The Oil & Gas Technology Centre has launched its first Call for Ideas, inviting innovative technology concepts and ideas to change the way that offshore hydro-carbon wells are plugged and abandoned.

The centre will invest around £1 million in a portfolio of projects resulting from this initiative.

Malcolm Banks, the Centre’s well construction specialist, said: “We are looking for innovative concepts that will have a material impact on this transformation, with three specific themes: modelling the probability of hydrocarbon flow to the surface; verification of permanent barriers; and new and alternative methodologies and barriers.

“Over the next decade, 1,400 wells are forecast to be abandoned on the UK Continental Shelf, at a cost of around £7 billion, creating a significant burden for the industry and UK tax-payers.

“Reducing the costs of drilling, maintaining and abandoning wells is a key priority for the Centre. A significant opportunity exists to reduce well plug and abandonment costs through ‘rigless’ methodologies. We will welcome submissions until 11 June.”