Decommissioning, abandonment and removal off offshore oil and. The decommissioning of the next two offshore wind farms has also been announced. Buy decommissioning offshore structures environmental science and engineering softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. Two new reports to boost decommissioning intelligence oguk. Content of petrowiki is intended for personal use only and to supplement, not replace, engineering judgment. Further more, even countries that are non signatories to the 1958 convention seemed to have better confidence and friendly disposition towards the complete removal regime. The decommissioning challenge involves the removal of heavy structures from the most inhospitable offshore environments. Mar 21, 2019 offshore renewables decommissioning guidance for industry. The project involves undertaking a decommissioning feasibility study to highlight all unknowns to enable the plant to be safely decommissioned, decontaminated and isolated.
From planning and feasibility studies, through to project execution and health and safety management, decom offshore offer total solutions for end of asset life challenges. The bsee works to ensure that obsolete structures and components are cleared from the site to. The bsee works to ensure that obsolete structures and components are cleared from the site to prevent use conflicts. Establish an independent fund or other organisational structure to ensure that a more flexible approach to decommissioning of offshore structures would generate maximum benefits for the environment and society in general. Decommissioning offshore structures environmental science and engineering softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. A practical strategy for removing and disposing these structures needs to be developed which best meets the demands of all of these different aspects. This module examines the design and analysis of offshore structures such as those used in obtaining resources from the ocean.
Thus i would like to register my indebtedness to various authors of the books, manuals and journals from which materials have been gathered. The main part of the book is concerned with the hydrostatic and hydrodynamic analysis of marine structures, followed by an evaluation of marine structure. The consistent policy of the united states had been that disused or redundant offshore structures should be entirely removed in accordance with the existing international law. Decommissioning activities supported have ranged from entire platforms in the northern north sea to individual packages and isolated appraisal wells.
If you want to study specific topics in submarine pipelines and risers, the following books are a good. Over 600 offshore projects to be decommissioned over next 5. These provisions do not change the overriding policy governing the decommissioning of offshore renewable energy installations, but help to provide greater clarity to developers, and greater protection to taxpayers. Environmental sensitivity there are no ecologically sensitive areas within 15 km radius at the offshore location. Below you will find a brief overview of decommissioning, abandonment and removal off offshore oil and gas installation, including a discussion on secondary use of obsolete structures and reef effects. Offshore structures have come from being simple derricks at the ends of wooden piers to massive structures weighing over 20,000 tons miles from shore. The service covers typical fixed offshore sub structures such as jackets, gravity base structures, towers, and monopiles, and topside structures including entire main topside structures, modules, bridges, flares and helidecks. Decommissioning offshore structures has 2 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. The offshore structures can undoubtedly attract many species of migrating invertebrates and fish searching for food, shelter, and places to reproduce. Decommissioning bureau of safety and environmental enforcement. The ageing of the worlds fixed offshore structures and the desire to extend their service life calls for an advanced and costeffective approach to verification, including probabilistic methods for planning inspection for fatigue cracks. International rules on decommissioning of offshore. It is envisaged that the rules of law in this area will change as new technology becomes available and scientific.
Offshore oil and gas structures have been in existence since the 1920 s and their associated technology has developed rapidly. Winner of the institutes stanley gray award for being the most worthy paper read to or published by the institute dr alan ma is a solicitor practising in england and wales. The politics, economics, and ecology of decommissioning offshore oil and gas structures 3 the southern california context is much different from that of the gulf experience. Decommissioning involves and integrates many distinct aspects. The ospar convention governs the decommissioning of offshore structures in the north sea region. Buy decommissioning offshore structures environmental science and engineering edition. Jan 23, 20 owners of oil and gas installations and pipelines are required to decommission their offshore infrastructure at the end of a fields economic life and the 1998 act requires owners to set out the. Decommissioning programmes, including dates, locations, installations decommissioned, method of decommissioning and closeout reports where available. Subsea structures such as wellheads may also have exclusion zones set by legal instrument.
