Only a few operators (eight out of 46) are reporting in this category but, for those that do, they include:
Access systems, such as walk-to-work and modular deck extensions to increase deck space and “energy pods” for lighthouse mode using renewables.
New this year is post-decommissioning monitoring via autonomous underwater vehicles.
Shaped charges to cut subsea tie-rods, topsides deployed ROVs to remove conductor anodes, and diver-less riser/pipeline separation by ROV.
Growing use of digital solutions is noted, including for predictive decommissioning modelling, scheduling and optimisation.
Facilities decommissioning technologies
- Operators’ technology focus spreads across the entire decommissioning cycle, encompassing asset late-life management, work planning, topsides removal and subsea decommissioning.
- The number or decommissioning technologies reported are slightly down on last year, although more assets are in the late life stage. In 2025 there are only eight operators reporting technologies in this area.
As decommissioning is a relatively new field, at least on the scope and scale it has recently reached in the UKCS, it is not surprising to see that operators are targeting innovative and emerging technologies (over 50% of the entries)
Operators seek to participate in decommissioning technology development and adoption, complementing the vendors’ efforts (circa 40% of technologies)
Readiness definitions: Early development (TRL 1-4), late development/pilot (TRL 5-7), early commercialisation (TRL 8), proven (TRL 9)
Operator focus remains on alternative power generation technologies, power generation efficiency improvements and peak load management to reduce emissions during late life and decommissioning phases. Also access systems such as walk-to-work to allow decommissioning personnel to have accommodation in the field without adding to platform headcount, bespoke subsea tooling. No new technologies this year.
- Transportable, autonomous energy container: Combining wind turbine, solar panels and battery storage for use on platforms in lighthouse mode.
- TRL 9 commercially available
- TRL 9 commercially available
- Emission reduction action plan tool: Portfolio of prioritised equipment and plant modifications to improve efficiency, reduced power and/or flaring and venting in a drive to reduce offshore scope 1 GHG emissions in-line with industry targets.
- TRL 9 commercially available
- TRL 9 commercially available
- Walk to work modular gangway: Fully connected gangway from CSV to platform in northern North Sea providing walk to work capability.
- TRL 9 commercially available
- TRL 9 commercially available
- Peak load management to reduce emissions: Utilising load bank and battery technology to manage peak load and reduce need for higher emission diesel driven power generation.
- TRL 9 commercially available
- TRL 9 commercially available
- Wellhead retrieval clamp: ROV deployed, horizontal access, non-hydraulic clamp for subsea wellhead removal.
- TRL 8 early commercialisation
- TRL 8 early commercialisation
- Novel subsea tooling suite: Development of bespoke decom support tooling through specialist contractor.
- TRL 8 early commercialisation
- Variable buoyancy system for subsea operations: To deploy tooling at significant excursion from marine crane (alternative to air bags).
- TRL 5-7 late development/pilot
Innovations include standard grillage design and cutting technologies taken from well abandonment deployed for topsides dismantling and two-part conductor removals on GBS structures, direct load in of jackets, and modular deck extensions to increase deck space for well P&A and decommissioning. New this year are barge base jacket dismantling and conductor removals within a single jacket lift.
- Barge-based jacket dismantling: Loaded onto a barge and dismantled on the barge at the dismantling yard, at potentially lower cost.
- TRL 9 commercially available (NEW)
- TRL 9 commercially available (NEW)
- Direct load-in of jackets: To decommissioning yard, removing the need for prior transfer.
- TRL 9 commercially available (NEW)
- TRL 9 commercially available (NEW)
- Standard grillage design: To enable reuse for multiple jackets, providing economies of scale for multiple scopes to single contractor.
- TRL 9 commercially available
- TRL 9 commercially available
- Piece small destruct: Use of a gin pole was to remove the top section of a derrick.
- TRL 9 commercially available
- TRL 9 commercially available
- Deballasting jacket removal: To enable removal via a single lift. De-ballast leg tanks and inject air to displace water, to give the jacket additional buoyancy to allow it to be upended and removed in the horizontal.
- TRL 9 commercially available
- TRL 9 commercially available
- Conductor removals within a single jacket lift: Lifting multiple conductor strings secured within a single jacket lift.
- TRL 8 early commercialisation
Technology Example:
Modular Deck: Construction and maintenance programmes demand bespoke methods of access that deliver optimum levels of safety and efficiency. QuikDeck® can be built in the air, or on the ground and then hoisted into location.
- Modular deck extensions: Modular alternative access system which gives increased deck space for decommissioning and well P&A activities.
- TRL 8 early commercialisation
- TRL 8 early commercialisation
- Conductor recovery cutter: Tool to shear multiple string casings at surface, rather than traditional methods.
- TRL 8 early commercialisation (NEW)
- TRL 8 early commercialisation (NEW)
- Two-part conductor removals: For GBS structures, conductors separated, and the upper sections recovered with a topsides single lift, the free-standing lower sections recovered later from a construction vessel.
