NSTA shortens process for North Sea supply chain submissions

Offshore staff

LONDON — Britain’s North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has developed a new digital platform designed to support the supply chain.

Offshore operators will be invited to use this online portal to submit and update supply chain action plans (SCAPs) containing information on their contracting activities.

The SCAPs process started in January 2018 after an NSTA study showed that engagement issues with suppliers were impacting timely delivery and costs of North Sea projects.

Operators use SCAPs to demonstrate they are collaborating with suppliers, including sharing project information and details of their upcoming tenders.  

SCAPs, which are mandatory for all new field development and decommissioning projects, help the NSTA monitor changes in costs, identify gaps in supply chain capability and promote best practice.

Previously, submitting a SCAP via a paper or electronic form involved an estimated eight hours of continuous work on the part of the delegated operator staff member, the NSTA said, with further updates required later.

With the new service, the NSTA has removed the requirement to also include information available in field development plans or decommissioning programs, which should shorten the process to about 4 hours in total.

Plus, the new, centralized system should make it easier for the NSTA to track the status of SCAPs and select data for analysis using visualization software.

Finally, the tool should help the NSTA track progress against the North Sea industry’s commitment to ensure at least half its expenditure on energy transition and decommissioning projects goes to UK supply chain companies by 2030.

06.06.2023