Wellhead severance charter

The NSTA and operators have launched an initiative to ensure well decommissioning obligations are met, boost the supply chain and potentially deliver significant cost savings.

As announced in August 2026, the NSTA and 17 operators have signed a charter with a set of guiding principles, including working collaboratively to develop a smoother approach to wellhead removals. The signatories will share data, expertise and resources, and identify opportunities to share vessels for this type of work.

The new initiative will ensure best use is being made of the North Sea fleet. Rightly, rigs are being used for the initial subsea well decommissioning phases, which involve plugging wells with cement to prevent leaks. Operators could reduce costs and emissions and save time by making greater use of vessels, instead of rigs, for the final step – removing the wellhead from the seabed.

A new workgroup will support the aim of getting more of these vessels on the move, while also freeing up rigs to conduct earlier stage well decommissioning work. Its members intend to define a pragmatic framework for the delivery of AB3 wellhead severance activities in a cost-effective manner that satisfies regulatory obligations.