North Sea, decommissioning; A delicate balancing act. Peter Cameron. Petroleum Review October 2007, P. 14-16

In a mature petroleum province any host government will seek to ensure that it pays the lowest possible share of decommissioning costs compatible with maintaining the flow of investment into its petroleum-bearing areas. Where costs are likely to be high - as in the North Sea - this requires the government to identify and strike a delicate balance between protecting the public purse and continuing to attract high quality investors. At present, the UK government is attempting to do this as it prepares new legislation on the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas installations, writes Peter Cameron.