The UK offshore industry is gearing up for a key dialogue at Offshore Energies UK’s HSE 2026 Conference, to be held on February 25 in Aberdeen. Under the theme “Trust. Transparency. Transformation.”, the meeting will put the UK Government’s 2025 Future of the North Sea Plan, unveiled by the UK Government, at the center of the debate.
The North Sea Future Plan and its strategic implementation
The initial session will be devoted to exploring the integrated vision of the North Sea. North Seawhere the co-location of offshore wind, oil and gas platforms, and carbon capture and storage systems (CCUS) is proposed as a strategy for a secure, orderly and sustainable energy transition. This vision was outlined by the Department of Energy Security and Zero Net Emissions (DESNZ), with an emphasis on maintaining existing production without new exploration licenses.
Mark Wilson, Director of HSE and Operations at OEUK, stressed that harmonized standards, clear technical guidance and effective data sharing will be essential to implement the Blueprint for the Future of the North Sea. OEUK seeks to foster an environment where operators, regulators and experts are involved from early stages to facilitate energy cohabitation aligned with the Plan for the Future of the North Sea that meets safety and environmental objectives.
The conference will include parallel sessions focused on aspects such as mental health in offshore environments, operational excellence in safety, measurement of methane emissions and regulation in marine protected areas. It will also discuss, within the framework of the Plan for the Future of the North SeaThe role of transitional energy certificates as tools to make the most of existing infrastructures without expanding new fields will also be analyzed within the framework of the Plan for the Future of the North Sea.
Diversity, regulation and the future of offshore work
Closing will be Mark McBride-Wright, CEO of EqualEngineers, who will address diversity and inclusion in the industry. Along with representatives from TotalEnergies, Harbour Energy, CNOOC and Bureau Veritas, expect a rich discussion on emerging roles in a basin that is redefining itself for the coming decades.
In addition, institutions such as the University of Aberdeen and the Crown Estate will provide academic and regulatory perspectives on the adaptation of the North Sea to the context of decarbonization. decarbonization and operational efficiency.
With an agenda focused on transforming offshore management models, OEUK positions this conference as a meeting point to catalyze structural change in the way UK waters are operated and planned.
Source: OEUK
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