Derogations so far

As at May 2023, eight UKCS structures have received OPRED approvals of derogations, permitting certain items of infrastructure to remain on the seabed post-decommissioning.  This has occurred after consultation with other contracting parties through OSPAR procedures.

These include NW Hutton and Miller, operated by BP, Frigg MCP-01 operated by Total, Murchison and Ninian North, operated by CNR International and Brent structures operated by Shell.

In each case, these operators have made payments to FLTC under the Memorandum of Understanding referred to in the Key Documents section of the website.  This has allowed FLTC’s Investment Fund to grow in size to over £5,000,000.

A number of other installations and pipelines have been identified where applications for derogations are likely to be made to OPRED.  These are cases where the weight of the structure or difficulty in removal could result in consent for assets to be left on the seabed.

Based on current information, possible future candidates for the grant of derogations include:

• 8 structures where decommissioning programmes are likely to be approved in the period to the end of 2024,
• 28 structures where decommissioning programmes are likely to be approved in the period after the start of 2025, and
• Lengths of pipelines which may be permitted to remain on the seabed where these are neither buried nor trenched.

This list is not exhaustive and is kept under regular review.

The receipt of payments from the operators will allow the Investment Fund to grow.  The income from the Fund will enable FLTC to continue its vital work in protecting fishermen from oil/gas related risks in perpetuity.