OGA asks UK offshore sector to step up emissions response

March 16, 2021
Britain’s Oil and Gas Authority has unveiled its ‘Stewardship Expectation 11 – Net Zero’ strategy.

Offshore staff

LONDON – Britain’s Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has unveiled its ‘Stewardship Expectation 11 – Net Zero’ strategy.

This explains how the oil and gas industry should reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to support delivery of the UK’s net zero ambition.

In 2016 the OGA introduced a set of Stewardship Expectations following consultations with industry, to provide clarity to offshore operators on expected behaviors and good practices. The new Expectation, the eleventh in the set, addresses the need to:

  • Create a culture of GHG emissions reduction across the UK continental shelf
  • Ensure that reducing GHG emissions is considered throughout the oil and gas lifecycle
  • Promote collaboration between all relevant parties to support potential energy integration schemes, i.e. for electrification, carbon capture and storage and hydrogen.

Last month the OGA revised Strategy came into force, requiring the industry to operate in line with net zero ambitions, lowering production emissions and progressing net zero-compatible solutions.

The Authority plans to monitor performance via an annual stewardship survey, performance benchmarking and tier reviews.

Scott Robertson, director of Operations at the OGA, said the Expectation “is an opportunity for the whole industry to see what the OGA is looking for consistently across every operator…

“At a time when the industry’s social license to operate is under threat, understanding and adopting good practice emissions reduction actions will help industry play its role in an orderly energy transition…

“This Expectation brings to life the practical, tangible actions operators must take to implement our revised Strategy into their everyday work.”

03/16/2021