DECOMMISSIONING AND REMOVAL OF OFFSHORE STRUCTURES: A STATE OF THE ART

There are now over 150 fixed platforms in the North Sea, many of which will be decommissioned in the 1990's as oil and gas fields reach the end of their economic life.Although The Petroleum Act 1987 includes provisions for regulating the abandonment of platforms, the extent of removal is the subject of recommendations being developed by The International Maritime Organisation. When these are ratified the approach to abandonment will be clearer and more detailed, cost estimates can be made. Experience in decommissioning to date is limited to light structures in shallow waters relative to those in the northern North Sea. The approaches that have been studied for larger platforms have varied from partial removal through toppling, to complete site clearance. Selection of techniques will depend on type and size of platform and consideration must be given to costs in addition to safety. For steel jacket platforms partial removal where permitted, may be the most economic solution, whilst for gravity platforms refloating may be the only option. The aim of this paper is to review the literature on offshore platform decommissioning, covering areas from cutting methods through legal aspects and lifting/removal considerations.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Conference on Offshore Mechanics, Arctic Engng. Proceedings 8th Intnl., 1 (1989), p.215 [7 pp.]
• Authors:
  • Ebdon, R W
  • Ellinas, C P
• Publication Date: 1989

Language

• English

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Offshore platforms
• Uncontrolled Terms: Removal
• Old TRIS Terms: Decommissioning
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00696416
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Maritime Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 14 1995 12:00AM