Promoting responsible use of our subsurface storage and energy resources to ensure energy security, reduce the UK’s emissions impact and deliver societal and economic value.
The Subsurface Task Force is a diverse and independent forum of subsurface experts, scientists and senior professionals in industry and academia, collaborating with regulators, policy makers and other key stakeholders towards an orderly transition to Net Zero 2050 for the UK.
We deploy our expertise, subsurface knowledge, industry understanding and networks to act as an independent advisory group, providing integrated subsurface-related insight, guidance and recommendations to stakeholders including industry, regulators and government.
In our priority areas of geological storage, domestic hydrocarbons and subsurface skills we will advocate for outcomes which best balance the energy trilemma (energy security, affordability and sustainability) in line with our stated purpose.
Nick has broad industry leadership experience in a range of upstream energy focused roles. He is co-founder of Carbon Catalyst, an independent company focused exclusively on reducing CO₂ emissions via Carbon Capture & Storage. He is also UK Country Manager for Finder Energy, a publicly listed upstream company based in Perth, Australia, and recent new entrant to the UK North Sea.
Previously, he was Managing Director and co-founder of North Sea operator Azinor Catalyst. Prior to this he was Exploration Director at US independent Endeavour Energy, board member of OEUK and President of the GESGB.
Dr Nick Richardson was appointed Head of Exploration and New Ventures for the North Sea Transition Authority (formerly OGA) in mid-2015. He is accountable for the delivery of licensing rounds on the UKCS (including for geological storage), management of the UK’s subsurface resource portfolio, and driving the CCS industry’s appraisal programmes with the aim of substantially increasing storage availability in line with the UK’s net zero ambitions. Nick was responsible for the design and delivery of the UK’s 1st Carbon Storage Licensing Round, with his team stewarding site-characterisation and spatial planning activities associated with Carbon Storage Licences.
He previously held various technical geoscience positions within a number of E&P companies (Shell, Maersk Oil, Dana Petroleum). He holds a BA in Geology from University of Oxford (St Edmund Hall), an MSc from University of Edinburgh and a Doctorate from ETH Zürich.
The Subsurface Task Force is one of seven taskforces led by an industry representative, with support from the North Sea Transition Authority and Offshore Energies UK.
The taskforces are important vehicles for driving innovation and improvements, acting as sounding boards for new ideas and initiatives, providing forums for industry to raise issues, and ensuring alignment across the sector.
They report into the North Sea Transition Forum, the tripartite body which provides senior government and industry leadership for the offshore oil and gas industry.
Advocating for outcomes which best balance the Energy Trilemma:
If you are interested in participating in the Subsurface Task Force please contact us
The Subsurface Task Force membership is represented by a broad range of stakeholders, including exploration & production and carbon capture & storage companies, trade associations, regulators, technology developers, supply chain companies and academia.
This diverse membership is vital in ensuring the provision of independent and integrated subsurface-related insight, guidance and recommendations to all stakeholders.
