Scoter and Merganser
Shell U.K. Ltd has taken the decision to decommission the Scoter and Merganser installations, and associated subsea infrastructure, having received Regulator approval 21st September 2022.
Scoter and Merganser are two normal pressure and temperature gas-condensate subsea tie-backs to the Shearwater Cluster located in Block 22/30a of the Central North Sea.
Scoter was discovered in 1989 and began production in March 2004, originally from two wells with a third added in August 2006. Merganser was discovered in 1995 and began production in December 2006 from two wells. The Scoter and Merganser fields have been operational as gas-condensate producing fields since 2004 and 2006 respectively. Hydrocarbons from the three Scoter wells and two Merganser wells are produced via the Shell-operated Shearwater Cluster. The Scoter and Merganser fields have exceeded their economic and technical limit. On 9 July 2020, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA, now the North Sea Transition Authority) formally approved the Cessation of Production from both Scoter and Merganser fields “on or after 31 August 2020”. The fields formally ceased production on 17 December 2020.
Scoter and Merganser Decommissioning Programmes
On 4 April 2022, Shell U.K. Limited submitted, for the consideration of the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the draft Decommissioning Programmes for the Scoter and Merganser Fields in accordance with the provisions of the Petroleum Act 1998. It is a requirement of the Act that interested parties be consulted on such decommissioning proposals.
Scoter and Merganser are two normal pressure and temperature gas-condensate subsea tie-backs to the Shearwater Cluster, located in Block 22/30a of the Central North Sea. The Fields are 230km and 226km from the nearest UK shoreline respectively. The items / facilities covered by the Decommissioning Programmes are:
- Installations and subsea infrastructure associated with the Scoter Field, comprising of the Scoter Manifold, Scoter Production Pipeline, Scoter Umbilical and associated tie-in spools, jumpers and stabilisation features.
- Installations and subsea infrastructure associated with the Merganser Field, comprising of the Merganser Manifold, Scoter Manifold Extension Structure, Merganser Production Pipeline, Merganser Umbilical and associated tie-in spools, jumpers and stabilisation features.
Public Consultation of the Scoter and Merganser Decommissioning Programmes opened on 4 April 2022 and closed 6 May 2022. Following Public Consultation, the DPs have now been approved by BEIS
For any queries please email SUKEP-Shell-Decommissioning-Correspondence@shell.com
The final, approved DPs and supporting Environmental Appraisal and Comparative Assessment are available for download below. The Scoter and Merganser DPs are also available on the BEIS website. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/oil-and-gas-decommissioning-of-offshore-installations-and-pipelines
The Scoter and Merganser DPs are also available on the BEIS website. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/oil-and-gas-decommissioning-of-offshore-installations-and-pipelines
