New figures have revealed that some North Sea operators have put off decommissioning oil and gas wells for more than 50 years.
The data from the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) comes as the regulator seeks to crack down on companies deferring decommissioning wells, which would otherwise create work for the crisis-hit supply chain.
Perenco and Chrysaor are responsible for the two oldest wells, sitting idle for more than half a century, however neither firm responded to requests for comment.
There are a total of 186 open water exploration and appraisal (E and A) wells in the sector, with an average age of nearly 25 years.
The OGA said it wants to see a“marked improvement”in the timing and cost of decommissioning these wells, though the stats have also brought into question the regulatory regime in the UK.
