Title : Unlocking UKCS potential through collaborative well interventions
Abstract:
Well interventions remain a critical lever for sustaining production and extending asset life in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS), particularly as the basin faces declining output and the challenge of achieving net zero. Interventions are faster, cheaper, and emit fewer greenhouse gases than drilling new wells, yet activity has continued to decline, with only 425 interventions recorded in 2024. Despite this trend, interventions delivered 37.5 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) last year at an average cost of £9.60 per barrel, compared to a Brent price of £63.10 per boe—highlighting their economic and environmental value.
To address this decline, the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) initiated a collaborative campaign in late 2024, bringing eight operators and supply chain partners together to reassess shut-in and plugged wells. From an initial pool of 220 wells, 196 were identified as viable candidates for reinstatement. By October 2025, 56 wells had been successfully intervened, adding over eight million boe back into UKCS production. This outcome demonstrates the significant potential of collaborative approaches to unlock stranded value.
The campaign also revealed opportunities for efficiency gains through geographic clustering, shared logistics, and subsea campaigning. Intervention costs for certain categories were as low as £1–£5 per barrel, reinforcing the competitive advantage of well work compared to new drilling. However, challenges remain, including infrastructure constraints, data gaps, and the need for greater alignment between operators and service companies.
Building on this success, the NSTA plans to replicate the initiative across the remaining UKCS operators, leveraging data-driven stewardship and collaborative forums to drive continuous improvement. This paper outlines the methodology, results, and lessons learned from the campaign, and calls for industry-wide adoption of collaborative intervention strategies to maximize recovery, reduce emissions, and support the energy transition.
