Unconventional oil and gas: decommissioning, site restoration and aftercare – obligations and treatment of financial liabilities

On 28 January 2015 the Scottish Government announced a moratorium on unconventional oil and gas (UOG).

Scottish Ministers commissioned a series of independent research projects into UOG to examine the potential environmental, health and economic impacts and to inform our evidence-led approach.

The research project into decommissioning, site restoration and aftercare was carried out by AECOM. The research aims were to:

• better understand the steps that can be taken to ensure decommissioning, site restoration and aftercare can be undertaken in a way that ensures robust regulation and minimises impacts on communities and the environment

• identify and explore different models of financial guarantee that provide robust security against liabilities and improve understanding of associated costs