Environmental Consultancy for Oil and Gas Decommissioning Projects

We support operators and project teams in defining the environmental evidence needed for offshore decommissioning. By reviewing existing information, identifying evidence gaps and developing proportionate survey, modelling and monitoring requirements, we help establish a clear environmental basis for decommissioning planning and regulatory engagement.

How we can help:

• Review and interpretation of existing environmental evidence, including historical survey, monitoring and ROV inspection data
• Environmental evidence-gap and uncertainty assessment
• Development of project-specific environmental evidence strategies, informed by ecological and decommissioning expertise
• Baseline survey scoping and design, including ROV and AUV assessments
• High-resolution 3D habitat mapping, biomass estimation and biodiversity analysis
• Oceanographic and dispersal modelling to support evidence planning
• Environmental monitoring programme design, including marine growth and non-native species monitoring
• Computer vision and AI for automated organism detection and marine growth assessment, supported by machine-learning models trained on UK species
• Repeatable marine growth monitoring, mapping and hotspot prediction
• Cost-effective and scalable approaches to long-term environmental monitoring
• Environmental data and insight to support maintenance planning and operational efficiencies
• Scientific input to regulatory submissions, compliance requirements and environmental assurance

We establish the ecological conditions associated with offshore infrastructure and the surrounding seabed before decommissioning begins. This provides a robust baseline for assessing potential removal effects, defining mitigation and monitoring requirements, and evaluating environmental change after decommissioning.

How we can help:

• Pre-removal surveys and assessment of surrounding habitats, seabed condition and biodiversity, using remote and robotic methods where appropriate
• Ecological characterisation of platforms and associated offshore infrastructure
• Marine-growth and biofouling assessment using ROV imagery or purpose-designed surveys, including identification, distribution, biomass and biovolume estimation
• AI-based image analysis, machine learning and 3D photogrammetry to support high-resolution habitat mapping and marine-growth assessment
• Non-native species assessment and biosecurity advice
• eDNA surveys and analysis of surrounding marine communities
• Environmental evidence to inform infrastructure handling and marine-growth management during decommissioning

We assess how proposed offshore decommissioning activities may affect marine wildlife, seabed habitats, biodiversity and the wider marine environment. Our evidence supports impact assessment and the development of proportionate mitigation and monitoring measures.

How we can help:

• Environmental Impact Assessment support and impact analysis
• Assessment of infrastructure removal and seabed disturbance
• Benthic habitat and biodiversity impact assessment
• Marine mammal impact assessment
• Underwater sound modelling and assessment
• Oceanographic and dispersal modelling
• Assessment of the environmental implications of marine growth removal and management
• Assessment of non-native species and biosecurity risks
• Mitigation and monitoring advice
• Technical input to regulatory submissions
• Responses to regulator and statutory consultee questions
• Assessment of drill cuttings and legacy seabed impacts

We monitor environmental change following decommissioning to assess how seabed habitats, biodiversity and ecological communities respond over time. By comparing post-decommissioning findings with pre-removal baselines, we provide evidence to evaluate recovery, identify unexpected changes and inform further monitoring or management measures.

How we can help:

• Post-decommissioning seabed, habitat and biodiversity surveys, compared with pre-removal baselines
• eDNA surveys and molecular analysis
• Monitoring and ecological recovery
• Non-native species assessment
• Sediment condition and water-quality monitoring
• Remote and real-time environmental monitoring using robotics, autonomous platforms and sensors
• AI-based image analysis and habitat classification
• Oceanographic and dispersal modelling to interpret environmental change
• Long-term environmental monitoring programme design
• Environmental data analysis and interpretation
• Independent evaluation and reporting of environmental outcomes

We work with operators, regulators and research partners to investigate environmental questions where the existing evidence does not provide a clear answer. Collaborative research generates new knowledge, methods and datasets that can be applied to decommissioning planning, environmental assessment and long-term monitoring.

How we can help:

• Applied research into emerging decommissioning issue
• Investigation of environmental evidence gaps and uncertainty
• Research design, data collection and scientific analysis
• Studies comparing the environmental outcomes of different decommissioning approaches
• Ecological, taxonomic, molecular and culture-based research into marine growth and infrastructure ecology
• Research into natural recovery and ecosystem responses following decommissioning
• Research into long-term environmental monitoring and evidence requirements
• Research to inform environmental policy, standards and regulatory guidance
• Industry, regulatory and academic research partnerships
• Research programmes and joint research proposals and public funding applications

We work with operators, technology developers and project partners to improve how environmental information is collected, analysed and used to inform potential e decommissioning pathways. Our work covers developing and validating monitoring methods, data-analysis approaches, and new tools and technologies for offshore applications.

How we can help:

• Design, development and validation of environmental monitoring methods, technologies, sensors, and autonomous systems
• AI-powered environmental data and image analysis processing, interpretation and validation
• Field trials, performance testing, scientific validation and support for commercial deployment of new environmental monitoring solutions

We provide regulators and statutory bodies with independent scientific advice for offshore decommissioning decisions. Alongside reviewing and interpreting existing evidence, we design and undertake targeted research where evidence gaps, uncertainty or new environmental questions require further investigation.

How we can help:

• Independent review of environmental evidence, assessments and regulatory submissions
• Evidence-gap and uncertainty assessment
• Scientific comparison of the environmental implications of different decommissioning approaches
• Research design and commissioning support for priority evidence needs
• Targeted research into new and unresolved decommissioning questions
• Analysis and interpretation of environmental monitoring results
• Review of mitigation and monitoring proposals
• Independent evaluation of new monitoring methods and technologies
• Independent evaluation and verification of environmental outcomes
• Scientific advice to inform regulatory requirements and conditions
• Scientific evidence and advice to inform policy, standards and guidance
• Development and delivery of regulatory evidence programmes