Decommissioning offshore installations legal aspects coauthor, alan ma proceedings of the institute of marine engineering, science and technology, no. Decommissioning of offshore renewable energy installations. Results for offshore oil and gas infrastructure 17 figures figure 1. Legal aspects of decommissioning offshore structures. Department of the interior bureau of safety and environmental enforcement. Nov 29, 2016 houston the decommissioning of aging offshore oil and gas platforms, subsea wells and related assets is increasing dramatically, with more than 600 projects expected to be disposed of during. The consortium has the capability to take well operatorship, dutyholdership and title of offshore structures, in addition to providing independent thirdparty assurance. Houston the decommissioning of aging offshore oil and gas platforms, subsea wells and related assets is increasing dramatically, with more than.
Decommissioning offshore structures book by d g gorman. Offshore structure design, construction and maintenance covers all types of offshore structures and platforms employed worldwide. Many regional agreements may put up more stringent rules and, for instance, ban offshore disposal in deep water as is the case for atlantic europe and the north sea. World maritime university dissertations dissertations 2014. Sustainable decommissioning of an offshore wind farm. Therefore, the london dumping convention clearly covers the disposal of offshore platforms at sea, either totally or partially. May 03, 2018 new consortium for offshore decommissioning. This consortium offers a new, collaborative approach to decommissioning for operators, highlights steve gilbert, director of asset management and decommissioning from lr. We are delighted to announce that decom offshore have been appointed as specialist decommissioning consultants for one of the largest global blue chip companies.
Decommissioning methodology and cost evaluation bpa no. Owners of oil and gas installations and pipelines are required to decommission their offshore infrastructure at the end of a fields economic life. Over 600 offshore projects to be decommissioned over the next. Decommissioning offshore structures book, 1998 worldcat. These exercises have also included riskbased verification methods in decommissioning projects for the dismantling and removal of major topsides where a riskbased verification approach aims at. Decommissioning offshore installations legal aspects. In respect of some kinds of structures it is also in its infancy, so that the necessary information to perform the kind of comparison we have attempted was unpublished, hard to find and, sometimes, commercially confidential. Dnv gl is accepted worldwide as an independent and authoritative verification provider. Ardent a new global oil and gas decommissioning consortium launched today sets out to bring a collaborative supply chain approach. Technology has advanced in more than 40 years to where fixed structures now exist in water depths of about 400 metres in the gulf of mexico and installations are being designed for the norwegian sector as large as 700000 tons.
Annual number of wells drilled and plugged in the gulf of mexico, 19472014 12 figure 3. He has written over 20 books and numerous papers and articles. In particular, observations in the gulf of mexico revealed a strong positive correlation between the amount of oil platforms, growing since the 1950s, and commercial fish catches in the region. Decommissioning of north sea oil and gas facilities. Over 600 offshore projects to be decommissioned over next. Spe disclaims any and all liability for your use of such content. Annual number of structures installed and removed in the gulf of mexico, 19472014. What is offshore decommissioning infographic mactech. The offshore industry had its beginning in 1947 in 20 feet of water in the gulf of mexico. Plugs are carefully installed into the well, pressuretested. Decommissioning, abandonment and removal off offshore oil. Home offshore oil and gas decommissioning please select the platform you want to share this book on.