- TRL 8 early commercialisation
Operators have adopted crane deployed utility ROVs with specific decommissioning tooling skids, diverless riser/pipeline separation by ROV tooling, also now being considered for structure recovery, remote cell access for removal of attic oil in GBS structures, piece large conductor recovery and navigational aids for unmanned platforms. New this year is underwater laser cutting.
- Attic oil removal: Remote cell access for gravity-based structures.
- TRL 9 commercially available
- TRL 9 commercially available
- Piece large conductor removal via heavy-lift vessel: Section cut and pulled through conductor support frame.
- TRL 9 commercially available
- TRL 9 commercially available
- ROV decom tooling system: Crane deployed ROV with a multipurpose skid which can be adapted for all sorts of subsea decommissioning.
- TRL 9 commercially available
Technology Example:
Utility ROV Services: Swiss army knife ROV based decommissioning tool skid, de-burial of assets, recovery of concrete mattresses, cutting and recovery of pipeline, spools and flexibles, clearance of debris and burial of exposed pipeline ends.
Technology example link
- Flexible riser disconnections: To cut flexible risers safely and efficiently to enable the removal of adjacent topsides.
- TRL 9 commercially available
- TRL 9 commercially available
- Use of shaped charges: Specialised vendor to cut tie rods.
- TRL 9 commercially available
- TRL 9 commercially available
- Navigational aids for unmanned platform: Solar powered with remote monitoring after the topsides is downmanned.
- TRL 9 commercially available
- TRL 9 commercially available
- Novel subsea tooling suite: Development of bespoke decom support tooling through specialist contractor.
- TRL 8 early commercialisation
- Underwater laser cutting: Efficient and effective subsea cutting for cost-efficient and safe decommissioning. An alternative to diamond wire cutting.
- TRL 5-7 late development/pilot (NEW)
- TRL 5-7 late development/pilot (NEW)
- Crane-free decommissioning: Use of an anchor handler’s winch for recovering small structures (up to circa 200-300Te) and then transporting them to shore by towing.
- TRL 1-4 early development
Operators are challenging conventional thinking by looking at the impact on the environment of removal activities compared with benefits and risks of “leave in place”. Also included are energy efficient solutions to protect installations without guard vessels, and low-carbon solutions for power generation, monitoring and communications. New this year is post-decommissioning monitoring via autonomous underwater vehicles. No new technologies this year.
- Cardinal buoys in lieu of guard vessels: To mark partially decommissioned structures as a safe, cost-efficient alternative.
- TRL 9 commercially available
- Topsides cell access: Bespoke ROV tooling to intervene on previously inaccessible pipework inside base of concrete legs to recover potential trapped hydrocarbons.
- TRL 5-7 late development/pilot
- TRL 5-7 late development/pilot
- Post decommissioning monitoring via autonomous vehicles: High resolution camera-equipped autonomous underwater vehicles to better understand end-of-life oil fields.
- TRL 5-7 late development/pilot
- TRL 5-7 late development/pilot
- Navaid: GBS structure leg height after topsides lift will be circa 8m, which is too low for a conventional GBS navaid. Base case option is to install an additional concrete tower but marine buoys will be investigated as an alternative.
- TRL 1-4 early development
Innovations include digital technologies such as predictive decommissioning modelling, scheduling and optimisation. Emerging technology includes development of a haptic hand user interface to control large robotic systems in decommissioning. New this year is an opportunities and threats software tool.
- Predictive decommissioning modelling: Analytics tools to provide a mathematical model to provide decision makers with a near real-time "what if?" scenario decision making capability.
- TRL 9 commercially available
Technology Example:
LoneStar Deepwater provides experienced project leads to manage or support every phase of the decommissioning and abandonment of existing offshore facilities.
- Software for decom scheduling and optimisation: To assess removal options, suitability of equipment and optimise plans.
- TRL 5-7 late development/pilot
- TRL 5-7 late development/pilot
- Haptic hand: Provides an effective and intuitive user interface to control large robotic systems used in the decommissioning process.
- TRL 1-4 early development
Operators are reporting novel technologies in waste management and recycling, including explosive collapse of structures to reduce height for improved access by remote machinery. Emerging technologies include digital waste management and tracking, and conversion of recovered concrete mattresses into advanced paving systems for onshore re-use. New this year is jacket marine growth re-use as a soil fertiliser/conditioner.
- Jacket marine growth re-use: Treatment of marine growth recovered from removed jacket and conversion into soil fertiliser/conditioner.
- TRL 9 commercially available (NEW)
- TRL 9 commercially available (NEW)
- Explosive collapse of structures: Using explosive technology to reduce the height of structures delivered onshore for dismantling. The technology can reduce working at height risk and facilitate access by remote machinery to safely progress dismantling work.
- TRL 9 commercially available
- TRL 9 commercially available
- Conversion of concrete mattresses into advanced permeable paving systems for storm-water management by taking a circular economy approach and helping to alleviate flooding across the UK.
- TRL 8 early commercialisation
