Servitudes and Easements

Completed

Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
SGN - Southern England

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 January 2022

31 May 2022

ENA months

£80,000

Energy

South East

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, SGN - Southern England

Project Contact, SGN - Scotland

Project Contact, SGN

To provide a technical solution, Slovins formula (n = N / (1+Ne2)) was used to derive a sample size that delivered a 99% confidence level and only a 4% error rate. Application of this formula to 70,000 documented servitudes and easements provides the suggested sample size of 1025. The intention is that a legal review of the 1025 records will be undertaken by a paralegal through an approved legal partner following a formal procurement selection process.These 1025 records will be selected to ensure that the sample: Represents all pipe size diametersCovers all pressure tiersCovers start, middle and end of every decadeDovetails into existing strategic projectsRepresents above ground plant Once the legal work is concluded, the outputs of the review will determine what can and cannot be done within the parameters of the existing servitudes and easements.Does the agreement cover the transport of hydrogen or other products that differ to natural gas?Can a parallel or secondary pipeline be laid within the curtilage of the easement?Is it possible to renew the pipeline with an upgraded/different sized pipeline suitable for hydrogen?What is the implication of increasing the pressure tiers (specifically those associated with high pressure pipelines and property density ranges)?If the pipelines are decommissioned, what are the legal responsibilities on the servitude or easement - for example would it need to be removed?Do we have any restrictions or commercial opportunities on any decommissioned pipelines?If a pipeline is sold, does the existing agreement transfer to new pipeline owner? The objective is to provide detailed responses to the questions below, to identify and mitigate any future risks and determine cost in advance of system transformation.Does the agreement cover the transport of hydrogen or other products that differ to natural gas?Can a parallel or secondary pipeline be laid within the curtilage of the easement?Is it possible to renew the pipeline with an upgraded/different sized pipeline suitable for hydrogen?What is the implication of increasing the pressure tiers (specifically those associated with high pressure pipelines and property density ranges)?If the pipelines are decommissioned, what are the legal responsibilities on the servitude or easement - for example would it need to be removed?Do we have any restrictions or commercial opportunities on any decommissioned pipelines?If a pipeline is sold, does the existing agreement transfer to new pipeline owner?The initial phase of this project will be stage gated prior to progression of any future phases.

The strategic planning of any upgrade to existing or new pipelines to enable conversion is a vital step towards net zero transition. An understanding of the existing legal basis on which assets have been deployed and managed will be vital in the planning of this work.A full understanding of the rights and obligations included in existing servitudes and easements will be essential to ensure that the legal risks identified can be mitigated. This will also enable any costs associated with amendments to legal agreements to be identified so they can be included in system transformation or conversion funding applications.The intention is that a legal review of the 1025 records will be undertaken by a paralegal through an approved legal partner following a formal procurement selection process.

02/11/22