Offshore Platform Decommissioning – Tales from the Gulf of Mexico Figure 2: Platform Removals versus Installations in the Gulf of Mexico
100 125 150 175 200 225
25 50 75
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Year
Installed 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Removed Source: US Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service.
determining exactly what happened and where the platform debris was located. In the initial aftermath of the hurricanes, so little was known of the fate of the platforms that survey vessels had to proceed with great care just to approach the sites of destroyed platforms. Every form of underwater survey technology available has been used in the recovery effort, with varying degrees of success. In the end the industry has developed an unprecedented capability for surveying damage and debris mapping. Figure 4 shows an example of an offshore platform that was destroyed in hurricane Katrina and then digitally mapped using a wide variety of methods to determine the ‘as is’ condition.
Figure 3: Offshore Platforms Damaged and Destroyed in the Gulf of Mexico Since 2004
100 120 140 160
20 40 60 80
0 2004 Damaged 2005 Destroyed Source: US Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service.
Another area of significant innovation has been in the development of the tools needed to remove the hurricane-damaged structures. When the extent of damage became clear, it was immediately apparent that the standard technology used in decommissioning would not be sufficient. Conventional derrick barges have little or no capacity to lift significant loads from below the water surface. In addition, the wells to be plugged on the downed platforms required a completely different approach to that used in normal decommissioning. These and many other technical challenges have been met and hurricane recovery has proceeded with a remarkable human and environmental safety record.
2008
• Is your oil & gas installation reaching the end of its economic production life?
• Are you looking to revive old assets and recover capital that would otherwise be lost?
• Is Decommissioning a major focus for you?
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Number of platforms
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