operators and licensees clarity on expected behaviours and good practices. The new Expectation is the 11th in the set and focuses on the following areas:

  • Creating a culture of GHG emissions reduction within the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS)
  • Ensuring that GHG emissions reduction is considered throughout the entire oil and gas lifecycle
  • Collaboration between all relevant parties to support and progress potential energy integration developments (such as electrification, carbon capture and storage and hydrogen)

In February 2021 the OGA’s revised Strategy came into force, now requiring industry to operate in a way consistent with net zero ambitions, lowering production emissions and making progress on the solutions that can contribute to the UK achieving net zero. 

With this new Expectation in place, operators must demonstrate - at every stage of the lifecycle - a commitment to reducing greenhouse gases, and the OGA will monitor performance closely through an annual stewardship survey, performance benchmarking and tier reviews.

Scott Robertson, Director of Operations at the OGA, said: “Development of this Stewardship Expectation drew on the OGA’s knowledge of many of the good practices parts of industry are already implementing.  However, the Expectation is an opportunity for the whole industry to see what the OGA is looking for consistently across every operator - in the interests of the UKCS playing its part in helping the country deliver net zero. At a time when the industry’s social licence to operate is under threat, understanding and adopting good practice emissions reduction actions will help industry play its role in an orderly energy transition.

“Our Stewardship Expectations have been tried and tested over the years, and this latest addition is another step on the OGA’s journey of integrating net zero into everything we do. This Expectation brings to life the practical, tangible actions operators must take to implement our revised Strategy into their everyday work.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

  1. A revised Strategy from the Oil & Gas Authority, featuring a range of new net zero obligations for the UK oil and gas industry, came into force in February 2021.
  2. Stewardship Expectations are an integral element in the OGA’s Asset Stewardship Strategy, with continued strong linkage between them and Tiered Reviews, the Annual Survey and Benchmarking.

For further information please contact:

Chrissie Innes, Communications Manager

Tel: +44 (0) 300 020 1072

Email: pressoffice@nstauthority.co.uk