The UK’s North Sea Transition Authority (NTSA) announced the relaunch of the digital wells database with improved functionality and greater flexibility to enhance exploration, production, development, and decommissioning operations.

The Wells Operations Notifications System (WONS) allows a company to submit online applications and notifications for well activity and the North Sea Transition Authority, (NSTA) to give those submissions proper technical scrutiny before issuing consent.

It also has been updated to enable the operators to drill a well bore specifically linked to a carbon storage license. There are over 12,500 wellbores in UK waters of the North Sea, with around 5,500 wells plugged and abandoned.

On this occasion, Nic Granger, NSTA Director of Corporate, said “We have updated the system with the needs of users in mind. It is now much quicker, easier to use and responsive to their real day-to-day requirements. The more accurate and more detailed information it now collects will be very useful in making decisions about potential reuse and repurposing of wells and siting of carbon storage locations.”