OGA Unveils Research on Offshore Decarbonisation

The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has published research on how the UK’s offshore oil and gas operations can be better integrated with renewables and reduce carbon emissions.

In its UKCS Energy Integration: Interim Findings report, released on December 17, the OGA evaluates the first phase of the UKCS Energy Integration project, which it is working on with the UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis), the Crown Estate and Ofgem. It is based on findings from Lloyd’s Register on how oil and gas assets can be used for carbon capture and storage (CCS), hydrogen generation, transport and storage and renewable energy production.

“Multiple offshore integration concepts are technically feasible and would be viable options for helping to lower the oil and gas industry’s carbon footprint and decarbonising the UK economy,” the upstream regulator said.

Concepts under discussion include powering platforms using low-carbon electricity such as offshore wind farms and gas-to-wire (GtW), which involves generating power from gas offshore and then transmitting the electricity to shore using existing wind farm cables. CCS is “essential” for decarbonising the UK, and the country’s offshore offers “very significant” storage potential, the regulator said.

North Sea facilities can also be used to produce, transport and store hydrogen, according to the OGA. It can be produced either through natural gas reforming or electrolysis using renewables such as wind.

The second phase of the UKCS Energy Integration project comprises an economic and regulatory assessment of carbon-reduction methods, due for completion in the second quarter of 2020. The project is funded with a grant from the Better Regulation Executive’s Regulators’ Pioneer Fund.