Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what guidance the Oil and Gas Authority provides to drilling companies on the decommissioning of semi-submersible drilling rigs.

Mobile drilling rigs are legally classified as ships and subject to shipping regulations. The waste arising from the decommissioning or dismantling of a drilling rig in the UK must be managed in accordance with the environmental permit requirements at the location where decommissioning takes place. Guidance is available from the relevant environmental agency. The Oil and Gas Authority does not provide guidance on the decommissioning of semi-submersible drilling rigs.