Strategy document

The OGA has developed the Technology Strategy in collaboration with industry and the MER UK Boards in support of the MER UK Strategy and OGA Corporate Plan.

It has three aspects:

  • Keep technology priorities of the UK oil and gas industry aligned and focused on the areas of highest value for the UKCS.

  • Support progress in developing, testing and deploying technologies, working closely with the new Oil and Gas Technology Centre (OGTC).

  • Oversee efforts by the industry in technology and innovation via the direct engagement of licence holders on Technology Plans, performance benchmarking, knowledge sharing and technology deployment campaigns, in line with the supporting obligation of the MER UK Strategy.

The OGA has been set up to regulate, influence and promote the UK oil and gas industry and has been provided with a range of new powers to enable it to do so. The development of a series of strategies represents a key step in setting the strategic direction of how the OGA and industry will work together to maximise economic recovery (MER) from the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS) and was one of the core recommendations of the Wood Maximising Recovery Review.

The MER UK Strategy underpins our work and came into force in March 2016. It describes how MER should operate in practice, setting out a legally binding central obligation to take the steps necessary to secure the maximum value of economically recoverable hydrocarbons. It also sets out a range of supporting obligations as well as the required actions and behaviours of collaboration and cost reduction.