A steering group of offshore companies working together to explore opportunities to maximise remaining gas reserves in the Southern North Sea (SNS) has been appointed.

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 the Oil & Gas Authority (OGA), Oil & Gas UK and the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR).

The SIG's remit is wide - seeking to maximise 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 standardised 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.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Leona Minellas
Communications Manager
Oil & Gas Authority
Tel: +44 (0) 300 020 1072

Email: leona.minellas@nstauthority.co.uk

Notes to editors:

  • EEEGR is the industry association for energy in the East of England, representing over 350 members across the supply chain. It is a non-profit, business-led group committed to the sustained development of the energy sector in the region and the continued success of its members
  • The OGA recently published the UKCS Unsanctioned Discoveries Information Pack which references the small pools reserves in the Southern North Sea 
  • Image reference: Centrica Cygnus Alpha Installation Phase 2, blocks 44/12a and 44/11a of the Southern North Sea