NSTA withdraws requirement to decommission three Cuadrilla wells

Fracking company Cuadrilla applied for consent to keep its two Preston New Road wells and Elswick well on 28 March 2022.

The UK's North Sea Transition Authority, formerly the OGA, has agreed to withdraw the requirement to decommission the wells by the end of June. 

Cuadrilla now have until the end of June next year to evaluate options for the Preston New Road and Elswick sites. If no credible re-use plans are in place by then, the North Sea Transition Authority expects to reimpose decommissioning requirements. 

This comes against a backdrop of energy security questions and considers the time needed to decommission wells.