Shell Brent Statement

Shell is committed to removing and recycling the four topsides from the Brent Field (Brent Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta).  Brent Alpha has a steel jacket, and under UK regulations the upper portion of the steel jacket must be removed. A Comparative Assessment (CA) process was carried out on the footings which anchor the structure to the seabed. The difficulty in removing older structures weighing more than 10,000 tonnes is recognised by OSPAR, and following the CA the recommendation will be to leave the jacket footings in place, due to the engineering challenge and broader concerns associated with their removal.

The CA is a detailed process that weighs up the pros and cons of various decommissioning options against the key criteria of balancing safety risks, the technical feasibility, societal impact on other users of the sea, the longer term environmental impacts and the costs.

Shell has conducted CA for the Alpha jacket, the Gravity Base Structures (GBS), drill cuttings, pipelines, and cell content.  The objective is to show, on balance, which options provide the best solutions.

Each of Brent’s 3 GBS comprise of giant concrete legs and storage cells at the base, and weigh over 300,000 tonnes.  OSPAR recognises the difficulty in removing these concrete installations and has granted exemptions from removal for other operators of similar structures in the North Sea.  For the GBS there are considerable engineering challenges and safety risks associated with cutting through, lifting and transporting the reinforced concrete legs for removal. In the last decade Shell has thoroughly analysed the options for decommissioning the GBS.  The CAs analysed the options for the legs, such as partial removal, or leaving in place. Studies also investigated the potential ways that the GBS structures could collapse and the possible long term effects. On balance, the recommendation is that the safest and most responsible solution is to leave the GBS in place, marked with a navigation aid and on the FishSAFE database.

The full Brent Field Decommissioning Programme is expected to be submitted to the UK Regulator (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) before the end of 2016 and it and will also be subject to an extended Public Consultation process.

*How confident is Shell in the DP recommendations?*

Shell is confident that the proposals in the DP are safe, technically achievable, financially and socially responsible, and environmentally sound. These recommendations are the result of 10 years of research involving engineering studies, expert input, consultations and scientific assessments.  The engineering and scientific assessments have been objectively reviewed by the Independent Review Group (IRG), a team of leading academics from across Europe, appointed by Professor John Shepherd from Southampton University.  The IRG validates the science and engineering which underpins Shell’s conclusions.  Shell has also developed an Environmental Impact Statement with independent input from DNVGL.

*What is the status of Alpha and Bravo’s decommissioning activities?*

The focus for Alpha and Bravo is on plugging and making safe the wells. This is one of the most significant areas of activity for any decommissioning project, and industry data suggests this typically accounts for 40% or more of all expenditure.