Decommissioning of Oil and Gas Structures
- • Understand the key enabling processes that must be considered within a decommissioning strategy
- • Be aware of relevant legislation and how this might impact from a compliance perspective
- • Be able to assess various decision making strategies
- • Know the project management components that are involved and why they are important
- • Become familiar with stakeholder engagement and communication initiatives and plans
- • Gain a greater insight into the technological innovation requirements of the decommissioning process
- • Be able to evaluate various disposal methodologies from a strategic perspective
- • Understand the key issues involved within waste management and disposal
- • Gain insight into managing and optimising the decom supply chain
- • Become familiar with the environmental aspect of decommissioning and understand the critical issues.
Overview
The International Oil and Gas industry faces a growing challenge throughout the world – from South East Asia, to the harsh environment of the North Sea, to the Gulf of Mexico, aging infrastructure and fields that are coming to end of life need to be decommissioned. This poses a myriad of challenges – from problem solving, technical innovation, disposal of waste; health and safety to environmental issues – the scope is huge and so too, is the likely cost. Decommissioning is much more than simple reverse engineering. All of the above are factors that have to be planned for.
As such there is a significant strategic element to the decommissioning process, as there are always a number of potential options and alternatives to consider – ranging from complete to partial removal; deep water disposal; the creation of artificial reefs and marine habitats; to removal to shore for dismantling and disposal, or the possible reuse for things such as wind turbine platforms – all have both time and cost implications. There are a multitude of stakeholders to engage with and manage, not to mention close scrutiny by the media, the public and government institutions and bodies.
This programme has been specifically designed to provide the delegate with a holistic understanding of the process of decommissioning and to create immediate added value to the delegate in terms of knowledge and ideas that can be implemented post course. The emphasis is on open dialogue, class exercises and problem solving throughout. Case studies are examined and discussed.
Course Content
Topic 1: understanding the ‘Key enablers’ for decom
- Transitional management capability – the ‘operational’ to ‘decommissioning’ interface
- Understanding decom requirements and time horizons for project
- Categorising decom operational phases – what needs to continue to operate/what needs to be adapted or modified during/for decommissioning; what can be removed immediately/shutting down of redundant systems
- Identifying ‘commonality’ from the project perspective (document control/management; change order processes)
- Financial capability – affordability/funding
- Regulatory compliance
- Managing the ‘transition phase’ from operations to CoP
- The facility itself – design/location
- Site restoration/clean up (if applicable)
- Physical dismantling and removal
Topic 2: legislation
- The IMO
- The London Convention
- OSPAR
- UNCLOS
- MARPOL
Topic 3: Decom decision making strategies
- Geographical location – water depth/weather
- Supporting infrastructure
- Benchmarking
- Due diligence process
- Class exercise
- Risk/uncertainty assessment
Topic 4: Project Management of Decom
- Decommissioning is not simply reverse engineering
- Preparation and planning
- Defining pre and post operation activities
- The decom project scope
- Class exercise
- Optimising people and resources
- Close out/handover
- Knowledge management – capturing ‘lessons learned’
Topic 5: stakeholder engagement; communication and management
- Identification and classification of stakeholders
- The stakeholder communication plan – the supreme importance of keeping stakeholders informed
- Class exercise
- Aligning competing positions/interests
- The Brent Spar case
Topic 6: technological innovation – a decom enabler?
- Enhanced safety management/practices
- Early innovation adoption – benefits assessment
- Tacking facility specific problems utilising innovative technology
- Identification/assessment of benefit through R&D initiatives
- https://www.arup.com/news-and-events/report-identifies-new-innovation-guidance-for-north-sea-decommissioning
Case study https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBXilUSCrLo
Topic 7: Disposal – generating and assessing options
- Partial/complete removal
- Deep water disposal – Reef/marine habitat creation?
- Towed to dry dock for cutting up
- Other potential uses in situ or elsewhere?
- Class exercise
Topic 8: Material Disposal and Waste Management
- Waste management/waste management options (i.e., reuse or recycle? Any acceptance criteria that must be met?)
- Any decontamination – early identification of potentially hazardous waste
- Managing waste inventory SHIFT JOHN’S CASE STUDY HERE
- Infrastructure for handling/transportation/ interim storage
- On-site capability?
- Assessment of supply chain requirements/capabilities
- Decommissioning logistics
Topic 9: optimising the decom supply chain
- Form of contract to be utilised for decommissioning
- Risk sharing
- Performance related incentives and LDC’s/EOT’S related to the contract
Topic 10: The Environmental Dimension
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2NpAIbBRLw
- Engagement with Environmental Regulators
- Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA’s)
- Dealing with Asbestos and other hazardous material/substances
- Strategies for minimising the potential for environmental damage
