Energy companies have been urged to adopt new guidance aimed at accelerating the rollout of advanced technologies for decommissioning oil and gas wells, as global costs continue to climb.
Developed by the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) in partnership with engineering consultancy Astrimar, the new framework provides an evidence-based process to evaluate whether new materials can safely and permanently seal disused wells.
It comes as the UK and other nations ramp up efforts to reduce both costs and the environmental footprint of ageing energy infrastructure.
The six-step guidance — described as the first of its kind focused specifically on well plug and abandonment (P&A) — is designed to identify risks, build robust evidence, and streamline approvals to hasten the safe deployment of new solutions.
The Aberdeen-based centre said the current pace of technology adoption “remains incredibly slow” even as the scale of the challenge intensifies.
Around 2,000 wells in the North Sea are expected to be decommissioned over the next decade.
Similar challenges are emerging globally, with more than 14,000 unplugged non-producing wells in the Gulf of Mexico and about 7,000 in Asia Pacific awaiting decommissioning by 2030.
Australia’s offshore sector faces a projected US$40.5 billion bill for dismantling over 1,000 wells and related infrastructure over the next 50 years.
NZTC’s framework builds on existing international standards, including DNV RP A203 and API RP 17Q, and incorporates input from operators, regulators, and technology developers.
It forms part of the centre’s Wells Decommissioning Collaboration, which targets a 35 per cent cost reduction and a 50 per cent emissions cut by 2035.
Lewis Harper, programme manager at NZTC, said: “Well decommissioning is an increasingly urgent global issue as maturing basins seek ways to cut costs, reduce emissions and improve efficiency.
“The only way to achieve that is through new technology, but the pace of developing and deploying new solutions remains incredibly slow.
“This guidance will help speed up the safe adoption of innovative technologies, giving operators and regulators the confidence to move faster.”
Harper said the framework’s structured standards will make it easier and more reliable for industry players to adopt new materials, adding that the guidance — developed with input from operators, regulators and industry experts — demonstrates the strength of a collaborative approach.
He said it ensures solutions meet the needs of all stakeholders while supporting faster, safer uptake of innovative technologies, giving the industry greater confidence to address well decommissioning challenges.
The NZTC and Astrimar hope the new framework will help industry stakeholders embrace emerging sealing technologies — such as low melting point alloys, resins, polymers and epoxies — which could ultimately lower financial and environmental risks tied to well closure operations.
