A steering group of offshore companies working together to explore opportunities to maximize remaining gas reserves in the Southern North Sea (SNS) has been appointed.
According to UK’s Oil & Gas Authority (OGA), a mix of operators, duty holders, service businesses and supply chain organisations will form the SNS Special Interest Group (SIG) after a flood of applications to be part of the initiative launched by OGA, Oil & Gas UK and the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR).
The SIG’s remit is wide – seeking to maximize economic recovery (MER) of gas reserves for at least another 20 years by identifying new opportunities, including examining the potential for carboniferous gas reserves.
It will also seek to nurture collaboration and co-operation between existing operators, and with offshore wind developers, as well as examining how equipment and processes might be standardized to drive costs down.
Companies selected for the steering group represent regional, national and international interests and were chosen to reflect the spread of the industry following a gap analysis.
Members are: Shell, Oranje-Nassau Energie (ONE), Premier Oil, ENGIE E&P UK, Centrica, ODE, Aker Solutions, James Fisher & Sons, DNVGL, Sembmarine SLP, Baker Hughes, Lloyds Register, Fraser Well Management, Acteon, SSE, and Statoil.
The SIG was launched by Eric Marston , OGA Southern North Sea and Morecambe Bay manager, at EEEGR’s House of Commons reception in October. Its first meeting will take place in December 2016.
Deirdre Michie , chief executive of Oil and Gas UK, said: “Oil and Gas UK recognizes the key role that the SNS gas fields play for UKPLC and we are keen to ensure that our members play a major part in ensuring the future role of these important assets for the nation for generations to come.”
Simon Gray , chief executive of EEEGR, said: “EEEGR is delighted to be working with the OGA and Oil and Gas UK in this vital piece of work. This could assist in securing the future of our industry for the region – protecting jobs and making sure that businesses in our region continue to reap the benefits of this industry.
“We will be providing the secretariat for the SIG and organizing events that stem from the work streams that the SIG identifies.”