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<p>The regulatory framework has provisions in place to ensure wells can be decommissioned
with no need for on-going attention.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the petroleum licensing
process, and prior to awarding a licence, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) assesses
whether a company has adequate financial capacity for its planned operations. The
OGA also checks at the drilling and, where relevant, production stage that the company
has sufficient funding and appropriate insurance.</p><p> </p><p>From the outset a
shale gas operator is required to design and construct an oil and gas well with a
view to its safe decommissioning. HSE specialist inspectors scrutinise these plans
to ensure the well can be abandoned safely.</p><p> </p><p>At the end of the life of
a well, The Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction, etc.) Regulations
1996 requires all oil and gas wells to be abandoned in such a way that there can be
no escape of fluids from the well or from the reservoir associated with it, so far
as is reasonably practicable.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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