Wells Good Practice Guide to Platform Wells Decommissioning (P&A)

This document outlines key insights from an experienced group of practitioners who participated in a cross-industry workshop focused on improving the efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness of platform well plug and abandonment (P&A) operations. It emphasizes the importance of early strategic planning, robust data gathering, and cross-disciplinary alignment with corporate decommissioning goals. Operators are encouraged to define risk strategies, assess rig reactivation versus alternative solutions, and engage the supply chain early.

The report highlights the need for dedicated data mining, especially for legacy wells, and stresses that cold-stacked rig reactivation is rarely successful. It advocates for the adoption of emerging technologies, though uptake remains slow, and calls for collaboration among operators and regulators to support innovation. Personnel retention, safety adaptation, and multiskilling are also addressed as production phases out. Operational efficiency can be improved through preparatory work, SIMOPS coordination, and flexible scheduling. Commercially, simplified contracts and open-book models are recommended, with early involvement of legal and procurement teams. The report concludes with observations on the conservative approach to technology, regulatory challenges, and the potential for multi-operator collaboration to reduce risk and cost in the declining North Sea basin.

Thank you to our collaborators 

Many thanks to the NSTA Wells Task Force Co-chairs: Brenda Wyllie NSTA & Doris Reiter BP for the support plus Jason Smith & Christina Sinclair & Right Scoping Group Chair for workshop conception.

The following organisations assisted the consolidation of the Wells Good Practice Guide to Platform Wells Decommissioning (P&A)

Apache, Baker Hughes, BP, Claxton, CNR, Elemental Energies, Exceed, H&P, Halliburton, Harbour Energy, Hogarth Energy, HSE, Ithaca, NSTA, NZTC, Odfjell Technology, OEUK, Perenco, Petrodec, Petrofac, Repsol, Serica, Shell, SLB, Taqa, Total Energies, Unity, Valaris, Weatherford, Wellsafe Solutions

For further information or to join the Wells Forum groups or NSTA Wells Task Force Sub-groups,  please contact Keith Wise

This publication can be downloaded free of charge.

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