The pipelines, which were used to export oil and gas from the Miller installation, have been flushed clear of hydrocarbons. The Miller Oil Export line (PL720) is being left in place for potential future use.
A detailed decommissioning programme contains proposals for dealing with the topsides, jacket, drill cuttings pile and subsea infrastructure in close proximity to the platform. This is available to view or download below. The UK Government approved the decommissioning programme in December 2013. All removals works associated with this decommissioning programme have been completed, with post-decommissioning requirements remaining.
The OSPAR consultation phase completed in 2011 and Government approval for derogation was received in early-2013. The rationale for the Miller jacket proposals can be viewed in the Miller decommissioning programme below.
The Miller field is situated 270 kilometres northeast of Aberdeen, in Blocks 16/7b and 16/8b, in the Central North Sea. bp is the field operator and partners are Harbour Energy and Shell.
Miller field wells were decommissioned between 2007 and 2009. In 2016, Petrofac was awarded a duty holder services contract, to support the late-life management of the platform as field operator. The jacket and topsides facilities were removed in 2017/2018, with onshore disposal completed in 2019. Subsea structures, debris and spoolpieces were removed in 2023/24.
bp remains the licence owner for Miller and, along with partners, is progressing the decommissioning for the infield pipelines (PL722, PL1971, PLU1972 and the spool crossing frame and outboard SSIV flange). The current decommissioning programme excludes the export pipeline (PL720) to St Fergus as this is currently under possible reuse considerations for carbon capture and storage by third parties. PL720 continues to be managed under an Interim Pipeline Regime (IPR).