Oil & Gas UK welcomes the announcement that the government has published a consultation on a new cluster area allowance to support investment in ultra high pressure, high temperature (uHPHT) oil and gas fields.
Michael Tholen, Oil & Gas UKº£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍø™s economics director, said: "We welcome the announcement by HM Treasury that they have opened a formal consultation on how best to incentivise exploration and investment in the ultra high pressure, high temperature (uHPHT) opportunities on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).
º£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍøœExperience shows, uHPHT fields are technically demanding and commercially difficult to develop, the current tax regime is seen by all to be a barrier to investment. The government will need to work closely with industry to develop a simple allowance which promotes investment in uHPHT, encourages exploration of the surrounding area to fully utilise the potential of any resulting new infrastructure; a complex solution could lead to the wrong outcome.
º£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍøœThe Chancellor has recently launched a separate consultation into the overall fiscal regime for the UKCS and the uHPHT consultation should be seen in the wider context, a fundamental recalibration of the fiscal regime is essential if we are to build on Sir Ian Woodº£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍø™s recommendations to maximise economic recovery and send a strong signal that the UKCS is open for investment.º£½Ç³Ô¹ÏÍø
Adapted from press release by