Increasingly over the next few decades, the oil and gas industry faces the complex task of decommissioning its offshore platforms, pipelines and subsea equipment as they reach the end of their. Ekofisk offshore tank structure geotechnical photo album. Decommissioning offshore installations legal aspects page 4 of 9 benefits of using the disused structures as artificial reefs to create a congenial habitat for fish and other marine biota. National regulations reflect national interests within their 200nm economic zone and will deal with. Decommissioning offshore infrastructure policy scope of. Longitude engineering jeanbaptiste meier, longitudes lead engineer. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Our sectors we have over 20 years experience managing complex onshore decommissioning projects making us the ideal partner to manage any complex demolition projects. I recommend to study the handbook of offshore engineering. Decommissioning offshore structures ebook by 9781447115526. This book is a printed edition of the special issue marine structures. Areas containing hazardous materials must be purged and cleaned to prevent release of hydrocarbons. The ultimate reference for selecting, operating and maintaining offshore structures, this book provides a road map for designing structures which will stand up even in the harshest environments. Decommissioning bureau of safety and environmental. Ocs study mms 2001006 the politics, economics, and. Lely, a 2 mw project consisting of four 500 kw turbines which have been operating since 1994 and vindeby, the first offshore wind farm to be installed, a 4. The bsee identifies decommissioning as the process of ending oil, gas, or sulphur operations and returning the lease or pipeline rightofway to a condition specified by regulatory requirements. Decommissioning of north sea oil and gas facilities an introductory assessment of potential impacts, costs and opportunities background report phase 1. Ospar decision 983 ref 1, which came into force in february 1999, requires all redundant. Whats the best sources and for designing offshore structures.
The offshore decommissioning process in 6 quick steps. The physical process of taking offshore platforms out of service safely and securely is a sensitive, complex and technically formidable undertaking. Decommissioning offshore structures environmental science. In oceans and seas worldwide, an increasing number of endoflife anthropogenic offshore structures e. Ekofisk offshore tank structure the ekofisk tank was the first structure in the norwegian sector of the north sea.
Mooring system engineering for offshore structures kaitung ma, yong luo, chitat thomas kwan, yongyan wu. Decom offshore decommissioning and demolition consultants. Dnv gls independent verification service ensures confidence in the compliance, safety and structural integrity of new and ageing structures. Throughout the book, consideration is given to the many assumptions involved in formulating a structural model and to the natural forces encountered in the. Article 5 of annex iii of ospar equates the whole or partial nonremoval of disused offshore installations to dumping, tolerated only if a permit has been issued by the competent national authorities, again on acasebycase. Decommissioning of offshore structures is a highly complex and technical exercise.
Decommissioning involves the safe plugging of the hole in the earths surface and disposal of the equipment used in offshore oil production. It is important for platform owners to understand the full range of. Technology has advanced in more than 40 years to where fixed structures now exist in water depths of about 400 metres in the gulf of mexico and installations are being designed for. It was constructed in a fjord in norway, and towed to the ekofisk field in 1973. For storage of dismantled structuresmaterial in the onshore yard, the selected 3rd party will obtain approval from maharashtra state pollution control board. Over 600 offshore projects to be decommissioned over the. Operators must ensure that the necessary permits are in place prior to decommissioning a structure. Ocs study mms 2001006 the politics, economics, and ecology. United nations convention on the continental shelf, art. The continental shelf act 1964, s 1, confers on the crown those rights of exploration and exploitation enjoyed under international law in respect of seabed minerals other than coal.
As the offshore oil and gas industry moves further into a new phase of depletion, a strategy for decommissioning offshore structures becomes essential. If a toppled platform is converted to an artificial reef, it falls within the jurisdiction of the london dumping convention. Increasingly over the next few decades, the oil and gas industry faces the complex task of decommissioning its offshore platforms, pipelines and subsea equipment as they reach the end of their operational capabilities. Examples of oil and gas structures in the gulf of mexico 7 figure 2. For storage of dismantled structures material in the onshore yard, the selected 3rd party will obtain approval from maharashtra state pollution control board. Gulf states are willing to accept the rigstoreefs alternative, and have developed state policy and programs. Its membership comprises oil and gas producers and contractor companies. A brief outline of the new provisions and what they mean is given in annex f. The first book that covers the diverse range of factors that must be considered in developing such a strategy. The decommissioning of steel piled jackets in the north. Decommissioning, abandonment and removal off obsolete offshore installations. Decommissioning of an offshore production topside and jacket in one run.