Consultation outcome

Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) projects: re-use of oil and gas assets

This consultation has concluded

Download the full outcome

Re-use of oil and gas assets for carbon capture, usage and storage projects - government response

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Detail of outcome

The response identifies:

  • opportunities and barriers to the re-use of oil and gas assets for CO2 transport and storage to facilitate the deployment of CCUS at scale
  • oil and gas assets expected to have the greatest re-use potential for CCUS projects
  • where further work will be done, in partnership with industry and regulators, to develop guidance on the technical feasibility and requirements for re-using oil and gas assets, and on the handling of decommissioning liabilities

Detail of feedback received

We received 35 responses to the consultation, broken down into the following groups:

  • oil and gas and industrial sectors (12)
  • trade bodies and industry associations (6)
  • academia (including individuals) and professional bodies (8)
  • consultancy groups (7)
  • UK devolved administrations (2)

Respondents were generally supportive of the initial proposals for the types of infrastructure with the greatest re-use potential, work to address barriers to the transfer of assets, and on proposals for the preservation of suitable assets to allow for future re-use in CCUS projects.


Original consultation

Summary

We're seeking views on the re-use of oil and gas assets for carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) projects.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

In the CCUS deployment pathway: action plan, we committed:

  • to complete a process to identify existing oil and gas infrastructure that has the potential for re-use for carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS)
  • to develop a policy on this

We’re seeking views on this infrastructure and the associated policy proposals to:

  • introduce a discretionary power for the Secretary of State to remove the decommissioning liability from previous oil and gas asset owners if assets are transferred to CCUS projects
  • change policy and guidance documents to encourage owners and operators of oil and gas assets to propose a period of suspension prior to decommissioning

This consultation is of particular interest to:

  • the CCUS industry
  • oil and gas companies
  • groups interested in CCUS

but anyone with an interest in CCUS and its potential role in meeting our net-zero target is welcome to respond.

Documents

Annex A: List of pipelines and stores with potential for re-use for CCUS projects

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Figure 1 - Map of UK offshore infrastructure and potential carbon dioxide storage sites

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Published 22 July 2019
Last updated 17 August 2020 + show all updates
  1. Government response published.

  2. First published.