Decommissioning offshore installations: guidance and associated policy proposals

Overview

Update 15 October

The Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) has extended the deadline for responses to this consultation at the request of stakeholders. The deadline for responses is now 14 November 2025.

The UK Government has prepared draft guidance to provide clarity on how proposals for a derogation from OSPAR Decision 98/3 will be considered. This consultation invites stakeholders’ comments on this draft guidance. It also invites stakeholders’ comments on proposed policy changes on decommissioning offshore oil and gas infrastructure.

Read the consultation document on GOV.UK.

Why your views matter

This consultation will be of particular interest to those who prepare decommissioning programmes for offshore oil and gas installations and pipelines. Given the wider public interest, the draft guidance and policy changes will also be of interest to other stakeholders including but not limited to consultees of decommissioning programmes.

What happens next

We will review the consultation responses to the questions on the Draft Supplementary Guidance on the methodology for considering applications for a derogation from OSPAR Decision 98/3. We will consider the responses and any impact highlighted and will work with industry organisations and other relevant stakeholders to further explain our intentions before updating the guidance, which we expect to publish in Spring 2026.

We will also review the consultation responses to the questions on the proposed policy changes. These will be used to update the Offshore Oil and Gas Decommissioning Guidance Notes by Spring 2026.